OCTOBER 289 



The enchanting knave was absolute. 



"Well," he said, when we had rested 

 for a minute or so, "the nicht's wearin' 

 on, and ye maun be hungry. I had my 

 ain supper just before you cam' in. 

 Could you do wi' cold grouse ? " 



Gladly could we have done with that, 

 or with any other fare, had a meal there 

 and then been a thing desired ; but eating 

 would have been too prosaic at that 

 moment. No, no : we must be going. 



"At ony rate, you canna' go empty- 

 handed," said Peter. " That wouldna' be 

 lucky. Ootby I ha'e something that will 

 please you. Come and see." 



When we were again in the open air 

 and aside from the light cast into it from 

 the doorway, there was the Spectre 1 It 

 had taken the arm of Bismarck, and was 

 leading him across the meadow within 

 the square of oaks. John and I were 

 close at their heels. "I see I'm in a 

 lowe," the Spectre was saying, in the 

 unmistakable voice of Peter. "My 

 fishin' claes I wear them when I've a 



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