“Very well, watch that; and when the wind catches it—­and there is but very little—­it lifts it up, and then, falling down again, it taps the glass.”

Just as he spoke, there came a slight gust of wind; and it gave a practical illustration to his words; for the tapping was heard as often as the plant was moved by the wind.

“Well,” said Mr. Chillingworth, “however simple and unimportant the matter may be, yet I cannot but say I am always well pleased to find a practical explanation of it, so that there will be no part left in doubt.”

“There is none about that,” said Jack.

“None.  Well, we are not beset, then.  We may as well consider of the manner of our getting clear of this place.  What sort of burthen this picture may be I know not; but I will make the attempt to carry it.”

“Avast, there,” said Jack; “I will carry it:  at all events, I’ll take the first spell, and, if I can’t go on, we’ll turn and turn about.”

“We can divide the weight from the first, and then neither of us will be tired at all.”

“Just as you please, sir,” said Jack Pringle.  “I am willing to obey orders; and, if we are to get in to-night before they are all a-bed, we had better go at once; and then we shall not disturb them.”

“Good, Jack,” said Mr. Chillingworth; “very good:  let us begin to beat our retreat at once.”

“Very good,” said Jack.

They both rose and approached the picture, which stood up in one corner, half reclining against the wall; the light, at least so much as there was, fell upon it, and gave it a ghastly and deathly hue, which made Mr. Chillingworth feel an emotion he could not at all understand; but, as soon as he could, he withdrew his eyes from off the picture, and they proceeded to secure it with some cord, so that they might carry it between them the easier—­with less trouble and more safety.

These preparations did not take long in making, and, when completed, they gave another inquiring look round the chamber, and Mr. Chillingworth again approached the window, and gazed out upon the garden below, but saw nothing to attract his attention.

Turning away, he came to the picture, with which Jack Pringle had been standing.  They proceeded towards the stairs, adopting every precaution they could take to prevent any surprise and any attempt upon the object of their solicitude.

Then they came to the great hall, and, having opened the door, they carried it out; then shutting the door, they both stood outside of Bannerworth Hall; and, before taking the picture up in their hands, they once more looked suspiciously around them.

There was nothing to be seen, and so, shouldering the ominous portrait, they proceeded along the garden till they conveyed it into the roadway.

“Now,” said Jack, “we are off; we can scud along under press of sail, you know.”

“I would rather not,” said the doctor, “for two reasons; one of which is, I can’t do it myself, and the other is, we should run the risk of injuring the picture; besides this, there is no reason for so doing.”