If I'd gone on this morning I might have found out something, but I went back." Dick gazed at him searchingly, but the farmer did not meet his eyes.
"I've been straange and fidgety ever since my fire," continued the farmer; "and it's med me get out o' bed o' nights and look round for fear of another.

I was out o' bed towards morning last night, and as I looked I could see yonder on the mere what seemed to be a lanthorn." "You saw that ?" said Dick involuntarily.
"Ay, lad, I saw that," said the farmer, rubbing his hands together softly; "and first of all I thowt it was a will-o'-the-wisp, but it didn't go about like one o' they, and as it went out directly and came again, I thought it was some one wi' a light." "What, out on the watter ?" said Hickathrift.
"Yes, my lad; out on the watter," said the farmer; "and that med me say to mysen: What's any one doing wi' a light out on the watter at this time?
and I could on'y think as they wanted it to set fire to some one's plaace, and I couldn't stop abed and think that.

So I got up, and went down to the shore, got into my owd punt, and loosed her, and went out torst wheer I'd seen the light." "And did you see it, mester ?" said Hickathrift.
"Nay, my lad.

I went on and on as quietly as I could go, and round the reed-bed, but all was as quiet as could be." "Didn't you see the poont ?" said the wheelwright.
"What punt ?" said Tom sharply.
Hickathrift looked confused.
"Poont o' him as hed the light, I meant," he said hurriedly.
"Nay, not a sign of it," said Farmer Tallington; "and at last I turned back and poled gently home, keeping a sharp look-out and listening all the way, but I niver see nowt nor heered nowt.

But if I'd kept out on the waiter I should p'raps have seen and saved my poor owd neighbour." "You might, mebbe," said the wheelwright thoughtfully; while, after gazing in the faces of the two men and trying to read the truth, Dick turned away with his suspicions somewhat blunted, to go to his mother's side, and watch with her till the sound of hoofs on the rough track told that the messenger had returned..