“He couldn’t get up above there—could he?”
“O, no.”
“Perhaps he’s outside,” said Arthur.
At this suggestion they all flung open the shutters which surrounded the cupola, and as it was too dark to see, they felt in all directions with their hands. They soon found, however, that no one was there.
“Now,” said Phil, “the question is, how in the world-could that bell have tolled?”
All were silent for a few minutes, trying to conjecture some possible way.
It will be seen that on this occasion Bruce had not a vestige of his former superstitious feeling. The affair with the donkey had taught him a salutary lesson, and the discovery that Bart had made, when communicated to him, had made him angry with himself for the fear which he had felt before. He was perfectly convinced now that there was some trick, which was the only cause of the knock and the toll of the bell, and this he tried to discover.
Suddenly he stooped down and felt under the bell.
“Boys,” said he, after a pause.
“Well.”