ng horses enough to
"eat their heads off" during the winter, as he expressed it. His
Jeremy Collier aversion to players was probably at the bottom of this
point-blank rebuff, however. He was a stubborn man, czar in his own
domains, a small principality bounded by four inhospitable walls. His
guests--having no other place to go--were his subjects, or prisoners,
and distress could not find a more unfitting tribunal before which to
lay its case. There was something so malevolent in his vigilance, so
unfriendly in his scrutiny, that to the players he seemed an emissary
of disaster, inseparable from their cruel plight.

Thus it was that the strollers perforce reached a desperate conclusion
when making their way from the theater on the last evening. By
remaining longer, they would become the more hopelessly involved; in
going--without their host's permission--they would be taking the
shortest route toward an honorable settlement in the near future; a
paradoxical flight from the brunt of their troubles, to meet them
squarely! This, to Barnes, ample reason for unceremonious departure
was heartily approved by the company in council assembled around the
town pump.

"Stay and become a county burden, indeed!" exclaimed Mrs. Adams,
tragically.

"As well be buried alive as anchored here!" fretfully added Susan.

"The council is dissolved," said the manager, promptly, "with no one
the wiser--except the town pump."

"An ally of Mr. Gough!" suggested Adonis.

Thus more merrily than could have been expected, with such a
distasteful enterprise before them, they resumed their way. It was
disagreeable under foot and they presented an odd appearance, each one
with a light. Mrs. Adams, old campaigner that she was, led the way for
the ladies, elastic and chatty as though promenading down Broadway on
a spring morning. With their lanterns and the purpose they had in
view, they likened themselves to a band of conspirators. As Barnes
marched ahead with his light, Susan playfully called him Guy Fawkes,
of gun-powder fame, whereupon his mind almost misgave him concerning
the grave adventure upon which they were embarked.

The wind was blowing furiously, doors and windows creaked, and all the
demons of unrest were moaning that night in the hubbub of sounds. Save
for a flickering candle in the hall, the tavern was dark, and
landlord and maids had long since retired to rest. Amid the noise of
the rain and the sobbing of the wind, trunks were l