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The stranger in cinder…gray took no notice of this whispered string
of observations； but again wetted his lips。 Seeing that his friend
in the chimney…corner was the only one who reciprocated his
joviality in any way； he held out his cup towards that appreciative
comrade； who also held out his own。 They clinked together； the eyes
of the rest of the room hanging upon the singer's actions。 He
parted his lips for the third verse； but at that moment another
knock was audible upon the door。 This time the knock was faint and
hesitating。
The company seemed scared； the shepherd looked with consternation
towards the entrance； and it was with some effort that he resisted
his alarmed wife's deprecatory glance； and uttered for the third
time the welcoming words； 'Walk in！'
The door was gently opened； and another man stood upon the mat。 He；
like those who had preceded him； was a stranger。 This time it was a
short； small personage； of fair complexion； and dressed in a decent
suit of dark clothes。
'Can you tell me the way to？' he began： when； gazing round the
room to observe the nature of the company amongst whom he had
fallen； his eyes lighted on the stranger in cinder…gray。 It was
just at the instant when the latter； who had thrown his mind into
his song with such a will that he scarcely heeded the interruption；
silenced all whispers and inquiries by bursting into his third
verse：…
'To…morrow is my working day；
Simple shepherds all …
To…morrow is a working day for me：
For the farmer's sheep is slain； and the lad who did it ta'en；
And on his soul may God ha' merc…y！'
The stranger in the chimney…corner； waving cups with the singer so
heartily that his mead splashed over on the hearth； repeated in his
bass voice as before：…
'And on his soul may God ha' merc…y！'
All this time the third stranger had been standing in the doorway。
Finding now that he did not come forward or go on speaking； the
guests particularly regarded him。 They noticed to their surprise
that he stood before them the picture of abject terrorhis knees
trembling； his hand shaking so violently that the door…latch by
which he supported himself rattled audibly： his white lips were
parted； and his eyes fixed on the merry officer of justice in the
middle of the room。 A moment more and he had turned； closed the
door； and fled。
'What a man can it be？' said the shepherd。
The rest； between the awfulness of their late discovery and the odd
conduct of this third visitor； looked as if they knew not what to
think； and said nothing。 Instinctively they withdrew further and
further from the grim gentleman in their midst； whom some of them
seemed to take for the Prince of Darkness himself； till they formed
a remote circle； an empty space of floor being left between them and
him …
' 。 。 。 circulus； cujus centrum diabolus。'
The room was so silentthough there were more than twenty people in
itthat nothing could be heard but the patter of the rain against
the window…shutters； accompanied by the occasional hiss of a stray
drop that fell down the chimney into the fire； and the steady
puffing of the man in the corner； who had now resumed his pipe of
long clay。
The stillness was unexpectedly broken。 The distant sound of a gun
reverberated through the airapparently from the direction of the
county…town。
'Be jiggered！' cried the stranger who had sung the song； jumping up。
'What does that mean？' asked several。
'A prisoner escaped from the jailthat's what it means。'
All listened。 The sound was repeated； and none of them spoke but
the man in the chimney…corner； who said quietly； 'I've often been
told that in this county they fire a gun at such times； but I never
heard it till now。'
'I wonder if it is MY man？' murmured the personage in cinder…gray。
'Surely it is！' said the shepherd involuntarily。 'And surely we've
zeed him！ That little man who looked in at the door by now； and
quivered like a leaf when he zeed ye and heard your song！'
'His teeth chattered； and the breath went out of his body；' said the
dairyman。
'And his heart seemed to sink within him like a stone；' said Oliver
Giles。
'And he bolted as if he'd been shot at；' said the hedge…carpenter。
'Truehis teeth chattered； and his heart seemed to sink； and he
bolted as if he'd been shot at；' slowly summed up the man in the
chimney…corner。
'I didn't notice it；' remarked the hangman。
'We were all a…wondering what made him run off in such a fright；'
faltered one of the women against the wall； 'and now 'tis
explained！'
The firing of the alarm…gun went on at intervals； low and sullenly；
and their suspicions became a certainty。 The sinister gentleman in
cinder…gray roused himself。 'Is there a constable here？' he asked；
in thick tones。 'If so； let him step forward。'
The engaged man of fifty stepped quavering out from the wall； his
betrothed beginning to sob on the back of the chair。
'You are a sworn constable？'
'I be； sir。'
'Then pursue the criminal at once； with assistance； and bring him
back here。 He can't have gone far。'
'I will； sir； I willwhen I've got my staff。 I'll go home and get
it； and come sharp here； and start in a body。'
'Staff！never mind your staff； the man'll be gone！'
'But I can't do nothing without my staffcan I； William； and John；
and Charles Jake？ No； for there's the king's royal crown a painted
on en in yaller and gold； and the lion and the unicorn； so as when I
raise en up and hit my prisoner； 'tis made a lawful blow thereby。 I
wouldn't 'tempt to take up a man without my staffno； not I。 If I
hadn't the law to gie me courage； why； instead o' my taking up him
he might take up me！'
'Now； I'm a king's man myself； and can give you authority enough for
this；' said the formidable officer in gray。 'Now then； all of ye；
be ready。 Have ye any lanterns？'
'Yeshave ye any lanterns？I demand it！' said the constable。
'And the rest of you able…bodied'
'Able…bodied menyesthe rest of ye！' said the constable。
'Have you some good stout staves and pitch…forks'
'Staves and pitchforksin the name o' the law！ And take 'em in yer
hands and go in quest； and do as we in authority tell ye！'
Thus aroused； the men prepared to give chase。 The evidence was；
indeed； though circumstantial； so convincing； that but little
argument was needed to show the shepherd's guests that after what
they had seen it would look very much like connivance if they did
not instantly pursue the unhappy third stranger； who could not as
yet have gone more than a few hundred yards over such uneven
country。
A shepherd is always well provided with lanterns； and； lighting
these hastily； and with hurdle…staves in their hands； they poured
out of the door； taking a direction along the crest of the hill；
away from the town； the rain having fortunately a little abated。
Disturbed by the noise； or possibly by unpleasant dreams of her
baptism； the child who had been christened began to cry heart…
brokenly in the room overhead。 These notes of grief came down
through the chinks of the floor to the ears of the women below； who
jumped up one by one； and seemed glad of the