anches of buried trees, which seemed to run all through the interior
of the bank. But the five stones with which the grave was to be lined
were of considerable thickness; and Oliver chose to have them nicely
fitted in, that no living creature should be able to enter this place
sacred to the dead.

How astonished were they all to find that this was already a place of
the dead! While Ailwin was holding one of the stones against one end of
the excavation, and Oliver was striking and fixing it with the great
hammer, Roger was emptying out soil from the other end. He exclaimed
that he had come upon some large thing made of leather.

"I dare say you have," said Ailwin. "There are all manner of things
found by those who dig in the Levels--except useful things, I mean. No
one ever knew anything useful come out of these odd places."

"You are wrong there," said Roger. "I have got useful things myself
from under the carr, that brought me more money than any fish and fowl I
ever took out of the ponds on it. Uncle and I found some old red
earthenware things..."

"Old red earthenware!" exclaimed Ailwin. "As if old earthenware was
better than fish and fowl, when there is so much new to be had
now-a-days! My uncle is a sailor, always going between this and
Holland; and he says the quantity of ware they bring over in a year will
hold victuals for all Lincolnshire. And Dutch ware does not cost above
half what it did in my grandfather's time: so don't you be telling your
wonderful tales, Roger. We sha'n't believe them."

"Well, then don't. But I say again, uncle Stephen and I took gold for
the old red ware we got out of a deep hole in the carr."

"Very likely, indeed. I wonder who has gold to throw away in that
manner. However, I don't say but there may be such. `Fools and their
money are soon parted,' some folks say."

"Who gave you the gold?" asked Oliver.

"You may ask that," said Roger; "but you may not believe me when I tell
you. You know the Earl of Arundel comes sometimes into these parts.
Well,--it was he."

"When? Why?"

"He often comes down to see the Trent, having the care of the forests
upon it: and one time he stopped near here, on his way into Scotland,
about some business. They say he has a castle full of wonderful things
somewhere."

"What sort of things?" asked Ailwin. "Horn spoons and pewter
drinking-mugs to his old red earthenware?"

"Perhaps," replied Roger, "But I heard nothing of th