d left, fled like the wind in opposite directions, and were out of
sight in a few seconds, while Tommy, crouching on the ground behind the
tomb, trembled in abject terror.

The spirit, if such it was, did not attempt to pursue the fugitives, but
turning fiercely towards the boy, seized him by the collar and shook
him.

"Oh! mercy! mercy!" cried poor Tommy, whose heart quaked within him.

"Hallo! Tommy Bogey, is it you, boy?" said the spirit, releasing the
lad from a grasp that was anything but gentle.

"What! old Jeph, can it be _you_?" exclaimed Tommy, in a tone of intense
surprise, as he seated himself on the tombstone, and wiped the cold
perspiration from his forehead with the cuff of his coat.

"Ay, it _is_ me," replied the old man, sadly, "although I do sometimes
doubt my own existence. It ain't often that I'm interrupted--but what
brings ye here, lad, and who were these that I saw running like foul
fiends across the sandhills on such a night as this?"

"They were Supple Rodger and Long Orrick," replied Tommy, "and a foul
fiend is one of 'em, anyhow, as you'd have found out, old Jeph, if ye'd
bin at home this evenin'. As for bein' out on sich a night as this, it
seems to me ye han't got much more sense to boast of in this respect
than I have. You'll ketch your death o' cold, old man."

"Old man!" echoed Jeph, with a peculiar chuckle. "Ha! yes, I _am_ an
old man, and I've bin used to such nights since I wos a _young_ man.
But come away, lad, I'll go home with ye now."

Old Jeph took the boy's hand as he said this, and the two went over the
moor together--slowly, for the way was rough and broken, and silently,
for the howling of the gale rendered converse almost impossible.

It is not to be supposed that Tommy Bogey had such command over himself,
however, as altogether to restrain his curiosity. He did make one or
two attempts to induce old Jeph to explain why he was out in such a
stormy night, and on such a lonely spot; but the old man refused to be
communicative, and finally put a stop to the subject by telling Tommy to
let other people's business alone, and asking him how it happened that
Long Orrick came to make an attempt on his house, and how it was he
failed?

Tommy related all he knew with alacrity and for a time secured old
Jeph's attention, as was plain from the way in which he chuckled when he
heard how his enemy had been outwitted; but gradually the narrative fell
on uninterested ears, an