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'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 excuse to ascend and
comfort the baby； for the incidents of the last half…hour greatly
oppressed them。 Thus in the space of two or three minutes the room
on the ground…floor was deserted quite。
But it was not for long。 Hardly had the sound of footsteps died
away when a man returned round the corner of the house from the
direction the pursuers had taken。 Peeping in at the door； and
seeing nobody there； he entered leisurely。 It was the stranger of
the chimney…corner； who had gone out with the rest。 The motive of
his return was shown by his helping himself to a cut piece of
skimmer…cake that lay on a ledge beside where he had sat； and which
he had apparently forgotten to take with him。 He also poured out
half a cup more mead from the quantity that remained； ravenously
eating and drinking these as he stood。 He had not finished when
another figure came in just as quietlyhis friend in cinder…gray。
'Oyou here？' said the latter； smiling。 'I thought you had gone to
help in the capture。' And this speaker also revealed the object of
his return by looking solicitously round for the fascinating mug of
old mead。
'And I thought you had gone；' said the other； continuing his
skimmer…cake with some effort。
'Well； on second thoughts； I felt there were enough without me；'
said the first confidentially； 'and such a night as it is； too。
Besides； 'tis the business o' the Government to take care of its
criminalsnot mine。'
'True； so it is。 And I felt as you did； that there were enough
without me。'
'I don't want to break my limbs running over the humps and hollows
of this wild country。'
'Nor I neither； between you and me。'
'These shepherd…people are used to itsimple…minded souls； you
know； stirred up to anything in a moment。 They'll have him ready
for me before the morning； and no trouble to me at all。'
'They'll have him； and we shall have saved ourselves all labour in
the matter。'
'True； true。 Well； my way is to Casterbridge； and 'tis as much as
my legs will do to take me that far。 Going the same way？'
'No； I am sorry to say！ I have to get home over there' （he nodded
indefinitely to the right）； 'and I feel as you do； that it is quite
enough for my legs to do before bedtime。'
The other had by this time finished the mead in the mug； after
which； shaking hands heartily at the door； and wishing each other
well； they went their several ways。
In the meantime the company of pursuers had reached the end of the
hog's…back elevation which dominated this part of the down。 They
had decided on no particular plan of action； and； finding that the
man of the baleful trade was no longer in their company； they seemed
quite unable to form any such plan now。 They descended in all
directions down the hill； and straightway several of the party fell
into the snare set by Nature for all misguided midnight ramblers
over this part of the cretaceous formation。 The 'lanchets；' or
flint slopes； which belted the escarpment at intervals of a dozen
yards； took the less cautious ones unawares； and losing their
footing on the rubbly steep they slid sharply downwards； the
lanterns rolling from their hands to the bottom； and there lying on
their sides till the horn was scorched through。
When they had again gathered themselves together； the shepherd； as
the man who knew the country best； took the lead； and guided them
round these treacherous inclines。 The lanterns； which seemed rather
to dazzle their eyes and warn the fugitive than to assist them in
the exploration； were extinguished； due silence was observed； and in
this more rational order they plunged into the vale。 It was a
grassy； briery； moist defile； affording some shelter to any person
who had sought it； but the party perambulated it in vain； and
ascended on the other side。 Here they wandered apart； and after an
interval closed together again to report progress。
At the second time of closing in they found themselves near a lonely
ash； the single tree on this part of the coomb； probably sown there
by a passing bird some fifty years before。 And here； standing a
little to one side of the trunk； as motionless as the trunk itself；
appeared the man they were in quest of； his outline being well
defined against the sky beyond。 The band noiselessly drew up and
faced him。
'Your money or your life！' said the constable sternly to the still
figure。
'No； no；' whispered John Pitcher。 ''Tisn't our side ought to say
that。 That's the doctrine of vagabonds like him； and we be on the
side of the law。'
'Well； well；' replied the constable impatiently； 'I must say
something； mustn't I？ and if you had all the weight o' this
undertaking upon your mind； perhaps you'd say the wrong thing too！
Prisoner at the bar； surrender； in the name of the Fatherthe
Crown； I mane！'
The man under the tree seemed now to notice them for the first time；
and； giving them no opportunity whatever for exhibiting their
courage； he strolled slowly towards them。 He was； indeed； the
little man； the third stranger； but his trepidation had in a great
measure gone。
'Well； travellers；' he said； 'did I hear ye speak to me？'
'You did： you've got to come and be our prisoner at once！' said the
constable。 'We arrest 'ee on the charge of not biding in
Casterbridge jail in a decent proper manner to be hung to…morrow
morning。 Neighbours； do your duty； and seize the culpet！'
On hearing the charge； the man seemed enlightened； and； saying not
another word； resigned himself with preternatural civility to the
search…party； who； with their staves in their hands； surrounded him
on all sides； and marched him back towards the shepherd's cottage。
It was eleven o'clock by the time they arrived。 The light shining
from the open door； a sound of men's voices within； proclaimed to
them as they approached the house that some new events had arisen in
their absence。 On entering they discovered the shepherd's living
room to be invaded by two officers from Casterbridge jail； and a
well…known magistrate who lived at the nearest country…seat；
intelligence of the escape having become generally circulated。
'Gentlemen；' said the constable； 'I have brought back your mannot
without risk and danger； but every one must do his duty！ He is
inside this circle of able…bodied persons； who have lent me useful
aid； considering their ignorance of Crown work。 Men； bring forward
your prisoner！' And the third stranger was led to the light。
'Who is this？' said one of the officials。
'The man；' said the constable。
'Certainly not；' said the turnkey； and the first corroborated his
statement。
'But how can it be otherwise？' asked the constable。 'Or why was he
so terrified at sight o' the singing instrument of the law who sat
there？' Here he related the strange behaviour of the third stranger
on entering the house during the hangman's song。
'Can't understand it；' said the officer coolly。 'All I know is that
it is not the condemned man。 He's quite a different character from
this one； a gauntish fellow； with dark hair and eyes； rather good…
looking； and with a musical bass voice that if you heard it once
you'd never mistake as long as you lived。'
'Why； souls'twas the man in the chimney…corner！'
'Heywhat？' said the magistrate； coming forward after inquiring
particulars from the shepherd in the background。 'Haven't you got
the man after all？'
'Well； sir；' said the constable； 'he's the man we were in search of；
that's true； and yet he's not the man we were in search of。 For the
man we were in search of was not the man we wanted； sir； if you
understand my every…day way； for 'twas the man in the chimney…
corner！'
'A pretty kettle of fish altogether！' said the magistrate。 'You had
better start for the other man at once。'
The prisoner now spoke for the first time。 The mention of the man
in the chimney…corner seemed to have moved him as nothing else could
do。 'Sir；' he said； stepping forward to the magistrate； 'take no
more trouble about me。 The time is come when I may as well speak。
I have done nothing； my crime is that the condem