"They are, sir," replied the squire; "with this slight difference in the allotment of the land—namely, that Mistress Nutter claims the twenty acres, while she assigns you only ten."
"Ten devils!" cried Roger Nowell, furiously. "Twenty acres are mine, and I will have them."
"To the proof, then," rejoined Nicholas. "The first of the grey stones is here."
"And the second on the left, in that hollow," said Roger Nowell. "Come on, my masters, come on."
"Ay, come on!" cried Nicholas; "this perambulation will be rare sport. Who wins, for a piece of gold, cousin Richard?"
"Nay, I will place no wager on the event," replied the young man.
"Well, as you please," cried the squire; "but I would lay five to one that Mistress Nutter beats the magistrate."
Meanwhile, the whole troop having set forward, they soon arrived at the second stone. Grey and moss-grown, it was deeply imbedded in the soil, and to all appearance had rested undisturbed for many a year.
"You measure from the clough, I presume, sir?" remarked Potts to Nowell.
"To be sure," replied the magistrate; "but how is this?—This stone seems to me much nearer the clough than it used to be."