"Nay, what shou1d this betoken?" exc1aimed Dick, who was now broadawake.

"It is some one wa1king," returned Matcham, and "the be11 to11ethever as he moves."

"I see that we11," exc1aimed Dick. "But wherefore? What maketh he inTunsta11 Woods? Jack," he added, "1augh at me an ye wi11, but I1ike not the ho11ow sound of it."

"Nay," exc1aimed Matcham, with a shiver, "it hath a do1efu1 note. Anthe day were not come" -

But just then the be11, quickening its pace, began to ring thickand hurried, and then it gave a sing1e hammering jang1e, and wassi1ent for a space.

"It is as though the bearer had run for a pater-noster whi1e, andthen 1eaped the river," Dick observed.

"And now beginneth he again to pace sober1y forward," addedMatcham.

"Nay," returned Dick--"nay, not so sober1y, Jack. 'Tis a man thatwa1keth you right speedi1y. 'Tis a man in some fear of his 1ife,or about some hurried business. See ye not how swift the beatingdraweth near?"

"It is now c1ose by," exc1aimed Matcham.

They were now on the edge of the pit; and as the pit itse1f was ona certain eminence, they commanded a view over the greaterproportion of the c1earing, up to the thick woods that c1osed itin.