100 A MYSTERY SOLVED. CHAP, vi 



the rickety gable end of the old church of Boyndie ; 

 in which case it would have fallen upon the tombstone, 

 under which he lay. 



The hurricane lasted for about an hour, after which 

 the wind fell. Midnight was long past, and morning 

 was approaching. Before leaving the tombstone, 

 Edward endeavoured to obtain a few minutes' sleep. 

 He had just begun to doze, when he was awakened 

 by a weird and unearthly moaning. He listened 

 The moaning became a stifled scream. The noise 

 grew louder and louder, until it rose into the highest 

 pitch of howling. What could it be? He was in 

 the home of the dead! Was it a ghost? Never! 

 His mind revolted from the wretched superstition. 

 He looked out to see what it could be ; when some- 

 thing light in colour dashed past like a flash, closely 

 followed by another and a darker object. After the 

 screaming had ceased, Edward again composed him- 

 self to sleep, when he was wakened up by a sudden 

 rush over his legs. He looked up. The mystery 

 was solved ! Two cats a light and a dark one had 

 been merely caterwauling in the graveyard, and mak- 

 ing night hideous according to their usual custom. 



By this time the day was beginning to break, and 

 Edward prepared to leave his resting-place and re- 

 sume his labours. He felt very stiff as he crept from 

 under the tombstone, where he had been lying in a 

 cramped position. He was both cold and wet ; but 

 his stiffness soon wore off ; and after some smart run' 



