“Yo mun go down a few steps,” said Hal o’ Nabs, “or else he’ll nah hear yo.”

The abbot complied, and partly descended the ladder.

“I see no one,” he said.

“T’ neet’s dark,” replied Hal o’ Nabs, who was close behind him.  “Ebil canna be far off.  Hist! ey hear him—­go on.”

The abbot was now obliged to comply, though he did so with, reluctance.  Presently he found himself upon the roof of a building, which he knew to be connected with the mill by a covered passage running along the south bank of the Calder.  Scarcely had he set foot there, than Hal o’ Nabs jumped after him, and, seizing the ladder, cast it into the stream, thus rendering Paslew’s return impossible.

“Neaw, lort abbut,” he cried, with a low, exulting laugh, “yo hanna brok’n yor word, an ey’n kept moine.  Yo’re free agen your will.”

“You have destroyed me by your mistaken zeal,” cried the abbot, reproachfully.

“Nowt o’t sort,” replied Hal; “ey’n saved yo’ fro’ destruction.  This way, lort abbut—­this way.”

And taking Paslew’s arm he led him to a low parapet, overlooking the covered passage before described.  Half an hour before it had been bright moonlight, but, as if to favour the fugitive, the heavens had become overcast, and a thick mist had arisen from the river.

“Ebil!  Ebil!” cried Hal o’ Nabs, leaning over the parapet.

“Here,” replied a voice below.  “Is aw reet?  Is he wi’ yo?”

“Yeigh,” replied Hal.

“Whot han yo dun wi’ t’ steigh?” cried Ebil.

“Never yo moind,” returned Hal, “boh help t’ abbut down.”

Paslew thought it vain to resist further, and with the help of Hal o’ Nabs and the miller, and further aided by some irregularities in the wall, he was soon safely landed near the entrance of the passage.  Abel fell on his knees, and pressed the abbot’s hand to his lips.

“Owr Blessed Leady be praised, yo are free,” he cried.

“Dunna stond tawking here, Ebil,” interposed Hal o’ Nabs, who by this time had reached the ground, and who was fearful of some new remonstrance on the abbot’s part.  “Ey’m feerd o’ pursuit.”

“Yo’ needna be afeerd o’ that, Hal,” replied the miller.  “T’ guard are safe enough.  One o’ owr chaps has just tuk em up a big black jack fu’ o’ stout ele; an ey warrant me they winnaw stir yet awhoile.  Win it please yo to cum wi’ me, lort abbut?”

With this, he marched along the passage, followed by the others, and presently arrived at a door, against which he tapped.  A bolt being withdrawn, it was instantly opened to admit the party, after which it was as quickly shut, and secured.  In answer to a call from the miller, a light appeared at the top of a steep, ladder-like flight of wooden steps, and up these Paslew, at the entreaty of Abel, mounted, and found himself in a large, low chamber, the roof of which was crossed by great beams, covered thickly with cobwebs, whitened by flour, while the floor was strewn with empty sacks and sieves.