We'd better go out as we came," Godfrey said, and turned across the
lawn. He walked with head down and face puckered with thought.

"Can you make anything of it?" I asked, but he only shook his head.

We soon reached the ladder, and Godfrey paused to look about him. The
shrubbery was broken in one place, as though some heavy body had
fallen on it, and this was evidently the mark of Swain's wild jump
from the wall.

At last, Godfrey motioned me to precede him, and, when I was over,
reached one ladder down to me and descended to my side. We replaced
the ladders against the shed, and then walked on toward the house. As
we turned the corner, we found Mrs. Hargis standing on the front
porch.

"Well, you _are_ out early!" she said.

"Yes," laughed Godfrey; "fact is, we haven't been to bed yet. Will you
have something to eat, Lester, before you turn in?"

A glass of milk was all I wanted; and five minutes later I mounted to
my room. I glanced in for a moment at Swain, who seemed to be sleeping
peacefully; and then darkened my room as well as I could and tumbled
into bed. I must have dropped asleep the moment my head touched the
pillow, for I remember nothing more until I opened my eyes to find
Godfrey standing over me.

CHAPTER XI

SWAIN'S STORY

"I hate to wake you, Lester," Godfrey said, smiling, "but it's nearly
four o'clock. Dr. Hinman will be here before long, and if you're going
to hear Swain's story, you'll have to be getting up."

I sat up in bed at once, all trace of sleepiness vanished.

"How is he?" I asked.

"He seems to be all right. He's been up for some time. I haven't said
anything to him about last night--I wanted the doctor to see him
first; besides, I thought you ought to be present."

"I'll be down right away," I said, and twenty minutes later, I found
Godfrey and Swain sitting together on the front porch. As Swain
returned my greeting, I was relieved to see that his eyes were no
longer fixed and staring, but seemed quite normal.

"Mrs. Hargis has your breakfast ready," said Godfrey, "and I think
I'll join you. Will you come, Mr. Swain?"

"No, thank you," Swain replied. "I had my breakfast only about an
hour ago. I'll just sit here, if you don't mind."

"All right," said Godfrey, "we won't be long," and together we went
back to the dining-room.

Mrs. Hargis was there, and greeted us as though stopping out till dawn
and breakfasting at four o'clock in the afternoon were the most