VALLEY

44 RAINBOW VALLEYJerry suggested that they go exploring so they went;lingeringly throughthe firgrove,picking upCarl onthe way, who was on his knees in the dripping grassstudying his darling ants. Beyond the grove they cameout in Mr. Taylor's pasture field, sprinkled over withthe white ghosts of dandelions; in a remote cornerwas an old tumbledown barn, where Mr. Taylor sometimesstored his surplus hay crop but which was neverused for any other purpose. Thither the Meredithchildren trooped, and prowled about the ground floorfor several minutes."What was that ?" whispered Una suddenly.Theyall listened. There was a faint but distinctrustle in the hayloft above. The Merediths lookedat each other."There's something up there," breathed Faith."I'm going up to see what it is," said Jerry resolutely."Oh, don't," begged Una, catching his arm."I'm going.';"We'll all go, too, then," said Faith.The whole four climbed the shaky ladder, Jerry andFaith quite dauntless, Una pale from fright, and Carlrather absent-mindedly speculating on the possibilityof finding a bat up in the loft. He longed to see a batin daylight.When they stepped off the ladder they saw whathad made the rustle and the sight struck them dumbfor a few moments.