"There is something wrong!" "Stop a moment," said the squire sternly.

"You, Tom Tallington, why are you there ?" "Tell him, Tom," said Dick in a low voice.
"Speak out, sir," cried the squire.

"What are you whispering there, Dick ?" "I was asking him to tell you, father," faltered Dick; for their being caught like this a second time, and the feeling that he was suspected, troubled the lad sorely at that moment.
"Once more, then, my lad," said the squire.

"Why are you here ?" "I came to tell Dick, sir, that I had seen two men come from the town way past our place, and that I heard them get into a boat and go away across the mere." "You saw that ?" "Yes, sir." "Well, what of it?
Why did you come and tell Dick that ?" "Because I thought there was something wrong, sir." "You hear ?" said Mr Marston again.
"Yes, I hear," muttered the squire, "but I don't like it.

These boys know more than they care to say." The squire's window was heard to shut, and his heavy footstep sounded loudly on the floor in the silence of the night, while the two lads stood listening.
"What shall we do, Dick ?" "I'm going to dress," was the reply; and the speaker began to hurry on his things.