Another scream, nearer apparently than the first, and then a loud wailing, broken every few seconds by a strange slight laugh, of which the distance seemed quite indefinite.

Was it close by, or beyond the Red Brook?
The prayer-leader turned white, the boys stood huddled round him in every attitude of terror.

Again the scream, and the little ghostly laugh! Looking at each other wildly, the whole congregation broke from the smithy down the hill.

But the leader stopped himself.
'It's mebbe soom one in trouble,' he said manfully, every limb trembling.

'We mun go and see, my lads.' And he rushed off in the direction whence the first sound had seemed to come--towards the Red Brook--half a dozen of the bolder spirits following.