“We must find Cadellin at once,” he said. “Because if this is Firefrost, the sooner he has it the better it will be for us all.”

At that moment the cart drew up outside, and Gowther called that it was time to be going home.

The children tried hard to conceal their agitation, yet the leisurely pace Prince seemed to adopt on the “front” hill, as it was called locally, had them almost bursting with impatience.

“Bess,” said Susan, “are you sure you can’t remember anything else about the Bridestone? I want to find out as much as I can about it.”

“Nay, lass,!”ve told you all as I know. My mother had it from her mother, and she always said as it had been passed down like that for I dunner know how mony years. And I believe theer was some story about how it should never be shown to onybody outside the family for fear of bringing seven years bad luck, but my mother didner go in much for superstition and that sort of claptrap.”

“Have you always lived in Alderley?”

“Bless you, yes I was born and bred in th’Hough” (she pronounced it “thuff”), “but my mother was a Goostrey woman, and believe before that her family had connexions Mobberley way.”

“Oh?”

Colin and Susan could hardly contain themselves.

“Gowther,” said Colin, “before we come home, Sue and I want to go to Stormy Point; which is the nearest way?”

“What Before you’ve had your teas?” exclaimed Bess.

“Yes,I’m afraid so. You see, it’s something very important and secret, and we must go.”

“You’re not up to owt daft down the mines, are you?” said Gowther.

“Oh no,” said Colin; “but, please, we must go. We’ll be back early, and it doesn’t matter about tea.”

“Eh well, it’ll be your stomachs as’ll be empty! But think on, we dunner want to come looking for you at midneet.