第5章

Knifton，withtheirgroombehindthem，ridinguptotheBlackCottage。Itwaspartoftheyounglady’skindnessnevertoneglectanopportunityofcomingtopaymeafriendlyvisit，andherhusbandwasgenerallywillingtoaccompanyherforhiswife’ssake。Imademybestcourtesy，therefore，withagreatdealofpleasure，butwithnoparticularsurpriseatseeingthem。Theydismountedandenteredthecottage，laughingandtalkingingreatspirits。Isoonheardthattheywereridingtothesamecountytownforwhichmyfatherwasboundandthattheyintendedtostaywithsomefriendsthereforafewdays，andtoreturnhomeonhorseback，astheywentout。

Iheardthis，andIalsodiscoveredthattheyhadbeenhavinganargument，injest，aboutmoney—matters，astheyrodealongtoourcottage。Mrs。Kniftonhadaccusedherhusbandofinveterateextravagance，andofneverbeingabletogooutwithmoneyinhispocketwithoutspendingitall，ifhepossiblycould，beforehegothomeagain。Mr。Kniftonhadlaughinglydefendedhimselfbydeclaringthatallhispocket—moneywentinpresentsforhiswife，andthat，ifhespentitlavishly，itwasunderhersoleinfluenceandsuperintendence。

"WearegoingtoClivertonnow，"hesaidtoMrs。Knifton，namingthecountytown，andwarminghimselfatourpoorfirejustaspleasantlyasifhehadbeenstandingonhisowngrandhearth。

"YouwillstoptoadmireeveryprettythingineveryoneoftheClivertonshop—windows；Ishallhandyouthepurse，andyouwillgoinandbuy。Whenwehavereachedhomeagain，andyouhavehadtimetogettiredofyourpurchases，youwillclaspyourhandsinamazement，anddeclarethatyouarequiteshockedatmyhabitsofinveterateextravagance。Iamonlythebankerwhokeepsthemoney；you，mylove，arethespendthriftwhothrowsitallaway！"

"AmI，sir？"saidMrs。Knifton，withalookofmockindignation。

"WewillseeifIamtobemisrepresentedinthiswaywithimpunity。Bessie，mydear"（turningtome），"youshalljudgehowfarIdeservethecharacterwhichthatunscrupulousmanhasjustgiventome。_I_amthespendthrift，amI？Andyouareonlythebanker？Verywell。Banker，givememymoneyatonce，ifyouplease！"

Mr。Kniftonlaughed，andtooksomegoldandsilverfromhiswaistcoatpocket。

"No，no，"saidMrs。Knifton，"youmaywantwhatyouhavegottherefornecessaryexpenses。Isthatallthemoneyyouhaveaboutyou？WhatdoIfeelhere？"andshetappedherhusbandonthechest，justoverthebreast—pocketofhiscoat。

Mr。Kniftonlaughedagain，andproducedhispocketbook。Hiswifesnatcheditoutofhishand，openedit，anddrewoutsomebank—notes，putthembackagainimmediately，and，closingthepocketbook，steppedacrosstheroomtomypoormother’slittlewalnut—woodbook—case，theonlybitofvaluablefurniturewehadinthehouse。

"Whatareyougoingtodothere？"askedMr。Knifton，followinghiswife。

Mrs。Kniftonopenedtheglassdoorofthebook—case，putthepocketbookinavacantplaceononeofthelowershelves，closedandlockedthedooragain，andgavemethekey。

"Youcalledmeaspendthriftjustnow，"shesaid。"Thereismyanswer。NotonefarthingofthatmoneyshallyouspendatClivertonon_me_。Keepthekeyinyourpocket，Bessie，and，whateverMr。Kniftonmaysay，onnoaccountlethimhaveituntilwecallagainonourwayback。No，sir，Iwon’ttrustyouwiththatmoneyinyourpocketinthetownofCliverton。Iwillmakesureofyourtakingitallhomeagain，byleavingithereinmoretrustworthyhandsthanyoursuntilwerideback。Bessie，mydear，whatdoyousaytothatasalessonineconomyinflictedonaprudenthusbandbyaspendthriftwife？"

ShetookMr。Knifton’sarmwhileshespoke，anddrewhimawaytothedoor。Heprotestedandmadesomeresistance，butsheeasilycarriedherpoint，forhewasfartoofondofhertohaveawillofhisowninanytriflingmatterbetweenthem。Whateverthemenmightsay，Mr。Kniftonwasamodelhusbandintheestimationofallthewomenwhoknewhim。

"Youwillseeusaswecomeback，Bessie。Tillthen，youareourbanker，andthepocketbookisyours，"criedMrs。Knifton，gayly，atthedoor。Herhusbandliftedherintothesaddle，mountedhimself，andawaytheybothgallopedoverthemooraswildandhappyasacoupleofchildren。

AlthoughmybeingtrustedwithmoneybyMrs。Kniftonwasnonovelty（inhermaidendaysshealwaysemployedmetopayherdress—maker’sbills），Ididnotfeelquiteeasyathavingapocketbookfullofbank—notesleftbyherinmycharge。Ihadnopositiveapprehensionsaboutthesafetyofthedepositplacedinmyhands，butitwasoneoftheoddpointsinmycharacterthen（andIthinkitisstill）tofeelanunreasonablystrongobjectiontochargingmyselfwithmoneyresponsibilitiesofanykind，eventosuittheconvenienceofmydearestfriends。AssoonasIwasleftalone，theverysightofthepocketbookbehindtheglassdoorofthebook—casebegantoworryme，andinsteadofreturningtomywork，Ipuzzledmybrainsaboutfindingaplacetolockitupin，whereitwouldnotbeexposedtotheviewofanychancepassers—bywhomightstrayintotheBlackCottage。

Thiswasnotaneasymattertocompassinapoorhouselikeours，wherewehadnothingvaluabletoputunderlockandkey。Afterrunningovervarioushiding—placesinmymind，Ithoughtofmytea—caddy，apresentfromMrs。Knifton，whichIalwayskeptoutofharm’swayinmyownbedroom。Mostunluckily——asitafterwardturnedout——insteadoftakingthepocketbooktothetea—caddy，I

wentintomyroomfirsttotakethetea—caddytothepocketbook。

Ionlyactedinthisroundaboutwayfromsheerthoughtlessness，andseverelyenoughIwaspunishedforit，asyouwillacknowledgeyourselfwhenyouhavereadapageortwomoreofmystory。

Iwasjustgettingtheunluckytea—caddyoutofmycupboard，whenIheardfootstepsinthepassage，and，runningoutimmediately，sawtwomenwalkintothekitchen——theroominwhichIhadreceivedMr。andMrs。Knifton。Iinquiredwhattheywantedsharplyenough，andoneofthemansweredimmediatelythattheywantedmyfather。Heturnedtowardme，ofcourse，ashespoke，andIrecognizedhimasastone—mason，goingamonghiscomradesbythenameofShiftyDick。Heboreaverybadcharacterforeverythingbutwrestling，asportforwhichtheworkingmenofourpartswerefamousallthroughthecounty。ShiftyDickwaschampion，andhehadgothisnamefromsometricksofwrestling，forwhichhewascelebrated。Hewasatall，heavyman，withalowering，scarredface，andhugehairyhands——thelastvisitorinthewholeworldthatIshouldhavebeengladtoseeunderanycircumstances。Hiscompanionwasastranger，whomheaddressedbythenameofJerry——aquick，dapper，wicked—lookingman，whotookoffhiscaptomewithmockpoliteness，andshowed，insodoing，averybaldhead，withsomeveryugly—lookingknobsonit。I

distrustedhimworsethanIdidShiftyDick，andmanagedtogetbetweenhisleeringeyesandthebook—case，asItoldthetwothatmyfatherwasgoneout，andthatIdidnotexpecthimbacktillthenextday。

ThewordswerehardlyoutofmymouthbeforeIrepentedthatmyanxietytogetridofmyunwelcomevisitorshadmademeincautiousenoughtoacknowledgethatmyfatherwouldbeawayfromhomeforthewholenight。

ShiftyDickandhiscompanionlookedateachotherwhenI

unwiselyletoutthetruth，butmadenoremarkexcepttoaskmeifIwouldgivethemadropofcider。IansweredsharplythatI

hadnociderinthehouse，havingnofearoftheconsequencesofrefusingthemdrink，becauseIknewthatplentyofmenwereatworkwithinhail，inaneighboringquarry。ThetwolookedateachotheragainwhenIdeniedhavinganycidertogivethem；andJerry（asIamobligedtocallhim，knowingnoothernamebywhichtodistinguishthefellow）tookoffhiscaptomeoncemore，and，withakindofblackguardgentilityuponhim，saidtheywouldhavethepleasureofcallingthenextday，whenmyfatherwasathome。Isaidgood—afternoonasungraciouslyaspossible，and，tomygreatrelief，theybothleftthecottageimmediatelyafterward。

Assoonastheywerewellaway，Iwatchedthemfromthedoor。

TheytrudgedoffinthedirectionofMoorFarm；and，asitwasbeginningtogetdusk，Isoonlostsightofthem。

HalfanhourafterwardIlookedoutagain。

Thewindhadlulledwiththesunset，butthemistwasrising，andaheavyrainwasbeginningtofall。Neverdidthelonelyprospectofthemoorlooksodrearyasitlookedtomyeyesthatevening。

NeverdidIregretanyslightthingmoresincerelythanIthenregrettedtheleavingofMr。Knifton’spocketbookinmycharge。I

cannotsaythatIsufferedunderanyactualalarm，forIfeltnexttocertainthatneitherShiftyDicknorJerryhadgotachanceofsettingeyesonsosmallathingasthepocketbookwhiletheywereinthekitchen；buttherewasakindofvaguedistrusttroublingme——asuspicionofthenight——adislikeofbeingleftbymyself，whichIneverrememberhavingexperiencedbefore。ThisfeelingsoincreasedafterIhadclosedthedoorandgonebacktothekitchen，that，whenIheardthevoicesofthequarrymenastheypassedourcottageontheirwayhometothevillageinthevalleybelowMoorFarm，IsteppedoutintothepassagewithamomentarynotionoftellingthemhowIwassituated，andaskingthemforadviceandprotection。

Ihadhardlyformedthisidea，however，beforeIdismissedit。

Noneofthequarrymenwereintimatefriendsofmine。Ihadanoddingacquaintancewiththem，andbelievedthemtobehonestmen，astimeswent。ButmyowncommonsensetoldmethatwhatlittleknowledgeoftheircharactersIhadwasbynomeanssufficienttowarrantmeinadmittingthemintomyconfidenceinthematterofthepocketbook。Ihadseenenoughofpovertyandpoormentoknowwhataterribletemptationalargesumofmoneyistothosewhosewholelivesarepassedinscrapingupsixpencesbywearyhardwork。Itisonethingtowritefinesentimentsinbooksaboutincorruptiblehonesty，andanotherthingtoputthosesentimentsinpracticewhenoneday’sworkisallthatamanhastosetupinthewayofanobstaclebetweenstarvationandhisownfireside。

TheonlyresourcethatremainedwastocarrythepocketbookwithmetoMoorFarm，andaskpermissiontopassthenightthere。ButIcouldnotpersuademyselfthattherewasanyrealnecessityfortakingsuchacourseasthis；and，ifthetruthmustbetold，mypriderevoltedattheideaofpresentingmyselfinthecharacterofacowardbeforethepeopleatthefarm。Timidityisthoughtratheragracefulattractionamongladies，butamongpoorwomenitissomethingtobelaughedat。AwomanwithlessspiritofherownthanIhad，andalwaysshallhave，wouldhaveconsideredtwiceinmysituationbeforeshemadeuphermindtoencounterthejokesofplowmenandthejeersofmilkmaids。Asforme，IhadhardlyconsideredaboutgoingtothefarmbeforeIdespisedmyselfforentertaininganysuchnotion。"No，no，"thoughtI，"I

amnotthewomantowalkamileandahalfthroughrain，andmist，anddarknesstotellawholekitchenfulofpeoplethatIamafraid。Comewhatmay，hereIstoptillfathergetsback。"

Havingarrivedatthatvaliantresolution，thefirstthingIdidwastolockandboltthebackandfrontdoors，andseetothesecurityofeveryshutterinthehouse。

Thatdutyperformed，Imadeablazingfire，lightedmycandle，andsatdowntotea，assnugandcomfortableaspossible。Icouldhardlybelievenow，withthelightintheroom，andthesenseofsecurityinspiredbythecloseddoorsandshutters，thatIhadeverfelteventheslightestapprehensionearlierintheday。I

sangasIwashedupthetea—things；andeventhecatseemedtocatchtheinfectionofmygoodspirits。Ineverknewtheprettycreaturesoplayfulasshewasthatevening。

Thetea—thingsputby，Itookupmyknitting，andworkedawayatitsolongthatIbeganatlasttogetdrowsy。ThefirewassobrightandcomfortingthatIcouldnotmusterresolutionenoughtoleaveitandgotobed。Isatstaringlazilyintotheblaze，withmyknittingonmylap——sattillthesplashingoftherainoutsideandthefitful，sullensobbingofthewindgrewfainterandfainteronmyear。ThelastsoundsIheardbeforeIfairlydozedofftosleepwerethecheerfulcracklingofthefireandthesteadypurringofthecat，asshebaskedluxuriouslyinthewarmlightonthehearth。ThosewerethelastsoundsbeforeI

fellasleep。Thesoundthatwokemewasoneloudbangatthefrontdoor。

Istartedup，withmyheart（asthesayingis）inmymouth，withafrightfulmomentaryshudderingattherootsofmyhair——I

startedupbreathless，coldandmotionless，waitinginthesilenceIhardlyknewforwhat，doubtfulatfirstwhetherIhaddreamedaboutthebangatthedoor，orwhethertheblowhadreallybeenstruckonit。

Inaminuteorlesstherecameasecondbang，louderthanthefirst。Iranoutintothepassage。

"Who’sthere？"

"Letusin，"answeredavoice，whichIrecognisedimmediatelyasthevoiceofShiftyDick。

"Waitabit，mydear，andletmeexplain，"saidasecondvoice，inthelow，oily，jeeringtonesofDick’scompanion——thewickedlycleverlittlemanwhomhecalledJerry。"Youarealoneinthehouse，myprettylittledear。Youmaycrackyoursweetvoicewithscreeching，andthere’snobodyneartohearyou。Listentoreason，mylove，andletusin。Wedon’twantciderthistime——weonlywantaveryneat—lookingpocketbookwhichyouhappentohave，andyourlateexcellentmother’sfoursilverteaspoons，whichyoukeepsoniceandcleanonthechimney—piece。Ifyouletusinwewon’thurtahairofyourhead，mycherub，andwepromisetogoawaythemomentwehavegotwhatwewant，unlessyouparticularlywishustostoptotea。Ifyoukeepusout，weshallbeobligedtobreakintothehouseandthen——"

"Andthen，"burstinShiftyDick，"we’ll_mash_you！"

"Yes，"saidJerry，"we’llmashyou，mybeauty。Butyouwon’tdriveustodoingthat，willyou？Youwillletusin？"

Thislongparleygavemetimetorecoverfromtheeffectwhichthefirstbangatthedoorhadproducedonmynerves。Thethreatsofthetwovillainswouldhaveterrifiedsomewomenoutoftheirsenses，buttheonlyresulttheyproducedon_me_wasviolentindignation。Ihad，thankGod，astrongspiritofmyown，andthecool，contemptuousinsolenceofthemanJerryeffectuallyrousedit。

"Youcowardlyvillains！"Iscreamedatthemthroughthedoor。

"YouthinkyoucanfrightenmebecauseIamonlyapoorgirlleftaloneinthehouse。Youragamuffinthieves，Idefyyouboth！Ourboltsarestrong，ourshuttersarethick。Iamheretokeepmyfather’shousesafe，andkeepitIwillagainstanarmyofyou！"

YoumayimaginewhatapassionIwasinwhenIvaporedandblusteredinthatway。IheardJerrylaughandShiftyDickswearawholemouthfulofoaths。Thentherewasadeadsilenceforaminuteortwo，andthenthetworuffiansattackedthedoor。

Irushedintothekitchenandseizedthepoker，andthenheapedwoodonthefire，andlightedallthecandlesIcouldfind；forI

feltasthoughIcouldkeepupmycouragebetterifIhadplentyoflight。Strangeandimprobableasitmayappear，thenextthingthatattractedmyattentionwasmypoorpussy，crouchedup，panic—stricken，inacorner。IwassofondofthelittlecreaturethatItookherupinmyarmsandcarriedherintomybedroomandputherinsidemybed。Acomicalthingtodoinasituationofdeadlyperil，wasitnot？Butitseemedquitenaturalandproperatthetime。

Allthiswhiletheblowswerefallingfasterandfasteronthedoor。Theyweredealt，asIconjectured，withheavystonespickedupfromthegroundoutside。Jerrysangathiswickedwork，andShiftyDickswore。AsIleftthebedroomafterputtingthecatundercover，Iheardthelowerpanelofthedoorbegintocrack。

Iranintothekitchenandhuddledourfoursilverspoonsintomypocket；thentooktheunluckybookwiththebank—notesandputitinthebosomofmydress。Iwasdeterminedtodefendthepropertyconfidedtomycarewithmylife。JustasIhadsecuredthepocketbookIheardthedoorsplintering，andrushedintothepassageagainwithmyheavykitchenpokerliftedinbothhands。

IwasintimetoseethebaldheadofJerry，withtheugly—lookingknobsonit，pushedintothepassagethroughagreatrentinoneofthelowerpanelsofthedoor。

"Getout，youvillain，orI’llbrainyouonthespot！"I

screeched，threateninghimwiththepoker。

Mr。Jerrytookhisheadoutagainmuchfasterthanheputitin。

Thenextthingthatcamethroughtherentwasalongpitchfork，whichtheydartedatmefromtheoutside，tomovemefromthedoor。Istruckatitwithallmymight，andtheblowmusthavejarredthehandofShiftyDickuptohisveryshoulder，forI

heardhimgivearoarofrageandpain。BeforehecouldcatchattheforkwithhisotherhandIhaddrawnitinside。BythistimeevenJerrylosthistemperandsworemoreawfullythanDickhimself。

Thentherecameanotherminuteofrespite。Isuspectedtheyhadgonetogetbiggerstones，andIdreadedthegivingwayofthewholedoor。

Runningintothebedroomasthisfearbesetme，Ilaidholdofmychestofdrawers，draggeditintothepassage，andthrewitdownagainstthedoor。OnthetopofthatIheapedmyfather’sbigtoolchest，threechairs，andascuttlefulofcoals；andlast，I

draggedoutthekitchentableandrammeditashardasIcouldagainstthewholebarricade。Theyheardmeastheywerecominguptothedoorwithfreshstones。Jerrysaid："Stopabit！"andthenthetwoconsultedtogetherinwhispers。Ilistenedeagerly，andjustcaughtthesewords：

"Let’stryittheotherway。"

Nothingmorewassaid，butIheardtheirfootstepsretreatingfromthedoor。

Weretheygoingtobesiegethebackdoornow？

IhadhardlyaskedmyselfthatquestionwhenIheardtheirvoicesattheothersideofthehouse。Thebackdoorwassmallerthanthefront，butithadthisadvantageinthewayofstrength——itwasmadeoftwosolidoakboardsjoinedlengthwise，andstrengthenedinsidebyheavycrosspieces。Ithadnoboltslikethefrontdoor，butwasfastenedbyabarofironrunningacrossitinaslantingdirection，andfittingateitherendintothewall。

"Theymusthavethewholecottagedownbeforetheycanbreakinatthatdoor！"Ithoughttomyself。Andtheysoonfoundoutasmuchforthemselves。Afterfiveminutesofbangingatthebackdoortheygaveupanyfurtherattackinthatdirectionandcasttheirheavystonesdownwithcursesoffuryawfultohear。

Iwentintothekitchenanddroppedonthewindow—seattorestforamoment。Suspenseandexcitementtogetherwerebeginningtotelluponme。Theperspirationbrokeoutthickonmyforehead，andIbegantofeelthebruisesIhadinflictedonmyhandsinmakingthebarricadeagainstthefrontdoor。Ihadnotlostaparticleofmyresolution，butIwasbeginningtolosestrength。

Therewasabottleofruminthecupboard，whichmybrotherthesailorhadleftwithusthelasttimehewasashore。Idrankadropofit。NeverbeforeorsincehaveIputanythingdownmythroatthatdidmehalfsomuchgoodasthatpreciousmouthfulofrum！

Iwasstillsittinginthewindow—seatdryingmyface，whenI

suddenlyheardtheirvoicesclosebehindme。

TheywerefeelingtheoutsideofthewindowagainstwhichIwassitting。Itwasprotected，likealltheotherwindowsinthecottage，byironbars。Ilistenedindreadfulsuspenseforthesoundoffiling，butnothingofthesortwasaudible。Theyhadevidentlyreckonedonfrighteningmeeasilyintolettingthemin，andhadcomeunprovidedwithhouse—breakingtoolsofanykind。A

freshburstofoathsinformedmethattheyhadrecognizedtheobstacleoftheironbars。Ilistenedbreathlesslyforsomewarningofwhattheyweregoingtodonext，buttheirvoicesseemedtodieawayinthedistance。Theywereretreatingfromthewindow。Weretheyalsoretreatingfromthehousealtogether？Hadtheygivenuptheideaofeffectinganentranceindespair？

Alongsilencefollowed——asilencewhichtriedmycourageevenmoreseverelythanthetumultoftheirfirstattackonthecottage。

Dreadfulsuspicionsnowbesetmeoftheirbeingabletoaccomplishbytreacherywhattheyhadfailedtoeffectbyforce。

WellasIknewthecottage，IbegantodoubtwhethertheremightnotbewaysofcunninglyandsilentlyenteringitagainstwhichI

wasnotprovided。Thetickingoftheclockannoyedme；thecracklingofthefirestartledme。Ilookedouttwentytimesinaminuteintothedarkcornersofthepassage，strainingmyeyes，holdingmybreath，anticipatingthemostunlikelyevents，themostimpossibledangers。Hadtheyreallygone，orweretheystillprowlingaboutthehouse？Oh，whatasumofmoneyIwouldhavegivenonlytohaveknownwhattheywereaboutinthatintervalofsilence！

Iwasstartledatlastoutofmysuspenseinthemostawfulmanner。Ashoutfromoneofthemreachedmyearsonasuddendownthekitchenchimney。ItwassounexpectedandsohorribleinthestillnessthatIscreamedforthefirsttimesincetheattackonthehouse。Myworstforebodingshadneversuggestedtomethatthetwovillainsmightmountupontheroof。

"Letusin，youshe—devil！"roaredavoicedownthechimney。

Therewasanotherpause。Thesmokefromthewoodfire，thinandlightasitwasintheredstateoftheembersatthatmoment，hadevidentlyobligedthemantotakehisfacefromthemouthofthechimney。Icountedthesecondswhilehewas，asI

conjectured，gettinghisbreathagain。Inlessthanhalfaminutetherecameanothershout：

"Letusin，orwe’llburntheplacedownoveryourhead！"

Burnit？Burnwhat？Therewasnothingeasilycombustiblebutthethatchontheroof；andthathadbeenwellsoakedbytheheavyrainwhichhadnowfallenincessantlyformorethansixhours。

Burntheplaceovermyhead？How？

WhileIwasstillcastingaboutwildlyinmymindtodiscoverwhatpossibledangertherecouldbeoffire，oneoftheheavystonesplacedonthethatchtokeepitfrombeingtornupbyhighwindscamethunderingdownthechimney。Itscatteredtheliveembersonthehearthallovertheroom。Arichly—furnishedplace，withknickknacksandfinemuslinaboutit，wouldhavebeensetonfireimmediately。Evenourbarefloorandroughfurnituregaveoutasmellofburningatthefirstshowerofemberswhichthefirststonescattered。

ForaninstantIstoodquitehorror—struckbeforethisnewproofofthedevilishingenuityofthevillainsoutside。ButthedreadfuldangerIwasnowinrecalledmetomysensesimmediately。Therewasalargecanfulofwaterinmybedroom，andIraninatoncetofetchit。BeforeIcouldgetbacktothekitchenasecondstonehadbeenthrowndownthechimney，andthefloorwassmolderinginseveralplaces。

Ihadwitenoughtoletthesmolderinggoonforamomentortwomore，andtopourthewholeofmycanfulofwateroverthefirebeforethethirdstonecamedownthechimney。TheliveembersonthefloorIeasilydisposedofafterthat。ThemanontheroofmusthaveheardthehissingofthefireasIputitout，andhavefeltthechangeproducedintheairatthemouthofthechimney，forafterthethirdstonehaddescendednomorefollowedit。Asforeitheroftheruffiansthemselvesdroppingdownbythesameroadalongwhichthestoneshadcome，thatwasnottobedreaded。

Thechimney，asIwellknewbyourexperienceincleaningit，wastoonarrowtogivepassagetoanyoneabovethesizeofasmallboy。

Ilookedupwardasthatcomfortingreflectioncrossedmymind——I

lookedup，andsaw，asplainlyasIseethepaperIamnowwritingon，thepointofaknifecomingthroughtheinsideoftheroofjustovermyhead。Ourcottagehadnoupperstory，andourroomshadnoceilings。Slowlyandwickedlytheknifewriggleditswaythroughthedryinsidethatchbetweentherafters。Itstoppedforawhile，andtherecameasoundoftearing。That，initsturn，stoppedtoo；therewasagreatfallofdrythatchonthefloor；andIsawtheheavy，hairyhandofShiftyDick，armedwiththeknife，comethroughafterthefallenfragments。Hetappedattherafterswiththebackoftheknife，asiftotesttheirstrength。ThankGod，theyweresubstantialandclosetogether！

Nothinglighterthanahatchetwouldhavesufficedtoremoveanypartofthem。

ThemurderoushandwasstilltappingwiththeknifewhenIheardashoutfromthemanJerry，comingfromtheneighborhoodofmyfather’sstone—shedinthebackyard。Thehandandknifedisappearedinstantly。Iwenttothebackdoorandputmyeartoit，andlistened。

Bothmenwerenowintheshed。Imadethemostdesperateeffortstocalltomindwhattoolsandotherthingswereleftinitwhichmightbeusedagainstme。Butmyagitationconfusedme。Icouldremembernothingexceptmyfather’sbigstone—saw，whichwasfartooheavyandunwieldytobeusedontheroofofthecottage。I