, distant about two feet from it; but he could see that the room
was lighted up.

Very cautiously he completed his work on the matchboarding, handing down
each plank to Neddy when he had detached it. Then he cut out a pane of
glass--it was all A.B.C. to him--put his hand in and raised the sash a
little; then it was simple to push it up from below. But the sash had
not been raised for years; it stuck; when it yielded to his efforts, it
gave a loud creak. He flung one leg over the window-sill and sat poised
there, listening. The room was lighted up; but if there were anyone in
it, he must be asleep, or very hard of hearing, or that creak would have
aroused his attention.

Released from his office as a support, Neddy rose, and hauled himself
up by his arms till he could see in the window. "Lights!" he whispered.
Mike nodded and got in--on the dais, behind the curtain. Neddy
scrambled up after him, finding some help from a stunted but sturdy old
apple tree that grew against the wall. Now they were both inside,
behind the tall curtain.

"Come on," Mike whispered. "We must see if there's anybody here, and,
if there isn't, put out the light." For on either side of the curtain
there was room for a streak of light which might by chance be seen
from the road.

Mike advanced round the left-side edge of the curtain; he had perceived
by now that it formed the back of some structure, though he could not
yet see of what nature the structure was; nor was he now examining. For
as he stepped out on the dais at the side of the canopy, his eyes were
engrossed by another feature of this strange apartment. He stretched back
his hand and caught hold of Neddy's brawny arm, pulling him forward. "See
that--that hole, Neddy?"

For the moment they forgot the lights; they forgot the possibility of an
occupant of the room--which indeed was, save for their own whispers,
absolutely still; they stood looking at the strange hole, and then into
one another's faces, for a few seconds. Then they stole softly nearer to
it. "That's a blasted funny 'ole!" breathed Neddy. "Look's like a
bloke's--"

Mike's fingers squeezed his arm tighter, evidently again claiming his
attention. "My hat, we needn't look far for the stuff!" he whispered. An
uneasy whisper it was; the whole place looked queer, and that hole was
uncanny--it had its contents.

Yet they approached nearer; they came to the edge and stood looking in.
As though he could not believe the mere si