VIII. Those Who Are Found Where There Is Said to Be Nobody

           Assoonasthesadlittleboyhadwithdrawnfromthefireheclaspedthemoneytightinthepalmofhishand,asiftherebytofortifyhiscourage,andbegantorun.TherewasreallylittledangerinallowingachildtogohomealoneonthispartofEgdonHeath.Thedistancetotheboy’shousewasnotmorethanthree-eighthsofamile,hisfather’scottage,andoneotherafewyardsfurtheron,formingpartofthesmallhamletofMistoverKnap:thethirdandonlyremaininghousewasthatofCaptainVyeandEustacia,whichstoodquiteawayfromthesmallcottagesandwastheloneliestoflonelyhousesonthesethinlypopulatedslopes.

           Heranuntilhewasoutofbreath,andthen,becomingmorecourageous,walkedleisurelyalong,singinginanoldvoicealittlesongaboutasailor-boyandafairone,andbrightgoldinstore.Inthemiddleofthisthechildstopped—fromapitunderthehillaheadofhimshonealight,whenceproceededacloudoffloatingdustandasmackingnoise.

           Onlyunusualsightsandsoundsfrightenedtheboy.Theshrivelledvoiceoftheheathdidnotalarmhim,forthatwasfamiliar.Thethornbusheswhicharoseinhispathfromtimetotimewerelesssatisfactory,fortheywhistledgloomily,andhadaghastlyhabitafterdarkofputtingontheshapesofjumpingmadmen,sprawlinggiants,andhideouscripples.Lightswerenotuncommonthisevening,butthenatureofallofthemwasdifferentfromthis.Discretionratherthanterrorpromptedtheboytoturnbackinsteadofpassingthelight,withaviewofaskingMissEustaciaVyetoletherservantaccompanyhimhome.