Page 182 - The snake's pass

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170 — THE SNAKE'S PASS.
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 stra-
tum. 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 thought-
fulness 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,