“Very well,” said Jack, “make it agreeable to yourself, doctor.  See you, Jack’s alive, and I am willing to do all I can to help you.”

“I am very glad of your aid,” said Mr. Chillingworth; “so we will proceed slowly.  I shall be glad when we are there; for there are few things more awkward than this picture to carry.”

“It is not heavy,” said Jack, giving it a hitch up, that first pulled the doctor back, and then pushed him forward again.

“No; but stop, don’t do that often, Jack, or else I shall be obliged to let go, to save myself from falling,” said the doctor.

“Very sorry,” said Jack; “hope it didn’t inconvenience you; but I could carry this by myself.”

“And so could I,” returned Mr. Chillingworth; “but the probability is there would be some mischief done to it, and then we should be doing more harm than good.”

“So we should,” said Jack.

They proceeded along with much care and caution.  It was growing late now, and no one was about—­at least, they met none.  People did not roam about much after dark, especially since the reports of the vampyre became current, for, notwithstanding all their bravery and violence while in a body, yet to meet and contend with him singly, and unseen, was not at all a popular notion among them; indeed, they would sooner go a mile out of their way, or remain in doors, which they usually did.

The evening was not precisely dark, there was moonlight enough to save it from that, but there was a mist hanging about, that rendered objects, at a short distance, very indistinct.

Their walk was uninterrupted by any one, and they had got through half the distance without any disturbance or interruption whatever.

When they arrived at the precincts of the village, Jack Pringle said to Dr. Chillingworth, “Do you intend going through the village, doctor?”

“Why not? there will be nobody about, and if there should be, we shall be safe enough from any molestation, seeing there are none here who would dare to harm us; it is the shortest way, too.”

“Very good,” said Jack; “I am agreeable, and as for any one harming me, they know better; but, at all events, there’s company, and there’s less danger, you know, doctor; though I’m always company to myself, but haven’t any objection to a messmate, now and then.”

They pursued their way in silence, for some distance, the doctor not caring about continuing the talk of Jack, which amounted to nothing; besides, he had too much to do, for, notwithstanding the lightness of the picture, which Jack had endeavoured to persuade the doctor of, he found it was heavy and ungainly; indeed, had he been by himself he would have had some trouble to have got it away.

“We are nearly there,” said Jack, putting down his end of the picture, which brought Doctor Chillingworth to a standstill.

“Yes, we are; but what made you stop?”