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〃There appeared to be no one in the cottage； upstairs or down。 I called to Afy； but she did not answer。 I caught up the gun； and was running from the cottage when Locksley came out of the wood and looked at me。 I grew confused； fearful； and I threw the gun back again and made off。〃
〃What were your motives for acting in that way？〃
〃A panic had come over me； and in that moment I must have lost the use of my reason； otherwise I never should have acted as I did。 Thoughts； especially of fear； pass through our minds with astonishing swiftness； and I feared lest the crime should be fastened upon me。 It was fear made me snatch up my gun； lest it should be found near the body； it was fear made me throw it back again when Locksley appeared in viewa fear you understand； from which all judgment； all reason； had departed。 But for my own conduct； the charge never would have been laid to me。〃
〃Go on。〃
〃In my flight I came upon Bethel。 I knew that if he had gone toward the cottage after the shot was fired； he must have encountered Thorn flying from it。 He denied that he had； he said he had only gone along the path for a few paces； and had then plunged into the wood again。 I believed him and departed。〃
〃Departed from West Lynne？〃
〃That night I did。 It was a foolish； fatal step； the result of cowardice。 I found the charge was laid to me； and I thought I would absent myself for a day or two； to see how things turned out。 Next came the inquest and the verdict against me； and I then left for good。〃
〃This is the truth； so far as you are cognizant of it？〃
〃I swear that it is truth； and the whole truth； so far as I am cognizant of it；〃 replied Richard Hare； with emotion。 〃I could not assert it more solemnly were I before God。〃
He was subjected to a rigid cross…examination； but his testimony was not shaken in the least。 Perhaps not one present but was impressed with its truth。
Afy Hallijohn was recalled； and questioned as to Richard's presence at her father's house that night。 It tallied with the account given by Richard； but it had to be drawn from her。
〃Why did you decline to receive Richard Hare into the cottage； after appointing him to come？〃
〃Because I chose；〃 returned Afy。
〃Tell the jury why you chose。〃
〃Well； I had got a friend with meit was Captain Thorn；〃 she added； feeling that she should only be questioned on this point； so might as well acknowledge it。 〃I did not admit Richard Hare； for I fancied they might get up a quarrel if they were together。〃
〃For what purpose did Richard Hare bring down his gundo you know？〃
〃It was to lend to my father。 My father's gun had something the matter with it； and was at the smith's。 I had heard him； the previous day； ask Mr。 Richard to lend him one of his； and Mr。 Richard said he would bring one； as he did。〃
〃You lodged the gun against the wallsafely？〃
〃Quite safely。〃
〃Was it touched by you； after placing it there； or by the prisoner？〃
〃I did not touch it； neither did he； that I saw。 It was that same gun which was afterward found near my father； and had been discharged。〃
The next witness called was Otway Bethel。 He also held share in the curiosity of the public； but not in equal degree with Afy； still less with Richard Hare。 The substance of his testimony was as follows：
〃On the evening that Hallijohn was killed； I was in the Abbey Wood； and I saw Richard Hare come down the path with a gun； as if he had come down from his own home。〃
〃Did Richard Hare see you？〃
〃No； he could not see me； I was right in the thicket。 He went to the cottage door； and was about to enter； when Afy Hallijohn came hastily out of it； pulling the door to behind her； and holding it in her hand； as if afraid he would go in。 Some colloquy ensued； but I was too far off to hear it； and then she took the gun from him and went indoors。 Some time after that I saw Richard Hare amid the trees at a distance； farther off the cottage； then； than I was； and apparently watching the path。 I was wondering what he was up to； hiding there； when I head a shot fired； close； as it seemed； to the cottage； and〃
〃Stop a bit； witness。 Could that shot have been fired by Richard Hare？〃
〃It could not。 He was a quarter of a mile； nearly； away from it。 I was much nearer the cottage than he。〃
〃Go on。〃
〃I could not imagine what that shot meant； or who could have fired it not that I suspected mischiefand I knew that poachers did not congregate so near Hallijohn's cottage。 I set off to reconnoiter； and as I turned the corner； which brought the house within my view； I saw Captain Thorn； as he was called； come leaping out of it。 His face was white with terror； his breath was gonein short； I never saw any living man betray so much agitation。 I caught his arm as he would have passed me。 'What have you been about？' I asked。 'Was it you that fired？' He〃
〃Stay。 Why did you suspect him？〃
〃From his state of excitementfrom the terror he was inthat some ill had happened； I felt sure； and so would you； had you seen him as I did。 My arresting him increased his agitation； he tried to throw me off； but I am a strong man； and I suppose he thought it best to temporize。 'Keep dark upon it； Bethel；' he said； 'I will make it worth your while。 The thing was not premeditated； it was done in the heat of passion。 What business had the fellow to abuse me？ I have done no harm to the girl。' As he thus spoke； he took out a pocket book with the hand that was at liberty； I held the other〃
〃As the prisoner thus spoke； you mean？〃
〃The prisoner。 He took a bank…note from his pocket book； and thrust it into my hands。 It was a note for fifty pounds。 'What's done can't be undone； Bethel；' he said； 'and your saying that you saw me here can serve no good turn。 Shall it be silence？' I took the note and answered that it should be silence。 I had not the least idea that anybody was killed。〃
〃What did you suppose had happened； then？〃
〃I could not suppose； I could not think； it all passed in the haste and confusion of a moment； and no definite idea occurred to me。 Thorn flew on down the path； and I stood looking after him。 The next was I heard footsteps； and I slipped within the trees。 They were those of Richard Hare； who took the path to the cottage。 Presently he returned； little less agitated than Thorn had been。 I had gone into an open space； then； and he accosted me； asking if I had seen 'that hound' fly from the cottage？ 'What hound？' I asked of him。 'That fine fellow； that Thorn； who comes after Afy；' he answered； but I stoutly denied that I had seen any one。 Richard Hare continued his way； and I afterward found that Hallijohn was killed。〃
〃And so you took a bribe to conceal one of the foulest crimes that man ever committed； Mr。 Otway Bethel！〃
〃I took the money； and I am ashamed to confess it。 But it was done without reflection。 I swear that had I known what crime it was intended to hush up； I never would have touched it。 I was hard up for funds； and the amount tempted me。 When I discovered what had really happened； and that Richard Hare was accused； I was thunderstruck at my own deed； many a hundred times since have I cursed the money； and the fate of Richard has been as a heavy weight upon my conscien