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 view--a 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 me--it 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 q