But his astonished and inquisitive eyes had barely become aware of these details when Andrew Henderson turned towards the circular sconce in which the candles were set and began to extinguish them one by one.

As the light died, he stepped forward and John drew back sharply; but at his movement a stone, loosened by his heel, went rolling down into the hollow.

And a moment later his uncle, glancing up, saw his figure outlined against the luminous sky.
What the outcome of the incident would have been on any other occasion, it is difficult to say.

As it was, the moment was propitious.

Old Henderson, surprised in an instant of exaltation, was pleased to put his own narrow, superstitious construction on the boy's appearance.