rn by him. He was a
very handsome young fellow in those days, tall, straight, and
exceedingly well made; as elastic and supple as an eel; and was the best
cricket-player in the county. I don't know what can have come across
Noah, that he looks so gaunt and thin, and is such an old man before
his time. He has been given to those terrible fits ever since he made
one of the party that found the body of Mr. Carlos. It's no wonder; for
he loved the Squire; and the Squire was mortal fond of him. He became
very religious after he got that shock, and has been a very strict
Methodist ever since."

"He's not a bit the better for that," said Martha. "The greatest sinners
stand in need of the longest prayers. I thought that he had been a
Methodist parson, by the cut of his jib. Where, my lads," turning to the
two men who had brought him in, "did you pick the fellow up?"

"Why, do ye see, mistress, that I've been a' harvesting with 'un, an' he
tuk me in the taxed cart with 'un to the bank, to get change to pay me
my wages. Going into town this morning, the hoss got skeared by some
boys playing at ball. The ball struck the beast plump in the eye, an'
cut it so shocking bad, that measter left 'un with the hoss doctor, and
proposed for us to walk home in the cool o' the evening, as the distance
is only eight miles or thereabouts. Before we starts home he takes me to
the Crown Inn, and treats me to a pot of ale, an' while there he meets
with some old acquaintance, who was telling him how he knew his father,
old Noah, in 'Mericky; an' how he had died very rich, an' left his money
to a wife he had there, that he never married. An' I thought as how
measter didn't much like the news, as his father, it seems, had left
him nothing--not even his blessing. Well, 'twas nigh upon twelve o'clock
when we started. 'You'd better stay all night, measter,' says I; ''tis
nigh upon morning.' 'Sam Smith,' says he, 'I cannot sleep out o' my own
bed;' and off we sets. On the bridge we heerd the first big clap o'
thunder; the next minute we sor the ghost, and my measter gives a
screech which might have roused old Squire Carlos from the dead, and
straight fell down in a fit. The ghost vanished in the twinkling of an
eye; an' I met this good man, who helped me to bring Noah up here. He's
a kind measter, Noah Cotton, but a wonderful timersome man. I've heerd
him, when we've been at work in the fields, start at the shivering of an
aspen leaf, and cry out, 'Sam!