of a dog.

"What is the matter?" I cried.

"That's what I want to know," said Uncle Jack. "I went with a candle,
but the wind puffed it out. Where did you put the lantern?"

"Lantern--lantern!" I said in a confused way, "did I have it?"

"Yes; you must have had it. Can't you think? Gracious, what a noise!
Piter must have got someone by the throat."

"Oh, I know!" I cried as I grew more fully awake. "On the shelf in the
entry."

We ran down together, and a faint glow showed its whereabouts, still
alight, but with the dark shade turned over the bull's-eye.

"Where does the noise come from?" I said, feeling startled at the
alarming nature of the cries, freshly awakened as I was from sleep.

"I can hardly tell," he said, seizing the lantern and taking a sharp
hold, of his stick. "Bring a stick with you, my boy, for there may be
enemies in the way."

"Why, uncle," I cried, "some poor creature has fallen from the side path
into the dam."

"Some wretched drunken workman then," he said, as we hurried in the
direction, and there seemed to be no doubt about it now, for there was
the splashing of water, and the cry of "Help!" while Piter barked more
furiously than ever.

We ran down to the edge of the dam, the light of the bull's-eye flashing
and dancing over the ground, so that we were able to avoid the different
objects lying about; and directly after the light played on the water,
and then threw into full view the figure of the bull-dog as he stood on
the stone edge of the dam barking furiously at a man's head that was
just above the surface of the water.

"Help! Help!" he cried as we drew near, and then I uttered a prolonged
"Oh!" and stood still.

"Quiet, Piter! Down, dog! Can't you see it is a friend!"

But the dog seemed to deny it, and barked more furiously than ever.

"Quiet, sir! Here, Cob, lay hold of the lantern. Will you be quiet,
dog! Lay hold of him, Cob, and hold him."

I obeyed in a half stupid way, holding the lantern with one hand, as I
went on my knees, putting my arm round Piter's neck to hold him back;
and in that way I struggled back from the edge, watching my uncle as I
made the light fall upon the head staring wildly at us, a horrible white
object just above the black water of the dam.

"Help! Help!" it cried. "Save me! Oh!"

"Catch hold of the stick. That's right; now your hand. Well done!
What's holding you down? Have you got your foot entangled? That's
bette