; and I found who stole it. I traced it to one of the
cottages," and he related his experience.

"Ah!" he said; "so you've fallen foul of old Mother Warboys. You don't
believe in witches, do you, Tom?"

"No, uncle, of course not; but she's a horrible old woman."

"Yes, and the simple folk about here believe in her as something no
canny, as the Scotch call it. So you think it was Master Pete Warboys,
do you?"

"Yes, uncle, I feel sure it was; and if you sent a policeman at once, I
dare say he would find the bag of iron."

"Hardly likely, Tom; they would have got rid of it before he came there
if I did send one, which I shall not do."

"Not send--for stealing?"

"No, Tom," said Uncle Richard quietly. "Police means magistrates,
magistrates mean conviction and prison. Master Pete's bad enough now."

"Yes, uncle; he poaches rabbits."

"I dare say," said Uncle Richard; "and if I sent him to prison, I
should, I fear, make him worse, and all for the sake of a few pieces of
old iron. No, Tom, I think we'll leave some one else to punish him.
You and I are too busy to think of such things. We want to start upon
our journey."

"Are we going out, uncle?" said Tom eagerly.

"Yes, boy, as soon as the great glass is made: off and away through the
mighty realms of space, to plunge our eyes into the depths of the
heavens, and see the wonders waiting for us there."

Tom felt a little puzzled by Uncle Richard's language, but he only said,
"Yes, of course," and did not quite understand why Master Pete Warboys,
who seemed to be as objectionable a young cub as ever inhabited a
pleasant country village, should be allowed to go unpunished.

That day was spent in the mill, where the carpenters were working away
steadily; and as the time sped on, the wooden dome-like roof was
finished, the shutter worked well, and a little railed place was
contrived so that men could go out to paint or repair, while at the same
time the railings looked ornamental, and gave the place a finish. Then
some rollers were added, to make the whole top glide round more easily;
and the great post which ran up the centre of the mill was cut off level
with the top chamber floor, and detached from the roof.

"That will be capital for a stand," said Uncle Richard; "and going right
down to the ground as it does, gives great steadiness and freedom from
vibration."

A few days more, and white-washing and a lining with matchboard had
completely transform