"You poor things," he said, "you just believe everything you're telled! How do I know that this is not a trick of Stroke's to bring me here when he is some other gait working mischief ?" Corp was impressed, but Gavinia said, short-sightedly, "There's no sign o't." "There's ower much sign o't," retorted Tommy.

"What's this story about Double Dykes?
And how do we ken that there hasna been foul work there, and this man at the bottom o't?
I tell you, before the world's half an hour older, I'll find out," and he looked significantly at Corp, who answered, quaking, "I winna gang by mysel', no, Tommy, I winna!" So Tommy had to accompany him, saying, valiantly, "I'm no feared, and this rime is fine for hodding in," to which Corp replied, as firmly, "Neither am I, and we can aye keep touching cauld iron." Before they were half way down the Double Dykes they got a thrill, for they realized, simultaneously, that they were being followed.

They stopped and gripped each other hard, but now they could hear nothing.
"The Painted Lady!" Corp whispered.
"Stroke!" Tommy replied, as cautiously.

He was excited rather than afraid, and had the pluck to cry, "Wha's that?
I see you!"-- but no answer came back through the mist, and now the boys had a double reason for pressing forward.
"Can you see the house, Corp ?" "It should be here about, but it's smored in rime." "I'm touching the paling.

I ken the road to the window now." "Hark! What's that ?" It sounded like devil's music in front of them, and they fell back until Corp remembered, "It maun be the door swinging open, and squealing and moaning on its hinges.