r and a deeper gulf of bewilderment. He was unable to
conceive why they should arrest him for murder when he had not committed
any; and, following this, he became indignant.

"I will not go another step," said he, "unless you tell me where you are
bringing me and what I am accused of."

"Tell me," said the sergeant, "what did you kill them with? for it's a
miracle how they came to their ends without as much as a mark on their
skins or a broken tooth itself."

"Who are you talking about?" the Philosopher demanded.

"It's mighty innocent you are," he replied. "Who would I be talking
about but the man and woman that used to be living with you beyond in
the little house? Is it poison you gave them now, or what was it? Take a
hold of your note-book, Shawn."

"Can't you have sense, man?" said Shawn. "How would I be writing in the
middle of a dark place and me without as much as a pencil, let alone a
book?"

"Well, we'll take it down at the station, and himself can tell us
all about it as we go along. Move on now, for this is no place to be
conversing in."

They paced on again, and in another moment they were swallowed up by
the darkness. When they had proceeded for a little distance there came a
peculiar sound in front like the breathing of some enormous animal, and
also a kind of shuffling noise, and so they again halted.

"There's a queer kind of a thing in front of us," said one of the men in
a low voice.

"If I had a match itself," said another.

The sergeant had also halted.

"Draw well into the side of the road," said he, "and poke your batons in
front of you. Keep a tight hold of that man, Shawn."

"I'll do that," said Shawn.

Just then one of them found a few matches in his pocket, and he struck a
light; there was no wind, so that it blazed easily enough, and they all
peered in front. A big black cart-horse was lying in the middle of the
road having a gentle sleep, and when the light shone it scrambled to its
feet and went thundering away in a panic.

"Isn't that enough to put the heart crossways in you?" said one of the
men, with a great sigh.

"Ay," said another; "if you stepped on that beast in the darkness you
wouldn't know what to be thinking."

"I don't quite remember the way about here," said the sergeant after a
while, "but I think we should take the first turn to the right. I wonder
have we passed the turn yet; these criss-cross kinds of roads are the
devil, and it dark as well. Do any of