stood by the door and would ha' seen him if he'd come out there, and I
know he didn't jump out o' the window, for I should ha' seen him."

"But, perhaps he wasn't in the house at all," persisted Basset;
"it was plaguy dark, and perhaps he heard us coming and hid himself
outside on purpose to play the trick and take an unfair advantage on
us."

"You'll never make me believe that story," said Gladding, shaking his
head. "I'd as soon believe it was me as the old man. Prime and me are
of the same opinion, and we should both be witnesses agin you."

The two, at this stage of the conversation, reached the door of
the grocer's shop, into which we will not follow them, but turn our
attention elsewhere.

Meanwhile, the cause of all this excitement was quietly pursuing
the ordinary tenor of his life. It will have been observed that when
Basset attempted to arrest him, Holden did not even inquire with what
offence he was charged, unless demanding the production of the warrant
may be considered so, and that upon the constable relinquishing
his purpose, he turned away without giving any attention to the
observations addressed to him. It is not probable that his design
was to avoid the service of process, all unconscious as he was of any
violation of the laws of the State; and certain it is he made not
the slightest difference in his habits. As before, he pursued his
occupation of basket-making at his hut and his recreations of
fishing and strolling through the woods, as though no such formidable
character as Basset was in existence. If he did not appear in the
village it was an accidental circumstance, it being only at irregular
intervals that he ever made his appearance there. Thus, then, passed
a week longer; the petulant constable on the watch, and the steady
malignity of Davenport gradually becoming impatient for gratification.
But the little drama had a course of its own to run.

One morning Primus saw the tall figure of Holden passing his cabin.
The veteran was at the window smoking his pipe when the Recluse first
came in sight. A secret must have been very closely kept, indeed, in
the village, not to come to his ears, and the warlike equipment and
intentions of Basset were well known to him. "Dere he come," said the
negro to himself, "jist like a fly flying into de spider-web. I guess
I gib him warning." With this benevolent intention, Primus went to the
door, and as Holden approached, addressed him with the salutation