to death and suffering, but shut out for ever from
the touch of his fellow-men, filled the lads' bosoms with dismay; and at
every step that brought him nearer, their courage and strength seemed to
desert them.

As he came about level with the pit, he paused, and turned his face full
upon the lads.

"Mary be my shield! He sees us!" said Matcham, faintly.

"Hush!" whispered Dick. "He doth but hearken. He is blind, fool!"

The leper looked or listened, whichever he was really doing, for some
seconds. Then he began to move on again, but presently paused once more,
and again turned and seemed to gaze upon the lads. Even Dick became
dead-white and closed his eyes, as if by the mere sight he might become
infected. But soon the bell sounded, and this time, without any farther
hesitation, the leper crossed the remainder of the little heath and
disappeared into the covert of the woods.

"He saw us," said Matcham. "I could swear it!"

"Tut!" returned Dick, recovering some sparks of courage. "He but heard
us. He was in fear, poor soul! An ye were blind, and walked in a
perpetual night, ye would start yourself, if ever a twig rustled or a
bird cried 'Peep.'"

"Dick, good Dick, he saw us," repeated Matcham. "When a man hearkeneth,
he doth not as this man; he doth otherwise, Dick. This was seeing; it
was not hearing. He means foully. Hark, else, if his bell be not
stopped!"

Such was the case. The bell rang no longer.

"Nay," said Dick, "I like not that. Nay," he cried again, "I like that
little. What may this betoken? Let us go, by the mass!"

"He hath gone east," added Matcham. "Good Dick, let us go westward
straight; I shall not breathe till I have my back turned upon that
leper."

"Jack, y' are too cowardly," replied Dick. "We shall go fair for
Holywood, or as fair, at least, as I can guide you, and that will be due
north."

They were afoot at once, passed the stream upon some stepping-stones, and
began to mount on the other side, which was steeper, towards the margin
of the wood. The ground became very uneven, full of knolls and hollows;
trees grew scattered or in clumps; it became difficult to choose a path,
and the lads somewhat wandered. They were weary, besides, with
yesterday's exertions and the lack of food, and they moved but heavily
and dragged their feet among the sand.

Presently, coming to the top of a knoll, they were aware of the leper,
some hundred feet in front of them, cross