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           "

           ThetruthpenetratedslowlytoReiverslaw’sfoggybrain,butintheendhesawit.

           "God’scurseonhim,butye’remayberight.Whatareyeettlin’,sir?GiemethewordandI’llcomeinbyandwringthetruthouto’himwi’myhandsathisgutsythrapple."

           "Bidewhereyouare,andletnoneleavethisplaceunlessIbidyou.IwillseeifIcangetjusticedone."

           ButwhenReiverslawopenedtheheavydoortolethimenter,thefirstglancetoldDavidthathehadcometoolate.Thegreatemptyplacehadstrawpiledatoneend,andonabarrelinthecentreaflickeringlantern.Byit,onanupturnedbarrow,satthepricker,apaperinhishandandaninkhornslungroundhisneck,hisfacewearingasmirkingsatisfaction.Hehadoncebeenaschoolmaster,andatthismomenthelookedthepartagain.Behindhim,sittingonkegsorsquattedonthefloor,wereadozenmen--Chasehopeathiselbow,Mirehope,themiller,PeterPennecuik,NetherFennan--Davidsawonlyafewfacesinthedimlight.DaftGibbiebysomemeansorotherhadgainedentrance,andhadperchedhimselfinacreviceofthewall,whencehislongshoelesslegsdangledoverChasehope’shead.

           Onthestrawbehindthelanternlaythewitch.Hergreyhairhadfallenroundhernakedshoulders,andthatandaraggedpetticoatseemedheronlycovering.EveninthemirkDavidcouldseethecruelconsequencesoftorture.Herfeetwereblackandswollen,andherhands,withdislocatedthumbs,weresplayedoutonthestrawasiftheywerenolongerpartsofherbody.