The Last of the Blind Man

           Mycuriosity,inasense,wasstrongerthanmyfear,forIcouldnotremainwhereIwas,butcreptbacktothebankagain,whence,shelteringmyheadbehindabushofbroom,Imightcommandtheroadbeforeourdoor.Iwasscarcelyinpositioneremyenemiesbegantoarrive,sevenoreightofthem,runninghard,theirfeetbeatingoutoftimealongtheroadandthemanwiththelanternsomepacesinfront.Threemenrantogether,handinhand;andImadeout,eventhroughthemist,thatthemiddlemanofthistriowastheblindbeggar.ThenextmomenthisvoiceshowedmethatIwasright.

           "Downwiththedoor!"hecried.

           "Aye,aye,sir!"answeredtwoorthree;andarushwasmadeupontheAdmiralBenbow,thelantern-bearerfollowing;andthenIcouldseethempause,andhearspeechespassedinalowerkey,asiftheyweresurprisedtofindthedooropen.Butthepausewasbrief,fortheblindmanagainissuedhiscommands.Hisvoicesoundedlouderandhigher,asifhewereafirewitheagernessandrage.

           "In,in,in!"heshouted,andcursedthemfortheirdelay.

           Fourorfiveofthemobeyedatonce,tworemainingontheroadwiththeformidablebeggar.Therewasapause,thenacryofsurprise,andthenavoiceshoutingfromthehouse,"Bill’sdead."

           Buttheblindmansworeatthemagainfortheirdelay.

           "Searchhim,someofyoushirkinglubbers,andtherestofyoualoftandgetthechest,"hecried.

           Icouldheartheirfeetrattlingupouroldstairs,sothatthehousemusthaveshookwithit.