theer's a steel bar 'long wi' her as you can prise down the spring
till she's set. On'y mind thysen, lad--mind thysen."

"And will it hold a man, Pannell?" I cried.

"Ay; this here's noo pattern. I haven't got into it yet I've got a rare
lot of 'em to do."

"But tell me," I whispered, "will it?"

"Think this here noo steel's better than owd fashion stoof?" he said.

"Bother the steel!" I said, speaking lower still. "I want you to tell
me whether--"

"Bull-poop's gettin' too fat, Mester Jacob," said Pannell. "Don't give
'im so much meat. Spoils a dorg. Give un bones as he can break oop and
yeat. That's the stoof for dorgs. Gives un such a coat as never was."

"Will you tell me?" I began, angrily.

"Nay, I wean't tell thee nowt," he growled. "I've telled thee enew as
it is. Tek it when I'm not here, and good luck to thee!"

I could get no more from him, for he would not say another word about
the trap, so I waited impatiently for the night so that I might smuggle
it from the forge chimney into my desk.

When the time came it was quite absurd how many hindrances there were to
my little task. I did not want to set it that night. I only wanted to
get it in safety to my desk; but first there were men hanging about the
smithies as if they were watching me; then there were my uncles; and
lastly, there was Gentles, who made signs that he wished to speak to me,
and I didn't care to say anything to the sleek, oily fellow, who only
wanted to what he called make it up.

At last, though, everyone had gone but Uncle Jack, who was busy writing
a letter or two, and I was to wait for him, and we were going back
together.

I slipped off to the smithy, and just as I was half-way there I turned
quickly round, feeling quite cold, and as if I was found out, for I
heard a curious yawning noise behind me.

It was only Piter, who looked up in my face and gave his tail a wag, and
then butted his great head against my leg, holding it tightly there as
if it was so heavy that he was glad to give it a rest.

I went on at once impatiently, and Piter's head sank down, the dog
uttering a low, discontented whine on being left. I glanced up at the
wall, half expecting to see some one looking over and watching me; then
up at the windows, fearing that one of the men might still be left.

But all was perfectly quiet, and though I half anticipated such an
accident there was no one seated on the top of either of the great
chim