The doctor was silent, and the rector spoke again:
“What do you say, constable?”
“As it can’t be done, sir, with all respect to you as the head of the parish.”
“Seems to me like getting up an inquess, sir,” said Dredge the butcher, “with ooz all dodging about here with our lights, like so many will-o’-the-wispies.”
“Ay, I was gooin’ to say as theered be job for owd Chakes here ’fore morning if he gets ower his ducking.”
“I’m afraid you are right,” said the doctor, sadly. “If I were sure that my nephew was somewhere here on the moor, I should say keep on at all hazards, but it is too dangerous a business by lantern light.”
“Let’s give a good shout,” cried the miller; “p’r’aps the poor lad may hear it. Now, then, all together: one, two three, and Ahoy!”
The cry rang far out over the moor, and was faintly answered, so plainly that Macey uttered a cry of joy.
“Come on,” he cried; “there he is.”
“Nay, lad,” said the miller; “that was on’y the echo.”