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Chapter 6
ForalongtimeIlaymotionless,forthosehorriblefumesseemedtohaveloosenedmyjointsanddulledmybrain.Soundscametomefromthehouse—menspeakingthroatilyandthethrobbingofastationarycar.TherewasalittlegapintheparapettowhichIwriggled,andfromwhichIhadsomesortofprospectoftheyard.Isawfigurescomeout—aservantwithhisheadboundup,andthenayoungermaninknickerbockers.Theywerelookingforsomething,andmovedtowardsthemill.Thenoneofthemcaughtsightofthewispofclothonthenail,andcriedouttotheother.Theybothwentbacktothehouse,andbroughttwomoretolookatit.Isawtherotundfigureofmylatecaptor,andIthoughtImadeoutthemanwiththelisp.Inoticedthatallhadpistols.
Forhalfanhourtheyransackedthemill.Icouldhearthemkickingoverthebarrelsandpullinguptherottenplanking.Thentheycameoutside,andstoodjustbelowthedovecotarguingfiercely.Theservantwiththebandagewasbeingsoundlyrated.IheardthemfiddlingwiththedoorofthedovecoteandforonehorridmomentIfanciedtheywerecomingup.Thentheythoughtbetterofit,andwentbacktothehouse.
AllthatlongblisteringafternoonIlaybakingontherooftop.Thirstwasmychieftorment.Mytonguewaslikeastick,andtomakeitworseIcouldhearthecooldripofwaterfromthemill-lade.Iwatchedthecourseofthelittlestreamasitcameinfromthemoor,andmyfancyfollowedittothetopoftheglen,whereitmustissuefromanicyfountainfringedwithcoolfernsandmosses.
