He did not know what hill it was; he did not know precisely where he was in relation to his brother's home; but he soon overheard the name of the hill from two men who were talking about it and about the weather.
"How far to Chellaston ?" asked Alec.
They told him that it was only nine miles by road, but the railway went round by a junction.
Alec began to consider the idea of walking over, now that he had disposed of Bates for the night.
"Is the storm coming this way ?" he said.
The man who had first answered him pointed to another.

"This gentleman," he said, "has just come from Chellaston." As the remark did not seem to be an answer to his question about the weather, Alec waited to hear its application.

It followed.
The first man drew a little nearer.

"He's been telling us that the Adventists--that means folks that are always expecting the end of the world--all about Chellaston believe the end's coming to-night." Alec made an exclamation.

It was a little like hearing that some one sees a ghost at your elbow.