Only I couldn't sleep, and I was obliged to come over to you." "And wake me out of a beautiful sleep! What was that you threw in ?" "Stone!" "Then now go back, and don't come here in the night to get me into trouble! What's the good of going and dreaming such stuff and then coming along the dark road to tell me?
What's that ?" Tom was going to say _lightning_ as a brilliant flash made their faces quite plain for a moment, but before he could give the word utterance there was a heavy dull report as of a cannon, which seemed to run over the surface of the mere, and murmur among the reeds and trees.
"Why, it's out at sea," said Tom in a whisper.

"It can't be a wreck!" "I know!" cried Dick excitedly.

"Smugglers and a king's ship!" Just then a window was heard being opened, and the squire's voice speaking to Mrs Winthorpe.
"I don't know," he said; "sounded like a gun.

That you, Marston ?" he cried aloud as another window was thrown open.
"Yes.

Did you hear a report ?" "Yes.