Stook brought out a short clay pipe, and a little leather bag in which he kept tobacco. He had to go indoors to get a light from the wood fire that he had lit to cook his supper. When he emerged, the bowl of his pipe glowing, he had one very characteristic remark to make.
"It be powerful cold f' June."
Jasper felt for his pocket flask. He knew that it was inward warmth that the man needed.
"One pull, Tom, and no more. We must keep our heads clear to-night."
Two hours passed, and the vague, moonlit slopes of the common began to suggest all manner of mysterious movements to Jasper's tired eyes. Stonehanger was a dim outline against the sky. He had begun to doubt whether anything was going to happen when a bright, yellow point flashed out suddenly in the north. It remained there for some ten seconds, and then disappeared as though a curtain had been jerked forward to cover it.
"You seed ut, sir!"
"Was that from Stonehanger, Tom?"
"Sure."
They waited awhile, and in due course the light flashed out a second time and died back into the night with equal suddenness.
"What do they mean by that?"