nly, he seemed to be feeling every blade of grass or weed, every single
stick or stone, craning into each cranny of the ground, and probing
every clod with his hands. Then, after vainly searching with the very
utmost care all the space from the hawthorn trunk to the meadow-leet
(which was dry as usual), he ran, in a fury of impatience, to his rod,
which he had stuck into the bank, as now I saw, and drew off the butt
end, and removed the wheel, or whatever it is that holds the fishing
line; and this butt had a long spike to it, shining like a halberd in a
picture.

This made me shudder; but my spirit was returning, and therewith my
power of reasoning, and a deep stir of curiosity. After so many years
and such a quantity of searching, what could there still be left to seek
for in this haunted and horrible place? And who was the man that was
looking for it?

The latter question partly solved itself. It must be the murderer, and
no other, whoever he might be among the many black spots of humanity.
But as to the other point, no light could be thrown upon it, unless the
search should be successful, and perhaps not even then. But now this
anxiety, and shame of terror, made me so bold--for I can not call it
brave--that I could not rest satisfied where I was, and instead of
blessing every leaf and twig that hid me from the enemy, nothing would
do for me but to creep nearer, in spite of that truculent long bright
spike.

I thought of my father, and each fibre of my frame seemed to harden with
vigor and fleetness. Every muscle of my body could be trusted now. I had
always been remarkably light of foot. Could a man of that age catch me?
It was almost as much as Firm Gundry could do, as in childish days I had
proved to him. And this man, although his hair was not gray, must be on
the slow side of fifty now, and perhaps getting short of his very wicked
breath. Then I thought of poor Firm, and of good Uncle Sam, and how they
scorned poltroonery; and, better still, I thought of that great Power
which always had protected me: in a word, I resolved to risk it.

But I had not reckoned upon fire-arms, which such a scoundrel was pretty
sure to have; and that idea struck cold upon my valor. Nevertheless, I
would not turn back. With no more sound than a field-mouse makes in the
building of its silken nest, and feet as light as the step of the wind
upon the scarcely ruffled grass, I quitted my screen, and went gliding
down a hedge, or rath