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 that in a month or two there may be some settling down up there that may be serious for some one."

"How do you mean?"

"Simply this—that I am not at all satisfied about Murdock's house. There is every indication of it being right in the track of the bog in case it should shift again; and I would not be surprised if that hollow where it stands was right over the deepest part of the natural reservoir, where the rock slopes into the ascending stratum. This wet weather looks bad; and already the bog has risen somewhat. If the rain lasts I wouldn't like to live in that house after five or six weeks."

A thought struck me:—

"Did you tell this to Murdock?"

"Certainly! the moment the conviction was in my mind."

"When was that now? just for curiosity!"

"Last night, before I came away." A light began to dawn on me, as to Murdock's readiness to sell the land. I did not want to have to explain anything, so I did not mention the subject of my purchase, but simply asked Dick:—

"And what did our upright friend say?"

"He said, in his own sweet manner, that it would last as long as he wanted it, and that after that it might go to hell—and me too, he added, with a thoughtfulness that was all his own."

When I went to my room that night I thought over the matter. For good or ill I had bought the property,