‘Oh, I’ll repent some day,’ said Black Thompson, loosing Stephen’s arm; ’but I’ve lots of things to do aforehand, and I reckon they can all be repented of together.  So, lad, it’s true what everybody is saying of thee—­thee has forgotten poor little Nan, and thy promise to thy father!’

‘No, I’ve never forgotten,’ replied Stephen, ’but I’ll never try to revenge myself now.  I couldn’t if I did try.  Besides, I’ve forgiven the master; so don’t speak to me again about it, Thompson.’

‘Well, lad, be sure I’ll never waste my time thinking of thee again,’ said Black Thompson, with an oath; ’thy religion has made a poor, spiritless, cowardly chap of thee, and I’ve done with thee altogether.’

Black Thompson strode away into the darkness, and was quickly out of hearing, while Stephen stood still and listened to his rapid footsteps, turning over in his mind what mischief he wished to tempt him to now.  The open shaft was only a few feet from him; but it had been safely encircled by a high iron railing, instead of being bricked over, as it had been found of use in the proper ventilation of the pit.  From Thompson and his temptation, Stephen’s thoughts went swiftly to little Nan, and how he had heard her calling to him upon that dreadful night when he went away with the poachers.  Was it possible that he could forget her for a single day?  Was she not still one of his most constant and most painful thoughts?  Yes, he could remember every pretty look of her face, and every sweet sound of her voice; yet they were saying he had forgotten her, while the pit was there for him to pass night and morning—­a sorrowful reminder of her dreadful death!  A sharp thrill ran through Stephen’s frame as his outstretched hand caught one of the iron railings, which rattled in its socket; but his very heart stood still when up from the dark, narrow depths there came a low and stifled cry of ‘Stephen!  Stephen!’

He was no coward, though Black Thompson had called him one; but this voice from the dreaded pit, at that dark and lonely hour, made him tremble so greatly that he could neither move nor shout aloud for very fear.  He leaned there, holding fast by the railing, with his hearing made wonderfully acute, and his eyes staring blindly into the dense blackness beneath him.  In another second he detected a faint glimmer, like a glow-worm deep down in the earth, and the voice, still muffled and low, came up to him again.

‘It’s only me—­Tim!’ it cried.  ’Hush! don’t speak, Stephen; don’t make any noise.  I’m left down in the pit.  They’re going to break into the master’s house to-night.  They’re going to get thee to creep through the pantry window.  If thee won’t, Jack Davies is to go.  They’ll fire the thatch, if they can’t get the door open.  Thee go and take care of Miss Anne, and send Martha to Longville for help.  Don’t trust anybody at Botfield.’