imbal, and watched that
tornado of a man depart.

"My stars! He do breathe forth threatenings and slaughters worse 'n in
any Bible carater ever I read of," said the miller, "and if what he sez
be true--"

"I'll wager 't is. Theer 's method in him. Your son-in-law, if I may say
it, be drownded, sure 's death. What a world!"

"Get the lanterns and call Sam Bonus. He must stand to this door an' let
no man in while we 'm away. God send the chap ban't dead. I don't like
for a long-cripple to suffer torture."

"That's your high religion. An' I'll carry the brandy, for 't is a
liquor, when all 's said, what 's saved more bodies in this world than
it 's damned sawls in the next, an' a thing pleasant, tu, used with
sense--specially if a man can sleep 'fore 't is dead in un."

"Hurry, hurry! Every minute may mean life or death. I'll call Bonus; you
get the lanterns."

Ten minutes later a huge labourer stood guard over Monks Barton, and the
miller, with his man, entered upon their long and fruitless search. The
thaw had come, but glimmering ridges of snow still outlined the bases of
northern-facing hedges along the river. With infinite labour and some
difficulty they explored the stream, then, wet and weary, returned by
the southern bank to their starting-point at Rushford Bridge. Here Billy
found a cloth cap by the water's edge, and that was the only evidence of
Will's downfall. As they clambered up from the river Mr. Lyddon noted
bright eyes shining across the night, and found that the windows of Mrs.
Blanchard's cottage were illuminated.

"They 'm waitin' for him by the looks of it," he said. "What ought us to
do, I wonder?"

Billy never objected to be the bearer of news, good or ill, so that it
was sensational; but a thought struck him at seeing the lighted windows.

"Why, it may be he's theer! If so, then us might find Grimbal didn't
slay un arter all. 'T was such a miz-maze o' crooked words he let fly
'pon us, that perhaps us misread un."

"I wish I thought so. Come. Us can ax that much."

A few minutes later they stood at Mrs. Blanchard's door and knocked. The
widow herself appeared, fully dressed, wide awake, and perfectly
collected. Her manner told Mr. Lyddon nothing.

"What might you want, Miller?"

"'T is Will. There's bin blows struck and violence done, I hear."

"I can tell 'e the rest. The bwoy's paid his score an' got full measure.
He wanted to be even with you, tu, but they wouldn't let un."

"If