256 MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 



The Squire of Dewthorpe stopped. " Hullo ! " he shouted. 



A muffled reply came from somewhere underground in 

 the vicinity, and Charles Badsworth made his way cautiously 

 in the direction of the sound. 



" Here's the place/' he presently called over his shoulder, 

 and kneeling down peered mto what seemed to be impene- 

 trable darkness. " Hullo ! " he called once more. 



Now, though Mr. Badsworth could see nothing, Bill Hart 

 below could plainly distinguish a head and face apparently 

 locking down on him. 



An hour or so spent at the bottom of a twelve-foot well 

 with the sole companionship of two feet of clay and muddy 

 water can scarcely be called exhilarating, and no doubt has 

 a tendency to shake nerves which in their time have been 

 severely tested by drink. 



To Bill Hart so situated there appeared the face of the 

 late Squire of Cranston, and to the vision was added a voice 

 which he had in times past heard on the magisterial bench 

 and elsewhere. Any spirit of bravado which Bill might 

 have planned to display at the time of rescue evaporated, 

 and it was something between a groan and cry of terror 

 from which his words emanated : " Oh, Lord ! He's come 

 for me ; and I saw 'im buried ! " 



Charles Badsworth assumed a partially erect position, 

 narrowly escaping sitting back on his spurs, and burst into 

 a hearty laugh. It was some seconds before he could ask 

 ** How far down are you ? " 



" A matter o' twelve foot or so," was the reply. " I can't 

 get no holt anywhere, it's all slippery clay down here and 

 crumblin' stuff above." Mr. Badsworth's laugh had re- 

 assured Bill somewhat. 



Jimmy Edwards suggested a combination of stirrup leathers 

 as a means of rescue, and in due course three pairs were 

 looped together. With Jack Morgan lying flat and Mr. 

 Badsworth and Jimmy Edwards holding him by the legs, 

 after one or two failures (Jack's boots were nearly pulled off) 

 the clay-besmirched Bill Hart was brought to the surface. 



