The lights of the town were not visible from the Cuttle Well, owing to an arm of cliff that is outstretched between, but the bell could be distinctly heard, and occasionally a shout of revelry.
"They little ken!" said Tommy, darkly.
"They hinna a notion," said Corp, but he was looking somewhat perplexed himself.
"It's near time I was back for family exercise," said Gav, uneasily, "so we had better do it quick, Tommy." "Did you bring the wineglasses ?" Tommy asked him.
"No," Gav said, "the press was lockit, but I've brought egg-cups." "Stand round then." The three boys now presented a picturesque appearance, but there was none save the man in the moon to see them.

They stood round the Cuttle Well, each holding an egg-cup, and though the daring nature of their undertaking and the romantic surroundings combined to excite them, it was not fear but soaring purpose that paled their faces and caused their hands to tremble, when Tommy said solemnly, "Afore we do what we've come here to do, let's swear." "Stroke!" he said.
"Stroke!" said Gav.
"Stroke!" said Corp.
They then filled their cups and holding them over the well, so that they clinked, they said: "To the king ower the water!" "To the king ower the water!" "To the king ower the water!" When they had drunk Tommy broke his cup against a rock, for he was determined that it should never be used to honor a meaner toast, and the others followed his example, Corp briskly, though the act puzzled him, and Gav with a gloomy look because he knew that the cups would be missed to-morrow.
"Is that a' now ?" whispered Corp, wiping his forehead with his sleeve.
"All!" cried Tommy.

"Man, we've just begood." As secretly as they had entered it, they left the Den, and anon three figures were standing in a dark trance, cynically watching the revellers in the square.
"If they just kent!" muttered the smallest, who was wearing his jacket outside in to escape observation.
"But they little ken!" said Gav Dishart.
"They hinna a notion!" said Corp, contemptuously, but still he was a little puzzled, and presently he asked softly: "Lads, what just is it that they dinna ken ?" Had Gav been ready with an answer he could not have uttered it, for just then a terrible little man in black, who had been searching for him in likely places, seized him by the cuff of the neck, and, turning his face in an easterly direction, ran him to family worship.

But there was still work to do for the other two.

Walking home alone that night from Mr.
Patullo's party, Mr.Cathro had an uncomfortable feeling that he was being dogged.