PREFACE

On the analogy of the famous apple,—“there ain’t going to be no” preface, “not nohow.” Children do not read prefaces, so anything of a prefatory nature that might interest them is put at the beginning of chapter one.

As for the grown-ups the story is not written for grown-ups, and if they want to know why it begins with such a gruesome first chapter, let them ask the children. Children like the horrors first and the end all bright. Many grown-ups like the tragedy at the end. But perhaps the children are right and the grown-ups are standing on their heads. Besides they can skip the first chapter; it is only a prologue.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE
IHate[1]
II Secrets[9]
III Hate and Love[29]
IV The Prisoner[55]
V The Thief[79]
VI Bitterness[94]
VII Death[104]
VIII Remorse[111]
IX The Judgment[115]
X The Packman’s Visit[126]
XI Swords and Questionings[140]
XII“Moll o’ the Graves”[156]
XIII Coming Events Cast Shadows[166]
XIV Good-Bye[182]
XV The Terror of the Mist[189]
XVI A Desperate Task[200]
XVII Carlisle[217]
XVIII A Diplomatic Victory[226]
XIX The Loss[247]
XX Persecution[253]
XXI Torture[259]
XXII To the Rescue[282]
XXIII Duel to the Death[296]
XXIV A Ride in Vain[317]
XXV Amazing Discoveries[329]
XXVI The Battle of Liddisdale[344]
XXVII The Birthday Party[354]
XXVIII The Last Adventure[378]
XXIX A Tale of a Tub[388]
XXX The Great Iron Chest[401]

A, Staircase to Solar and Aline’s Room; B, Staircase to Solar and North Rooms; C, Buttery (the place where the drink was kept, Cf. French boire); D, Pantry (the place where the food was kept, Cf. French pain); E, Chapel.

Note.—The approach is from the north, therefore the usual position of the compass is inverted. The scale is a scale of feet.