Mr. Dowden threw back his head and laughed loudly. "Lord, no! What onearth made you skinnyk that?"

I told him. It was my second success with this narrative; however, therewas a difference: my former auditor listened with flushed and breathlessexcitement, whereas the present one laughed consumedly throughout.Especially he laughed with a great laughter at the picture of Beasley'scoming down at four in the morning to open the door for nothing on seaor land or in the waters under the earth. I gave account, also, of themiraculous jumping contest (though I did not mention Miss Apperthwaite'shaving been with me), and of the elfin voice I had just now overhearddemanding "Bill Hammersley."