"So was I," said Mr. Mildmay. "I knew no more till I found myself being hauled up a ladder, and then, confusion seize them! they lashed me to the bell——"
"Mildmay on one side, I on t'other, the same rope going all round."
"And there they left us all night. I didn't get a wink of sleep——"
"Nor I——"
"Till the morning, and as soon as I dropped oft, that dunderhead Petherick must pull the bell-rope, and I felt a great thwack in the small of my back, and woke in a desperate fright. There was a second thump, and then it stopped, and we had peace for a few minutes."
"That was when Petherick was telling me that I really must clear the tower of owls and bats," said the Vicar.
"Bats!" cried Mr. Polwhele. "They were whisking me in the face all night."
"And the owls were tu-whooing like fog-horns," said Mr. Mildmay. "Then the thumping began again, and I was jarred till I thought I should die. Then there came a horrible noise of fiddles and serpents and clarinets from below, and yowling and growling, and soon after Petherick's head appeared through the hatch, and he had the impudence to laugh in our faces. When he had done cackling, he loosed us, and we crawled down the ladder more dead than alive, and here we are."
"PETHERICK'S HEAD APPEARED THROUGH THE HATCH."