CHAPTER 26.
The Goblin-Miners That same night several of the servants were having a chat together before going to bed.
'What can that noise be ?' said one of the housemaids, who had been listening for a moment or two.
'I've heard it the last two nights,' said the cook.

'If there were any about the place, I should have taken it for rats, but my Tom keeps them far enough.' 'I've heard, though,' said the scullery-maid, 'that rats move about in great companies sometimes.

There may be an army of them invading us.
I've heard the noises yesterday and today too.' 'It'll be grand fun, then, for my Tom and Mrs Housekeeper's Bob,' said the cook.

'They'll be friends for once in their lives, and fight on the same side.

I'll engage Tom and Bob together will put to flight any number of rats.' 'It seems to me,' said the nurse, 'that the noises are much too loud for that.