"Why, Jack," said the doctor, "I did intend watching here; but now the
game is disturbed, it is of no use remaining here. We have secured the
picture, and now there will be no need of remaining in the house; in
fact, there is no fear of robbery now." "Not so long as we are here," said Jack Pringle; "the smugglers won't
show a head while the revenue cutter is on the look out." "Certainly not, Jack," said Mr. Chillingworth; "I think we have scared
them away--the picture is safe." "Yes--so long as we are here." "And longer, too, I hope." Jack shook his head, as much as to intimate that he had many doubts upon
such a point, and couldn't be hurried into any concession of opinion of
the safety of such a picture as that--much as he disliked it, and as
poor an opinion as he had of it. "Don't you think it will be safe?" "No," said Jack. "And why not?" said Mr. Chillingworth, willing to hear what Jack could
advance against the opinion he had expressed, especially as he had
disturbed the marauder in the very act of robbery. "Why, you'll be watched by this very man; and when you are gone, he will
return in safety, and take this plaguey picture away with him." "Well, he might do so," said Mr. Chillingworth, after some thought; "he
even endangered his own escape for the purpose of carrying it off." "He wants it," said Jack. "What, the picture?" "Aye, to be sure; do you think anybody would have tried so hard to get
away with it? He wants it; and the long and the short of it is, he will
have it, despite all that can be done to prevent it; that's my opinion." "Well, there is much truth in that; but what to do I don't know." "Take it to the cottage," suggested Jack. "The picture must be more than
we think for; suppose we carry it along." "That is no bad plan of yours, Jack," said Mr. Chillingworth; "and,
though a little awkward, yet it is not the worst I have heard;
but--but--what will they say, when they see this frightful face in that
quiet, yet contented house?" "Why, they'll say you brought it," said Jack; "I don't see what else
they can say, but that you have done well; besides, when you come to
explain, you will make the matter all right to 'em." "Yes, yes," said Chillingworth; "and, as the picture now seems to be the
incomprehensible object of attack, I will secure that, at all events." "I'll help you." "Thank you, Jack; your aid will be welcome; at least, it was so just
now." "All right, doctor," said Jack. "I may be under your hands some day." "I'll physic you for nothing," said Mr. Chillingworth. "You saved my
life. One good turn deserves another; I'll not forget." "Thank you," said Jack, as he made a wry face. "I hope you won't have
occasion. I'd sooner have a can of grog than any bottle of medicine you
can give me; I ain't ungrateful, neither." "You needn't name it; I am getting my breath again. I suppose we had
better leave this place, as soon as we conveniently can." "Exactly. The sooner the better; we can take it the more leisurely as we
go." The moon was up; there were no clouds now, but there was not a very
strong light, because the moon was on the wane. It was one of those
nights during which an imperceptible vapour arises, and renders the moon
somewhat obscure, or, at least, it robs the earth of her rays; and then
there were shadows cast by the moon, yet they grew fainter, and those
cast upon the floor of the apartment were less distinct than at first. There seemed scarce a breath of air stirring; everything was quiet and
still; no motion--no sound, save that of the breathing of the two who
sat in that mysterious apartment, who gazed alternately round the place,
and then in each other's countenances. Suddenly, the silence of the
night was disturbed by a very slight, but distinct noise, which struck
upon them with peculiar distinctness; it was a gentle tap, tap, at the
window, as if some one was doing it with their fingernail. They gazed on each other, for some moments, in amazement, and then at
the window, but they saw nothing; and yet, had there been anything, they
must have seen it, but there was not even a shadow. "Well," said Mr. Chillingworth, after he had listened to the tap, tap,
several times, without being able to find out or imagine what it could
arise from, "what on earth can it be?" "Don't know," said Jack, very composedly, squinting up at the window. "Can't see anything." "Well, but it must be something," persisted Mr. Chillingworth; "it must
be something." "I dare say it is; but I don't see anything. I can't think what it can
be, unless--"

"Unless what? Speak out," said the doctor, impatiently. "Why, unless it is Davy Jones himself, tapping with his long
finger-nails, a-telling us as how we've been too long already here." "Then, I presume, we may as well go; and yet I am more disposed to deem
it some device of the enemy to dislodge us from this place, for the
purpose of enabling them to effect some nefarious scheme or other they
have afloat." "It may be, and is, I dare say, a do of some sort or other," said Jack;
"but what' can it be?" "There it is again," said the doctor; "don't you hear it? I can, as
plain as I can hear myself." "Yes," said Jack; "I can hear it plain enough, and can see it, too; and
that is more. Yes, yes, I can tell all about it plain enough." "You can? Well, then, shew me," said the doctor, as he strode up to the
window, before which Jack was standing gazing upon one particular spot
of the shattered window with much earnestness. "Where is it?" "Look there," said Jack, pointing with his finger to a particular spot,
to which the doctor directed his attention, expecting to see a long,
skinny hand tapping against the glass; but he saw nothing. "Where is it?" "Do you see that twig of ivy, or something of the sort?" inquired Jack. "Yes, I do." "Very well, watch that; and when the wind catches it--and there is but
very little--it lifts it up, and then, falling down again, it taps the
glass." Just as he spoke, there came a slight gust of wind; and it gave a
practical illustration to his words; for the tapping was heard as often
as the plant was moved by the wind. "Well," said Mr. Chillingworth, "however simple and unimportant the
matter may be, yet I cannot but say I am always well pleased to find a
practical explanation of it, so that there will be no part left in
doubt." "There is none about that," said Jack. "None. Well, we are not beset, then. We may as well consider of the
manner of our getting clear of this place. What sort of burthen this
picture may be I know not; but I will make the attempt to carry it." "Avast, there," said Jack; "I will carry it: at all events, I'll take
the first spell, and, if I can't go on, we'll turn and turn about." "We can divide the weight from the first, and then neither of us will be
tired at all." "Just as you please, sir," said Jack Pringle. "I am willing to obey
orders; and, if we are to get in to-night before they are all a-bed, we
had better go at once; and then we shall not disturb them."