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little man； the third stranger； but his trepidation had in a great
measure gone。
'Well； travellers；' he said； 'did I hear ye speak to me？'
'You did： you've got to come and be our prisoner at once！' said the
constable。 'We arrest 'ee on the charge of not biding in
Casterbridge jail in a decent proper manner to be hung to…morrow
morning。 Neighbours； do your duty； and seize the culpet！'
On hearing the charge； the man seemed enlightened； and； saying not
another word； resigned himself with preternatural civility to the
search…party； who； with their staves in their hands； surrounded him
on all sides； and marched him back towards the shepherd's cottage。
It was eleven o'clock by the time they arrived。 The light shining
from the open door； a sound of men's voices within； proclaimed to
them as they approached the house that some new events had arisen in
their absence。 On entering they discovered the shepherd's living
room to be invaded by two officers from Casterbridge jail； and a
well…known magistrate who lived at the nearest country…seat；
intelligence of the escape having become generally circulated。
'Gentlemen；' said the constable； 'I have brought back your mannot
without risk and danger； but every one must do his duty！ He is
inside this circle of able…bodied persons； who have lent me useful
aid； considering their ignorance of Crown work。 Men； bring forward
your prisoner！' And the third stranger was led to the light。
'Who is this？' said one of the officials。
'The man；' said the constable。
'Certainly not；' said the turnkey； and the first corroborated his
statement。
'But how can it be otherwise？' asked the constable。 'Or why was he
so terrified at sight o' the singing instrument of the law who sat
there？' Here he related the strange behaviour of the third stranger
on entering the house during the hangman's song。
'Can't understand it；' said the officer coolly。 'All I know is that
it is not the condemned man。 He's quite a different character from
this one； a gauntish fellow； with dark hair and eyes； rather good…
looking； and with a musical bass voice that if you heard it once
you'd never mistake as long as you lived。'
'Why； souls'twas the man in the chimney…corner！'
'Heywhat？' said the magistrate； coming forward after inquiring
particulars from the shepherd in the background。 'Haven't you got
the man after all？'
'Well； sir；' said the constable； 'he's the man we were in search of；
that's true； and yet he's not the man we were in search of。 For the
man we were in search of was not the man we wanted； sir； if you
understand my every…day way； for 'twas the man in the chimney…
corner！'
'A pretty kettle of fish altogether！' said the magistrate。 'You had
better start for the other man at once。'
The prisoner now spoke for the first time。 The mention of the man
in the chimney…corner seemed to have moved him as nothing else could
do。 'Sir；' he said； stepping forward to the magistrate； 'take no
more trouble about me。 The time is come when I may as well speak。
I have done nothing； my crime is that the condemned man is my
brother。 Early this afternoon I left home at Shottsford to tramp it
all the way to Casterbridge jail to bid him farewell。 I was
benighted； and called here to rest and ask the way。 When I opened
the door I saw before me the very man； my brother； that I thought to
see in the condemned cell at Casterbridge。 He was in this chimney…
corner； and jammed close to him； so that he could not have got out
if he had tried； was the executioner who'd come to take his life；
singing a song about it and not knowing that it was his victim who
was close by； joining in to save appearances。 My brother looked a
glance of agony at me； and I knew he meant； 〃Don't reveal what you
see； my life depends on it。〃 I was so terror…struck that I could
hardly stand； and； not knowing what I did； I turned and hurried
away。'
The narrator's manner and tone had the stamp of truth； and his story
made a great impression on all around。 'And do you know where your
brother is at the present time？' asked the magistrate。
'I do not。 I have never seen him since I closed this door。'
'I can testify to that； for we've been between ye ever since；' said
the constable。
'Where does he think to fly to？what is his occupation？'
'He's a watch…and…clock…maker； sir。'
''A said 'a was a wheelwrighta wicked rogue；' said the constable。
'The wheels of clocks and watches he meant； no doubt；' said Shepherd
Fennel。 'I thought his hands were palish for's trade。'
'Well； it appears to me that nothing can be gained by retaining this
poor man in custody；' said the magistrate； 'your business lies with
the other； unquestionably。'
And so the little man was released off…hand； but he looked nothing
the less sad on that account； it being beyond the power of
magistrate or constable to raze out the written troubles in his
brain； for they concerned another whom he regarded with more
solicitude than himself。 When this was done； and the man had gone
his way； the night was found to be so far advanced that it was
deemed useless to renew the search before the next morning。
Next day； accordingly； the quest for the clever sheep…stealer became
general and keen； to all appearance at least。 But the intended
punishment was cruelly disproportioned to the transgression； and the
sympathy of a great many country…folk in that district was strongly
on the side of the fugitive。 Moreover； his marvellous coolness and
daring in hob…and…nobbing with the hangman； under the unprecedented
circumstances of the shepherd's party； won their admiration。 So
that it may be questioned if all those who ostensibly made
themselves so busy in exploring woods and fields and lanes were
quite so thorough when it came to the private examination of their
own lofts and outhouses。 Stories were afloat of a mysterious figure
being occasionally seen in some old overgrown trackway or other；
remote from turnpike roads； but when a search was instituted in any
of these suspected quarters nobody was found。 Thus the days and
weeks passed without tidings。
In brief； the bass…voiced man of the chimney…corner was never
recaptured。 Some said that he went across the sea； others that he
did not； but buried himself in the depths of a populous city。 At
any rate； the gentleman in cinder…gray never did his morning's work
at Casterbridge； nor met anywhere at all； for business purposes； the
genial comrade with whom he had passed an hour of relaxation in the
lonely house on the coomb。
The grass has long been green on the graves of Shepherd Fennel and
his frugal wife； the guests who made up the christening party have
mainly followed their entertainers to the tomb； the baby in whose
honour they all had met is a matron in the sere and yellow leaf。
But the arrival of the three strangers at the shepherd's that night；
and the details connected therewith； is a story as well known as
ever in the country about Higher Crowstairs。
March 1883。
THE WITHERED ARM
CHAPTER IA LORN MILKMAID
It was an eighty…cow dairy； and the troop of milkers； regular and
supernumerary； were all at work； for； though the time of year was as
yet but early April； the feed lay entirely in water…meadows； and the
cows were 'in full pail。' The hour was about six in the evening；
and three…fourths of the large； red； rectangular animals having been
finished off； there was opportunity for a little conversation。
'He do bring home his bride to…morrow； I hear。 They've come as far
as Anglebury to…day。'
The voice seemed to proceed from the belly of the cow called Cherry；
but the speaker was a milking…woman； whose face was buried in the
flank of that motionless beast。
'Hav' anybody seen her？' said another。
There was a negative response from the first。 'Though they say
she's a rosy…cheeked； tisty…tosty little body enough；' she added；
and as the milkmaid spoke she turned her face so that she could
glance past her cow's tail to the other side of the barton； where a
thin； fading woman of thirty milked somewhat apart from the rest。
'Years younger than he； they say；' continued the second； w