A WILL-O-THE-WISP. A RUFF. 45 



Frank appeared. He looked about ere he went down again, 

 and to his astonishment he saw a spot of light dancing about 

 on the marshes in a place where he thought no human being 

 could be at this hour. 



' I say, Dick and Jimmy, here is a will-o'-the-wisp dancing 

 about on the marshes." 



They came quickly on deck, and watched the strange light, 

 which now and then disappeared, and then again became 

 visible. It now shone bright, and then faint, and an uncertain 

 glimmer beneath it showed that it hovered over the water as 

 well as over the marsh. 



"There is no such thing as ignis fatuus nowadays/' said 

 Jimmy, " so what can it be ? " 



" I vote we go and see," said Frank. 



" You will only get bogged if you do. It is dangerous 

 enough to walk on the marsh in the daylight, and almost im- 

 possible by night.". 



" It strikes me there is a narrow channel, or dyke, leading 

 from the river,, which may lead to where that light is. I saw a 

 line of water about twenty yards off. We passed it as we were 

 about to anchor. Let us take the boat and go up it, if you 

 wish to see what it is," said Jimmy. 



His suggestion was approved of. and they dressed and 

 stepped into the punt, and after a little while they found the 

 dyke and pushed their way along it. They moved cautiously 

 and with little noise, and at last emerged upon a small open 

 piece of water, and as they did so, the light gleamed for a 

 moment and went out. They peered eagerly through the 

 gloom, but could see nothing. All was silent and still, and 

 ' very uncanny. 



" It is no good staying here," said Frank ; " let us go back 

 and try to sleep, or we shall not be fit to be seen to-morrow 

 when we meet the others at Wroxham." 



So they rowed back, wondering what the cause of the light 

 had been. They tumbled into their berths again and got just 

 an hour's broken sleep before the dawn effectually aroused 

 them. It was very early, but they had no choice but to rise 

 and get something to eat. The morning was bright and 

 cloudless, the lark sang merrily in the sky, waterfowl swam on 

 the quiet stretches of the river in peaceful security, the fresh- 

 ness and charm which always accompanies the early dawn 



