keep on at
all hazards, but it is too dangerous a business by lantern light."

"Let's give a good shout," cried the miller; "p'r'aps the poor lad may
hear it. Now, then, all together: one, two three, and _Ahoy_!"

The cry rang far out over the moor, and was faintly answered, so plainly
that Macey uttered a cry of joy.

"Come on," he cried; "there he is."

"Nay, lad," said the miller; "that was on'y the echo."

"No, no," said Macey; "it was an answer."

"It did sound like it," said the rector; and the doctor remained in
doubt.

"You listen," said the miller; and, putting his hands on either side of
his mouth, he gave utterance to a stentorian roar.

"Vane, ho!"

There was a pause, and a "ho!" came back.

"All right?" roared the miller.

"Right!" came back.

"Good-night!" shouted the miller again.

"Night!"

"There, you see. Only an echo," said the miller. "Wish it wasn't.
Why, if it had been his voice, lads, we'd soon ha' hed him home."

"Yes, it's an echo, Aleck," said Gilmore, sadly.

"But we could stop, and go on searching, sir," cried Macey. "It's such
a pity to give up."

"Only till daybreak, my lad," said the doctor, sadly. "We can do no
good here, and the risk is too great."

Gilmore uttered a low sigh, and Macey a groan, as, after a little more
hesitation, it was decided to go back to the town, and wait till the
first dawn, when the search could be resumed.

"And, look here, my lads," cried the miller; "all of you as can had
better bring bill-hooks and sickles, for it's bad going through these
brambles, even by day."

"And you, constables," said the rector; "you are on duty along the
roads. You will keep a sharp look-out."

"Of course, sir, and we'll communicate with the other men we meet from
Lenby and Riby, and Dunthorpe. We shall find him, sir, never fear."

The procession of lanterns was recommenced, but in the other direction
now, and in utter despondency the doctor followed, keeping with the
rector and his pupils, all trying in turn to suggest some solution of
the mystery, but only for it to close in more darkly round them, in
spite of all.

The police then left them at the spot where they had been encountered,
and promised great things, in which nobody felt any faith; and at last,
disheartened and weary, the churchyard was reached, and the men
dismissed, all promising to be ready to go on at dawn. Then there was a
good deal of opening of lanterns, the blowing out of