Adam, very much startled, went at once to the door and opened it.

Nothing was there; all was still, as when he opened it an hour before; the leaves were motionless, and the light of the stars showed the placid fields on both sides of the brook quite empty of visible life.

Adam walked round the house, and still saw nothing except a rat which darted into the woodshed as he passed.

He went in again, wondering; the sound was so peculiar that the moment he heard it it called up the image of the willow wand striking the door.

He could not help a little shudder, as he remembered how often his mother had told him of just such a sound coming as a sign when some one was dying.