I be that terrified!"

"I'll strike a light. I'm not so sure about this being a dead
sheep."

Something lay on the path, catching what little light came from
the sky above.

Jonas stooped and plucked some dry grass. Then he got out his
tinderbox and struck, struck, struck.

The boy's eyes were on the flashing sparks. He feared to look
elsewhere. Presently the tinder was ignited, and the Broom-Squire
blew it and held dry grass haulms to the glowing embers till a
blue flame danced up, became yellow, and burst into a flare.

Cautiously Jonas approached the prostrate figure and waved the
flaming grass above it, whilst sparks flew about and fell over it.

The boy, shrinking behind the man, looked timidly forward, and
uttered a cry as the yellow flare fell over the object and illumined
a face.

"I thought as much," said the Broom-Squire. "What else could he
expect? Them three chaps ha' murdered him. They've robbed and
stripped him."

"Oh--Bideabout!"

"Aye. What other could come o' such companions. They've gone off
wi' his clothes--left his shirt--have they? That's curious, as
one of the blackguards had none."

Then the child's wailing and sobbing sounded more continuously
than before.

"The baby ain't far off," said Jonas. "I suppose we can't leave it
here. This is a pretty awkward affair. Tell'y what, Iver. You bide
by the dead man and grope about for that there baby, and I'll go
down to the houses and get help."

"Oh, Bideabout! I dursn't."

"Dursn't what?"

"Not be left alone--here--in the Punch-Bowl with a dead man."

"You're a fool," said Jonas, "a dead man can't hurt nobody, and
them rascals as killed him are for sure a long way off by this
time. Look here, Iver, you timid 'un, you find that squalling brat
and take it up. I don't mind a brass fardin' being here wi' a
corpse so long as I can have my pipe, and that I'll light. But I
can't stand the child as well. You find that and carry it down,
and get the Boxalls, or someone to take it in. Tell 'em there's a
murdered man here and I'm by the body, and want to get home and
can't till someone comes and helps to carry it away. Cut along
and be sharp. I'd ha' given a shilling this hadn't happened. It
may cost us a deal o' trouble and inconvenience--still--here it
is--and--you pick about and find that creature squealin' its
bellows out."

There was callousness unusual and repulsive in so young a man.
It jarred with the feelings of the frightened and