He came downstairs and opened the back door.

As he did so, he heard a scuttling rustle.

The garden was empty, but the rustle he had heard set him exploring the dirty, rag-covered hedge with keen eyes.

He saw nothing, and walked down the garden, stooping and peering into the bottom of the hedge.

Half-way down it his eyes fell on two little black feet, just sticking out; and above them two frightened eyes stared through the twigs.
Sir Tancred put his hands in among them gently, and drew out a tiny child; his peaked little face was black, his thin little arms and legs were black, he was clothed in filthy rags; and his yellowish hair was a tangled mat.