"Crumbs! It's got away!"

"It's nearly quicksands here."

"If I tried I could nearly _drown_ here!"

At last, through the hedge, they saw him emerge in the field across
the road. He swaggered across to them aglow with his own heroism. As
he entered the gate he was rewarded by the old light of adoration in
Joan's blue eyes, but on full sight of him it quickly turned to
consternation. His appearance was beyond description. There was a
malicious smile on Cuthbert's face.

"Do thumthing elth," he urged him. "Go on, do thumthing elth."

"Oh, William," said Joan anxiously, "you'd better not."

But the gods had sent madness to William. He was drunk with the sense
of his own prowess. He was regardless of consequences.

[Illustration: "I CAN CLIMB UP THAT AN' SLIDE DOWN THE COAL INSIDE.
THAT'S WHAT I CAN DO. THERE'S NOTHIN' I CAN'T DO!" SAID WILLIAM.]

He pointed to a little window high up in the coal-house.

"I can climb up that an' slide down the coal inside. That's what I can
do. There's _nothin'_ I can't do. I----"

"All right," urged Cuthbert, "if you can do that, do it, and I'll