"Dickie!" she cried. "Dickie! Did you see them? It's the ghost-hunt that Peter and Jenny told about. Edric was the Black Huntsman's name, and behind him rides the fair Godda, his bride on a white horse. Hide, Dickie! Let's hide! Don't let them see us," and she cowered down on the grass in terror.

Now it was just then that because his beloved twin was tired and frightened that Dickie felt strong and brave again, but before he could answer and comfort her a rabbit jumped out almost at their feet and bounded away up the track on their left, which led towards the cliffs. This was too much for Macbeth, who with one yelp dashed madly in pursuit. Mary straightened and wiped her eyes. She was already ashamed of her outburst.

"He's a very naughty, disobedient little dog," she said, and began to call and whistle to him. Dickie joined in, but several minutes passed as it grew quickly darker, and Macbeth did not return. A startled owl drifted silently over their heads and then called loud and clear as he swung up out of sight above the treetops. The children's cries and whistles came back to them faint and mocking as ghostly echoes, and that was all.

Then Mary started to run up the path.

"Where are you going, Mary? We're going home, aren't we? That's not the way."

She turned on him like a little fury.

"What a selfish beast you are, Dickie. Do you mean you'd go home and leave Mackie all alone and lost up here in this beastly place? It's horrid of you, Dickie... I believe I almost hate you."

"Oh, ALL RIGHT," Dickie answered. "I don't really want to leave him, and you know I wouldn't, but I want to go home and so do you, and it's getting cold and dark, and he'll follow us like he always does."

"Sorry, Dickie," she answered. "I'm sorry I said I nearly hate you. I don't... But I won't leave him alone in this awful, ghostly valley... Come on... We'll soon find him."

Dickie fumbled in his pocket.

"All right," he said. "An' just wait till we catch him! He's a naughty little dog. I've got a piece of string here somewhere, and when I get him he's jolly well going to be tied up, and I'll lead him like that all the way home."

Mary stood by while he produced an astonishing collection of old junk and turned it over with loving fingers. He found the string and disentangled it as best he could, but neither of them noticed the old "mastock" conker fall to the ground.