round the wheels.

They then drove by the house as fast as they could. They did not deceive
the dogs; but no man heard them, nor saw them.

They got to the church, opened the door, and drew the forge into the
deserted building.

As soon as they got inside, Cheetham cast his eyes round and gave a
shudder. "You must have a stout heart: no money should tempt me to work
here by myself. Lord! What's that?"

For a low musical moan was heard.

Cheetham darted back, and got to the church-door.

Henry's heart beast faster: but he lighted his lantern, and went up
the aisle. The place was solemn, grim, gaunt, and moldering, and echoed
strangely; but it was empty. He halloed to his companion that it was all
right. Then they set the forge up near a pillar at the entrance into the
chancel. When they had done this, and brought in the steel laths, the
sacks of coals, etc., Cheetham produced a flask, and took a pull of
neat brandy. This gave him courage, and he proposed to have a look round
before they went. Accordingly they inspected the building.

When they came round to the chancel, suddenly there was a rattle, and a
tremendous rush of some huge thing that made a cold wind, and blew out
the light.

Henry was appalled, and Cheetham dropped the lantern, and ran, yelling.
And soon Henry heard his voice in the churchyard calling on him to come
out.

He did go out, and felt very much puzzled and alarmed. However, he got
matches from Cheetham, and went back, and lighted the lantern, quaking
a little, and then he found that the great moldering picture over the
altar had rotted away from some of its supports, and one half of it was
now drooping, like a monstrous wing, over the altar.

He returned with the lantern, and told Cheetham what it was. Then
he screwed on the lock, locked the church, and they went back to
Hillsborough in good spirits.

But, as he lay in bed, Henry thought the matter over, and, for the first
time in his life, felt superstitious.

"It is very odd," he said, "that old picture my forefathers have
worshiped under, and prayed to, no doubt, should flap out in my face
like that, the moment I offered to set up my forge among their dead
bones."

Daylight dispersed these superstitious feelings, and the battle began.

As usual, the first step toward making money was to part with it. He
could do nothing without a horse and a light cart. In Hillsborough they
drive magnificent horses in public cabs: Henry knew one