trees of pride

8/6/2019 Trees of Pride

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/trees-of-pride 1/45

EtextpreparedbyDianneBeanofPhoenix,Arizona.

TheTreesofPride

byGilbertK.Chesterton

THETREESOFPRIDE:I.THETALEOFTHEPEACOCKTREES

II.THEWAGEROFSQUIREVANEIII.THEMYSTERYOFTHEWELLIV.THECHASEAFTERTHETRUTH

THETREESOFPRIDE

I.THETALEOFTHEPEACOCKTREES

SquireVanewasanelderlyschoolboyofEnglisheducationandIrishextraction.HisEnglisheducation,atoneofthegreat

publicschools,hadpreservedhisintellectperfectlyandpermanentlyatthestageofboyhood.ButhisIrishextractionsubconsciouslyupsetinhimthepropersolemnityofanoldboy,andsometimesgavehimbackthebrighteroutlookofanaughtyboy.Hehadabodilyimpatiencewhichplayedtricksuponhimalmostagainsthiswill,andhadalreadyrenderedhimrathertooradiantafailureincivilanddiplomaticservice.ThusitistruethatcompromiseisthekeyofBritishpolicy,especiallyaseffectinganimpartialityamongthereligionsofIndia;butVane'sattempttomeettheMoslemhalfwaybykickingoffonebootatthegatesofthemosque,wasfeltnotsomuchtoindicatetrueimpartialityassomethingthatcouldonlybecalled

anaggressiveindifference.Again,itistruethatanEnglisharistocratcanhardlyenterfullyintothefeelingsofeitherpartyinaquarrelbetweenaRussianJewandanOrthodoxprocessioncarryingrelics;butVane'sideathattheprocessionmightcarrytheJewaswell,himselfavenerableandhistoricrelic,wasmisunderstoodonbothsides.Inshort,hewasamanwhoparticularlypridedhimselfonhavingnononsenseabouthim;withtheresultthathewasalwaysdoingnonsensicalthings.Heseemedtobestandingonhisheadmerelytoprovethathewashard-headed.

Hehadjustfinishedaheartybreakfast,inthesocietyofhisdaughter,atatableunderatreeinhisgardenbytheCornishcoast.For,havinga

gloriouscirculation,heinsistedonasmanyoutdoormealsaspossible,thoughspringhadbarelytouchedthewoodsandwarmedtheseasroundthatsouthernextremityofEngland.HisdaughterBarbara,agood-looking



girlwithheavyredhairandafaceasgraveasoneofthegardenstatues,stillsatalmostmotionlessasastatuewhenherfatherrose.Afinetallfigureinlightclothes,withhiswhitehairandmustacheflyingbackwardsratherfiercelyfromafacethatwasgood-humoredenough,forhecarriedhisverywidePanamahatinhishand,hestrodeacrosstheterracedgarden,downsomestonestepsflankedwitholdornamentalurnstoamorewoodlandpathfringedwithlittletrees,andsodowna

zigzagroadwhichdescendedthecraggyClifftotheshore,wherehewastomeetaguestarrivingbyboat.Ayachtwasalreadyinthebluebay,andhecouldseeaboatpullingtowardthelittlepavedpier.

Andyetinthatshortwalkbetweenthegreenturfandtheyellowsandshewasdestinedtofind.hishard-headednessprovokedintoanotunfamiliarphasewhichtheworldwasinclinedtocallhot-headedness.ThefactwasthattheCornishpeasantry,whocomposedhistenantryanddomesticestablishment,werefarfrombeingpeoplewithnononsenseaboutthem.Therewas,alas!agreatdealofnonsenseaboutthem;withghosts,witches,andtraditionsasoldasMerlin,

theyseemedtosurroundhimwithafairyringofnonsense.Butthemagiccirclehadonecenter:therewasonepointinwhichthecurvingconversationoftherusticsalwaysreturned.ItwasapointthatalwaysprickedtheSquiretoexasperation,andeveninthisshortwalkheseemedtostrikeiteverywhere.Hepausedbeforedescendingthestepsfromthelawntospeaktothegardeneraboutpottingsomeforeignshrubs,andthegardenerseemedtobegloomilygratified,ineverylineofhisleatherybrownvisage,atthechanceofindicatingthathehadformedalowopinionofforeignshrubs.

"Wewishyou'dgetridofwhatyou'vegothere,sir,"heobserved,diggingdoggedly."Nothing'llgrowrightwiththemhere."

"Shrubs!"saidtheSquire,laughing."Youdon'tcallthepeacocktreesshrubs,doyou?Finetalltrees--yououghttobeproudofthem."

"Illweedsgrowapace,"observedthegardener."Weedscangrowashouseswhensomebodyplantsthem."Thenheadded:"HimthatsowedtaresintheBible,Squire."

"Oh,blastyour--"begantheSquire,andthenreplacedthemoreaptandalliterativeword"Bible"bythegeneralword"superstition."Hewashimselfarobustrationalist,buthewenttochurchtosethistenantsanexample.Ofwhat,itwouldhavepuzzledhimtosay.

Alittlewayalongthelowerpathbythetreesheencounteredawoodcutter,oneMartin,whowasmoreexplicit,havingmoreofagrievance.Hisdaughterwasatthattimeseriouslyillwithafeverrecentlycommononthatcoast,andtheSquire,whowasakind-heartedgentleman,wouldnormallyhavemadeallowancesforlowspiritsandlossoftemper.Buthecameneartolosinghisownagainwhenthepeasantpersistedinconnectinghistragedywiththetraditionalmonomaniaabouttheforeigntrees.

"IfshewerewellenoughI'dmoveher,"saidthewoodcutter,"aswecan'tmovethem,Isuppose.I'djustliketogetmy

chopperintothemandfeel'emcomecrashingdown."

"Onewouldthinktheyweredragons,"saidVane.



"Andthat'saboutwhattheylooklike,"repliedMartin."Lookat'em!"

Thewoodmanwasnaturallyarougherandevenwilderfigurethanthegardener.Hisfacealsowasbrown,andlookedlikeanantiqueparchment,anditwasframedinanoutlandisharrangementofravenbeardandwhiskers,whichwasreallyafashionfifty

yearsago,butmighthavebeenfivethousandyearsoldorolder.Phoenicians,onefelt,tradingonthosestrangeshoresinthemorningoftheworld,mighthavecombedorcurledorbraidedtheirblue-blackhairintosomesuchquaintpatterns.ForthispatchofpopulationwasasmuchacornerofCornwallasCornwallisacornerofEngland;atragicanduniquerace,smallandinterrelatedlikeaCelticclan.TheclanwasolderthantheVanefamily,thoughthatwasoldascountyfamiliesgo.ForinmanysuchpartsofEnglanditisthearistocratswhoarethelatestarrivals.Itwasthesortofracialtypethatissupposedtobepassing,andperhapshasalreadypassed.

Theobnoxiousobjectsstoodsomehundredyardsawayfromthespeaker,whowavedtowardthemwithhisax;andtherewassomethingsuggestiveinthecomparison.Thatcoast,tobeginwith,stretchingtowardthesunset,wasitselfalmostasfantasticasasunsetcloud.Itwascutoutagainsttheemeraldorindigooftheseaingravenhornsandcrescentsthatmightbethecastormoldofsomesuchcrestedserpents;and,beneath,waspiercedandfrettedbycavesandcrevices,asifbytheboringofsomesuchtitanicworms.Overandabovethisdraconianarchitectureoftheearthaveilofgraywoodshungthinnerlikeavapor;woodswhichthewitchcraftoftheseahad,asusual,bothblightedandblownoutofshape.Totherightthetreestrailedalongtheseafrontinasingleline,eachdrawnoutinthinwildlineslikeacaricature.Attheotherend

oftheirextenttheymultipliedintoahuddleofhunchbackedtrees,awoodspreadingtowardaprojectingpartofthehighcoast.Itwasherethatthesightappearedtowhichsomanyeyesandmindsseemedtobealmostautomaticallyturning.

Outofthemiddleofthislow,andmoreorlesslevelwood,rosethreeseparatestemsthatshotupandsoaredintotheskylikealighthouseoutofthewavesorachurchspireoutofthevillageroofs.Theyformedaclumpofthreecolumnsclosetogether,whichmightwellbethemerebifurcation,orrathertrifurcation,ofonetree,thelowerpartbeinglostorsunkeninthethickwoodaround.EverythingaboutthemsuggestedsomethingstrangerandmoresouthernthananythingeveninthatlastpeninsulaofBritainwhichpushesoutfarthesttowardSpainandAfricaandthesouthernstars.Theirleatheryleafagehadsproutedinadvanceofthefaintmistofyellow-greenaroundthem,anditwasofanotherandlessnaturalgreen,tingedwithblue,likethecolorsofakingfisher.Butonemightfancyitthescalesofsomethree-headeddragontoweringoveraherdofhuddledandfleeingcattle.

"Iamexceedinglysorryyourgirlissounwell,"saidVaneshortly."Butreally--"andhestrodedownthesteeproadwithplungingstrides.

Theboatwasalreadysecuredtothelittlestonejetty,andtheboatman,ayoungershadowofthewoodcutter--

and,indeed,anephewofthatusefulmalcontent--salutedhisterritoriallordwiththesullenformalityofthefamily.TheSquireacknowledgeditcasuallyandhadsoonforgottenallsuch



thingsinshakinghandswiththevisitorwhohadjustcomeashore.Thevisitorwasalong,looseman,veryleantobesoyoung,whoselong,finefeaturesseemedwhollyfittedtogetherofboneandnerve,andseemedsomehowtocontrastwithhishair,thatshowedinvividyellowpatchesuponhishollowtemplesunderthebrimofhiswhiteholidayhat.Hewascarefullydressedinexquisitetaste,thoughhehadcomestraightfrom

aconsiderableseavoyage;andhecarriedsomethinginhishandwhichinhislongEuropeantravels,andevenlongerEuropeanvisits,hehadalmostforgottentocallagripsack.

Mr.CyprianPaynterwasanAmericanwholivedinItaly.Therewasagooddealmoretobesaidabouthim,forhewasaveryacuteandcultivatedgentleman;butthosetwofactswould,perhaps,covermostoftheothers.StoringhismindlikeamuseumwiththewonderoftheOldWorld,butalllitupasbyawindowwiththewonderoftheNew,hehadfallenheirtosomethingoftheuniquecriticalpositionofRuskinorPater,andwasfurtherfamousasadiscovererofminorpoets.Hewasajudiciousdiscoverer,

andhedidnotturnallhisminorpoetsintomajorprophets.Ifhisgeesewereswans,theywerenotallSwansofAvon.Hehadevenincurredthedeadlysuspicionofclassicismbydifferingfromhisyoungfriends,thePunctuistPoets,whentheyproducedversificationconsistingexclusivelyofcommasandcolons.HehadamorehumanesympathywiththemodernflamekindledfromtheembersofCelticmythology,anditwasinrealitytherecentappearanceofaCornishpoet,asortofparalleltothenewIrishpoets,whichhadbroughthimonthisoccasiontoCornwall.Hewas,indeed,fartoowell-manneredtoallowahosttoguessthatanypleasurewasbeingsoughtoutsidehisownhospitality.HehadalongstandinginvitationfromVane,whomhehadmetinCyprusinthelatter'sdaysofundiplomaticdiplomacy;

andVanewasnotawarethatrelationshadonlybeenthusrenewedafterthecritichadreadMerlinandOtherVerses,byanewwriternamedJohnTreherne.NordidtheSquireevenbegintorealizethemuchmorediplomaticdiplomacybywhichhehadbeeninducedtoinvitethelocalbardtolunchontheverydayoftheAmericancritic'sarrival.

Mr.Paynterwasstillstandingwithhisgripsack,gazinginatranceoftrueadmirationatthehollowedcrags,toppedbythegray,grotesquewood,andcrestedfinallybythethreefantastictrees.

"Itislikebeingshipwreckedonthecoastoffairyland,"hesaid,

"Ihopeyouhaven'tbeenshipwreckedmuch,"repliedhishost,smiling."IfancyJakeherecanlookafteryouverywell."

Mr.Paynterlookedacrossattheboatmanandsmiledalso."Iamafraid,"hesaid,"ourfriendisnotquitesoenthusiasticforthislandscapeasIam."

"Oh,thetrees,Isuppose!"saidtheSquirewearily.

Theboatmanwasbynormaltradeafisherman;butashishouse,builtofblacktarredtimber,stoodrightontheforeshoreafewyardsfromthepier,hewasemployedinsuchcasesasasortofferryman.

Hewasabig,black-browedyouthgenerallysilent,butsomethingseemednowtostinghimintospeech.



"Well,sir,"hesaid,"everybodyknowsit'snotnatural.Everybodyknowstheseablightstreesandbeatsthemunder,whenthey'reonlyjusttrees.Thesethingsthrivelikesomeunholygreatseaweedthatdon'tbelongtothelandatall.It'slikethe--theblessedseaserpentgotonshore,Squire,andeatingeverythingup."

"Thereissomestupidlegend,"saidSquireVanegruffly."Butcomeupintothegarden;Iwanttointroduceyoutomydaughter."

When,however,theyreachedthelittletableunderthetree,theapparentlyimmovableyoungladyhadmovedawayafterall,anditwassometimebeforetheycameuponthetrackofher.Shehadrisen,thoughlanguidly,andwanderedslowlyalongtheupperpathoftheterracedgardenlookingdownonthelowerpathwhereitranclosertothemainbulkofthelittlewoodbythesea.

Herlanguorwasnotafeeblenessbutratherafullnessoflife,likethatofachildhalfawake;sheseemedtostretchherselfandenjoyeverythingwithoutnoticinganything.Shepassedthewood,intothegrayhuddleofwhichasinglewhitepathvanishedthroughablackhole.Alongthispartoftheterraceransomethinglikealowrampartorbalustrade,emboweredwithflowersatintervals;andsheleanedoverit,lookingdownAtanotherglimpseoftheglowingseabehindtheclumpoftrees,andonanotherirregularpathtumblingdowntothepierandtheboatman'scottageonthebeach.

Asshegazed,sleepilyenough,shesawthatastrangefigurewasveryactivelyclimbingthepath,apparentlycomingfrom

thefisherman'scottage;soactivelythatamomentafterwardsitcameoutbetweenthetreesandstooduponthepathjustbelowher.Itwasnotonlyafigurestrangetoher,butonesomewhatstrangeinitself.Itwasthatofamanstillyoung,andseemingsomehowyoungerthanhisownclothes,whichwerenotonlyshabbybutantiquated;clothescommonenoughintexture,yetcarriedinanuncommonfashion.Heworewhatwaspresumablyalightwaterproof,perhapsthroughhavingcomeoffthesea;butitwasheldatthethroatbyonebutton,andhung,sleevesandall,morelikeacloakthanacoat.Herestedonebonyhandonablackstick;undertheshadowofhisbroadhathisblackhairhungdowninatuftortwo.Hisface,whichwasswarthy,butratherhandsomeinitself,woresomethingthatmayhavebeenaslightlyembarrassedsmile,buthadtoomuchtheappearanceofasneer.

Whetherthisapparitionwasatramporatrespasser,orafriendofsomeofthefishersorwoodcutters,BarbaraVanewasquiteunabletoguess.Heremovedhishat,stillwithhisunalteredandrathersinistersmile,andsaidcivilly:"Excuseme.TheSquireaskedmetocall."HerehecaughtsightofMartin,thewoodman,whowasshiftingalongthepath,thinningthethintrees;andthestrangermadeafamiliarsalutewithonefinger.

Thegirldidnotknowwhattosay."Haveyou--haveyoucomeaboutcuttingthewood?"sheaskedatlast.

"IwouldIweresohonestaman,"repliedthestranger."Martinis,Ifancy,adistantcousinofmine;weCornishfolkjust



roundherearenearlyallrelated,youknow;butIdonotcutwood.Idonotcutanything,except,perhaps,capers.Iam,sotospeak,ajongleur."

"Awhat?"askedBarbara.

"Aminstrel,shallwesay?"answeredthenewcomer,andlookedup

athermoresteadily.Duringaratheroddsilencetheireyesrestedoneachother.Whatshesawhasbeenalreadynoted,thoughbyher,atanyrate,notintheleastunderstood.Whathesawwasadecidedlybeautifulwomanwithastatuesquefaceandhairthatshoneinthesunlikeahelmetofcopper.

"Doyouknow,"hewenton,"thatinthisoldplace,hundredsofyearsago,ajongleurmayreallyhavestoodwhereIstand,andaladymayreallyhavelookedoverthatwallandthrownhimmoney?"

"Doyouwantmoney?"sheasked,allatsea.

"Well,"drawledthestranger,"inthesenseoflackingit,perhaps,butIfearthereisnoplacenowforaminstrel,exceptniggerminstrel.Imustapologizefornotblackingmyface."

Shelaughedalittleinherbewilderment,andsaid:"Well,Ihardlythinkyouneeddothat."

"Youthinkthenativesherearedarkenoughalready,perhaps,"heobservedcalmly."Afterall,weareaborigines,andaretreatedassuch."

Shethrewoutsomedesperateremarkabouttheweatherorthescenery,andwonderedwhatwouldhappennext.

"Theprospectiscertainlybeautiful,"heassented,inthesameenigmaticmanner."ThereisonlyonethinginitIamdoubtfulabout."

Whileshestoodinsilenceheslowlyliftedhisblacksticklikealongblackfingerandpointeditatthepeacocktreesabovethewood.Andaqueerfeelingofdisquietfellonthegirl,asifhewere,bythatmeregesture,doingadestructiveactandcouldsendablightuponthegarden.

ThestrainedandalmostpainfulsilencewasbrokenbythevoiceofSquireVane,loudevenwhileitwasstilldistant.

"Wecouldn'ttmakeoutwhereyou'dgotto,Barbara,"hesaid."Thisismyfriend,Mr.CyprianPaynter."Thenextmomenthesawthestrangerandstopped,alittlepuzzled.itwasonlyMr.CyprianPaynterhimselfwhowasequaltothesituation.HehadseenmonthsagoaportraitofthenewCornishpoetinsomeAmericanliterarymagazine,andhefoundhimself,tohissurprise,theintroducerinsteadoftheintroduced.

"Why,Squire,"hesaidinconsiderableastonishment,"don'tyouknowMr.Treherne?Isupposed,ofcourse,hewasaneighbor."

"Delightedtoseeyou,Mr.Treherne,"saidtheSquire,recoveringhismannerswithacertaingenialconfusion."Sopleasedyouwereabletocome.ThisisMr.Paynter---my



daughter,"and,turningwithacertainboisterousembarrassment,heledthewaytothetableunderthetree.

CyprianPaynterfollowed,inwardlyrevolvingapuzzlewhichhadtakenevenhisexperiencebysurprise.TheAmerican,ifintellectuallyanaristocrat,wasstillsociallyandsubconsciouslyademocrat.Ithadnevercrossedhismindthatthepoetshouldbecounted

luckytoknowthesquireandnotthesquiretoknowthepoet.ThehonestpatronageinVane'shospitalitywassomethingwhichmadePaynterfeelhewas,afterall,anexileinEngland.

TheSquire,anticipatingthetrialofluncheonwithastrangeliteraryman,haddealtwiththecasetactfullyfromhisownstandpoint.Countysocietymighthavemadetheguestfeellikeafishoutofwater;and,exceptfortheAmericancriticandthelocallawyeranddoctor,worthymiddle-classpeoplewhofittedintothepicture,hehadkeptitasafamilyparty.Hewasawidower,andwhenthemealhadbeenlaidoutonthegardentable,itwasBarbarawhopresidedashostess.Shehadthenewpoetonherrighthandanditmadeherveryuncomfortable.

Shehadpracticallyofferedthatfallaciousjongleurmoney,anditdidnotmakeiteasiertoofferhimlunch.

"Thewholecountryside'sgonemad,"announcedtheSquire,bywayofthelatestlocalnews."It'saboutthisinfernallegendofours."

"Icollectlegends,"saidPaynter,smiling.

"YoumustrememberIhaven'tyethadachancetocollectyours.Andthis,"headded,lookingroundattheromanticcoast,"isafinetheaterforanythingdramatic."

"Oh,it'sdramaticinitsway,"admittedVane,notwithoutafaintsatisfaction."It'sallaboutthosethingsovertherewecallthepeacocktrees--Isuppose,becauseofthequeercoloroftheleaf,youknow,thoughIhaveheardtheymakeashrillnoiseinahighwindthat'ssupposedtobeliketheshriekofapeacock;somethinglikeabamboointhebotanicalstructure,perhaps.Well,thosetreesaresupposedtohavebeenbroughtoverfromBarbarybymyancestorSirWalterVane,oneoftheElizabethanpatriotsorpirates,orwhateveryoucallthem.Theysaythatattheendofhislastvoyagethevillagersgatheredonthebeachdownthereandsawtheboatstandinginfromthesea,andthenewtreesstoodupintheboatlikeamast,allgaywithleavesoutofseason,likegreenbunting.Andastheywatchedtheythoughtatfirstthattheboatwassteeringoddly,andthenthatitwasn'tsteeringatall;andwhenitdriftedtotheshoreatlasteverymaninthatboatwasdead,andSirWalterVane,withhissworddrawn,wasleaningupagainstthetreetrunk,asstiffasthetree."

"Nowthisisrathercurious,"remarkedPaynterthoughtfully."ItoldyouIcollectedlegends,andIfancyIcantellyouthebeginningofthestoryofwhichthatistheend,thoughitcomeshundredsofmilesacrossthesea."

Hetappedmeditativelyonthetablewithhisthin,taperfingers,

likeamantryingtorecallatune.Hehad,indeed,madeahobbyofsuchfables,andhewasnotwithoutvanityabouthisartistictouchintellingthem.



"Oh,dotellusyourpartofit?"criedBarbaraVane,whoseairofsunnysleepinessseemedinsomevaguedegreetohavefallenfromher.

TheAmericanbowedacrossthetablewithaseriouspoliteness,andthenbeganplayingidlywithaquaintringonhislongfingerashetalked.

"IfyougodowntotheBarbaryCoast,wherethelastwedgeoftheforestnarrowsdownbetweenthedesertandthegreattidelesssea,youwillfindthenativesstilltellingastrangestoryaboutasaintoftheDarkAges.There,onthetwilightborderoftheDarkContinent,youfeeltheDarkAges.Ihaveonlyvisitedtheplaceonce,thoughitlies,sotospeak,oppositetotheItaliancitywhereIlivedforyears,andyetyouwouldhardlybelievehowthetopsy-turvydomandtransmigrationofthismythsomehowseemedlessmadthantheyreallyare,withthewoodloudwithlionsatnightandthatdarkredsolitudebeyond.TheysaythatthehermitSt.Securis,

livingthereamongtrees,grewtolovethemlikecompanions;since,thoughgreatgiantswithmanyarmslikeBriareus,theywerethemildestandmostblamelessofthecreatures;theydidnotdevourlikethelions,butratheropenedtheirarmstoallthelittlebirds.Andheprayedthattheymightbeloosenedfromtimetotimetowalklikeotherthings.AndthetreesweremovedupontheprayersofSecuris,astheywereatthesongsofOrpheus.Themenofthedesertwerestrickenfromafarwithfear,seeingthesaintwalkingwithawalkinggrove,likeaschoolmasterwithhisboys.Forthetreeswerethusfreedunderstrictconditionsofdiscipline.Theyweretoreturnatthesoundofthehermit'sbell,and,aboveall,tocopythewildbeastsinwalkingonlytodestroyanddevournothing.

Well,itissaidthatoneofthetreesheardavoicethatwasnotthesaint's;thatinthewarmgreentwilightofonesummereveningitbecameconsciousofsomethingsittingandspeakinginitsbranchesintheguiseofagreatbird,anditwasthatwhichoncespokefromatreeintheguiseofagreatserpent.Asthevoicegrewlouderamongitsmurmuringleavesthetreewastornwithagreatdesiretostretchoutandsnatchatthebirdsthatflewharmlesslyabouttheirnests,andpluckthemtopieces.Finally,thetempterfilledthetree-topwithhisownbirdsofpride,thestarrypageantofthepeacocks.Andthespiritofthebruteovercamethespiritofthetree,anditrentandconsumedtheblue-greenbirdstillnotaplumewasleft,andreturnedtothequiettribeoftrees.Buttheysaythatwhenspringcamealltheothertreesputforthleaves,butthisputforthfeathersofastrangehueandpattern.Andbythatmonstrousassimilationthesaintknewofthesin,andherootedthatonetreetotheearthwithajudgment,sothatevilshouldfallonanywhoremoveditagain.That,Squire,isthebeginninginthedesertsofthetalethatendedhere,almostinthisgarden."

"Andtheendisaboutasreliableasthebeginning,Ishouldsay,"saidVane."Yoursisaniceplaintaleforasmalltea-party;aquietlittlebitofstill-life,thatis."

"Whataqueer,horriblestory,"exclaimedBarbara."Itmakesonefeellikeacannibal."



"ExAfrica,"saidthelawyer,smiling."itcomesfromacannibalcountry.Ithinkit'sthetouchofthetar-brush,thatnightmarefeelingthatyoudon'tknowwhethertheheroisaplantoramanoradevil.Don'tyoufeelitsometimesin'UncleRemus'?"

"True,"saidPaynter."Perfectlytrue."Andhelookedatthelawyer

withanewinterest.Thelawyer,whohadbeenintroducedasMr.Ashe,wasoneofthosepeoplewhoaremoreworthlookingatthanmostpeoplerealizewhentheylook.IfNapoleonhadbeenred-haired,andhadbentallhispowerswithacuriouscontentmentuponthepettylawsuitsofaprovince,hemighthavelookedmuchthesame;theheadwiththeredhairwasheavyandpowerful;thefigureinitsdark,quietclotheswascomparativelyinsignificant,aswasNapoleon's.HeseemedmoreatcaseintheSquire'ssocietythanthedoctor,who,thoughagentleman,wasashyone,andamereshadowofhisprofessionalbrother.

"Asyoutrulysay,"remarkedPaynter,"thestoryseemstouchedwithquitebarbarouselements,probablyNegro.Originally,though,

Ithinktherewasreallyahagiologicalstoryaboutsomehermit,thoughsomeofthehighercriticssaySt.Securisneverexisted,butwasonlyanallegoryofarboriculture,sincehisnameistheLatinforanax."

"Oh,ifyoucometothat,"remarkedthepoetTreherne,"youmightaswellsaySquireVanedoesn'texist,andthathe'sonlyanallegoryforaweathercock."Somethingashadetoocoolaboutthissallydrewthelawyer'sredbrowstgether.Helookedacrossthetableandmetthepoet'ssomewhatequivocalsmile.

"DoIunderstand,Mr.Treherne,"askedAshe,"thatyousupportthemiraculousclaimsofSt.Securisinthiscase.

Doyou,byanychance,believeinthewalkingtrees?"

"Iseemenastreeswalking,"answeredthepoet,"likethemancuredofblindnessintheGospel.Bytheway,doIunderstandthatyousupportthemiraculousclaimsofthat--thaumaturgist?"

Paynterintervenedswiftlyandsuavely."Nowthatsoundsafascinatingpieceofpsychology.Youseemenastrees?"

"AsIcan'timaginewhymenshouldwalk,Ican'timaginewhytreesshouldn't,"answeredTreherne.

"Obviously,itisthenatureoftheorganism",interposedthemedicalguest,Dr.BurtonBrown;"itisnecessaryintheverytypeofvegetablestructure."

"Inotherwords,atreesticksinthemudfromyear'sendtoyear'send,"answeredTreherne."Sodoyoustopinyourconsultingroomfromtentoeleveneveryday.Anddon'tyoufancyafairy,lookinginatyourwindowforaflashafterhavingjustjumpedoverthemoonandplayedmulberrybushwiththePleiades,wouldthinkyouwereavegetablestructure,andthatsittingstillwasthenatureoftheorganism?"

"Idon'thappentobelieveinfairies,"saidthedoctorratherstiffly,fortheargumentumadhominemwasbecomingtoocommon.Asulphurous

subconsciousangerseemedtoradiatefromthedarkpoet.

"Well,Ishouldhopenot,Doctor,"begantheSquire,inhis



loudandfriendlystyle,andthenstopped,seeingtheother'sattentionarrested.Thesilentbutlerwaitingontheguestshadappearedbehindthedoctor'schair,andwassayingsomethinginthelow,leveltonesofthewelltrainedservant.Hewassosmoothaspecimenofthetypethatothersnevernoticed,atfirst,thathealsorepeatedthedarkportrait,howevervarnished,socommoninthisparticularfamilyofCornishCelts.Hisface

wassallowandevenyellow,andhishairindigoblack.HewentbythenameofMiles.SomefeltoppressedbythetribaltypeinthistinycornerofEngland.Theyfeltsomehowasifallthesedarkfaceswerethemasksofasecretsociety.

Thedoctorrosewithahalfapology."'Imustaskpardonfordisturbingthispleasantparty;Iamcalledawayonduty.Pleasedon'tletanybodymove.Wehavetobereadyforthesethings,youknow.PerhapsMr.Trehernewilladmitthatmyhabitsarenotsoveryvegetable,afterall."WiththisParthianshaft,atwhichtherewassomelaughter,hestrodeawayveryrapidlyacrossthesunnylawntowheretheroad

dippeddowntowardthevillage.

"Heisverygoodamongthepoor,"saidthegirlwithanhonorableseriousness.

"Acapitalfellow,"agreedtheSquire."WhereisMiles?Youwillhaveacigar,Mr.Treherne?"Andhegotupfromthetable;therestfollowed,andthegroupbrokeuponthelawn.

"Remarkableman,Treherne,"saidtheAmericantothelawyerconversationally.

"Remarkableistheword,"assentedAsherathergrimly.

"ButIdon'tthinkI'llmakeanyremarkabouthim."

TheSquire,tooimpatienttowaitfortheyellow-facedMiles,hadbetakenhimselfindoorsforthecigars,andBarbarafoundherselfoncemorepairedoffwiththepoet,asshefloatedalongtheterracegarden;butthistime,symbolicallyenough,uponthesameleveloflawn.Mr.Trehernelookedlesseccentricafterhavingshedhiscuriouscloak,andseemedaquieterandmorecasualfigure.

"Ididn'tmeantoberudetoyoujustnow,"shesaidabruptly.

"Andthat'stheworstofit,"repliedthemanofletters,"forI'mhorriblyafraidIdidmeantoberudetoyou.WhenIlookedupandsawyouuptheresomethingsurgedupinmethatwasinalltherevolutionsofhistory.Oh,therewasadmirationinittoo!Perhapstherewasidolatryinalltheiconoclasts."

Heseemedtohaveapowerofreachingratherintimateconversationinonesilentandcat-likebound,ashehadscaledthesteeproad,anditmadeherfeelhimtobedangerous,andperhapsunscrupulous.Shechangedthesubjectsharply,notwithoutitmovementtowardgratifyingherowncuriosity.

"WhatDIDyoumeanbyallthataboutwalkingtrees?"sheasked."Don'ttellmeyoureallybelieveinamagictreethateatsbirds!"

"Ishouldprobablysurpriseyou,"saidTrehernegravely,"morebywhatIdon'tbelievethanbywhatIdo."



Then,afterapause,liemadeageneralgesturetowardthehouseandgarden."I'mafraidIdon'tbelieveinallthis;forinstance,inElizabethanhousesandElizabethanfamiliesandthewayestateshavebeenimproved,andtherestofit.Lookatourfriendthewoodcutternow."Andhepointedtothemanwiththequaintblackbeard,whowasstillplyinghisaxupon

thetimberbelow.

"Thatman'sfamilygoesbackforages,anditwasfarricherandfreerinwhatyoucalltheDarkAgesthanitisnow.WaittilltheCornishpeasantwritesahistoryofCornwall."

"Butwhatintheworld,"shedemanded,"hasthistodowithwhetheryoubelieveinatreeeatingbirds?"

"WhyshouldIconfesswhatIbelievein?"hesaid,amuffleddrumofmutinyinhisvoice."Thegentrycamehereandtookourlandandtookourlaborandtookourcustoms.

Andnow,afterexploitation,avilerthing,education!Theymusttakeourdreams!"

"Well,thisdreamwasratheranightmare,wasn'tit?"askedBarbara,smiling;andthenextmomentgrewquitegrave,sayingalmostanxiously:"Buthere'sDoctorBrownbackagain.Why,helooksquiteupset."

Thedoctor,ablackfigureonthegreenlawn,was,indeed,comingtowardthemataveryvigorouswalk.Hisbodyandgaitverymuchyoungerthanhisface,whichseemedprematurelylinedaswithworry;hisbrowwasbald,andprojectedfromthestraight,darkhairbehindit.Hewasvisiblypalerthanwhenheleftthelunchtable.

"Iamsorrytosay,MissVane,"hesaid,"thatIamthebearerofbadnewstopoorMartin,thewoodmanhere.Hisdaughterdiedhalfanhourago."

"Oh,"criedBarbarawarmly,"IamSOsorry!"

"SoamI,"saidthedoctor,andpassedonratherabruptly;herandownthestonestepsbetweenthestoneurns;andtheysawhimintalkwiththewoodcutter.Theycouldnotseethewoodcutter'sface.Hestoodwithhisbacktothem,buttheysawsomethingthatseemedmoremovingthananychangeofcountenance.Theman'shandholdingtheaxrosehighabovehishead,andforaflashitseemedasifhewouldhavecutdownthedoctor.Butinfacthewasnotlookingatthedoctor.Hisfacewassettowardthecliff,where,sheeroutofthedwarfforest,rose,giganticandgildedbythesun,thetreesofpride.

Thestrongbrownhandmadeamovementandwasempty.Theaxwentcirclingswiftlythroughtheair,itsheadshowinglikeasilvercrescentagainstthegraytwilightofthetrees.Itdidnotreachitstallobjective,butfellamongtheundergrowth,shakingupaflyinglitterofbirds.Butinthepoet'smemory,fullofprimalthings,somethingseemedtosaythathehadseenthebirdsofsomepaganaugury,theaxofsomepagansacrifice.

Amomentafterthemanmadeaheavymovementforward,asiftorecoverhistool;butthedoctorputahandonhisarm.



"Nevermindthatnow,"theyheardhimsaysadlyandkindly."TheSquirewillexcuseyouanymorework,Iknow."

SomethingmadethegirllookatTreherne.Hestoodgazing,hisheadalittlebent,andoneofhisblackelf-lockshadfallenforwardoverhisforehead.Andagainshehadthesenseofashadowover

thegrass;shealmostfeltasifthegrasswereahostoffairies,andthatthefairieswerenotherfriends.

II.THEWAGEROFSQUIREVANE

ItwasmorethanamonthbeforethelegendofthepeacocktreeswasagaindiscussedintheSquire'scircle.Itfelloutoneevening,whenhiseccentrictasteformealsinthegardenthatgatheredthecompanyroundthesametable,nowlitwithalampandlaidoutfordinnerinaglowingspringtwilight.

Itwaseventhesamecompany,forinthefewweeksinterveningtheyhadinsensiblygrownmoreandmoreintoeachother'slives,formingalittlegrouplikeaclub.TheAmericanaesthetewasofcoursethemostactiveagent,hisresolutiontopluckouttheheartoftheCornishpoet'smysteryleadinghimagainandagaintoinfluencehisflightyhostforsuchreunions.EvenMr.Ashe,thelawyer,seemedtohaveswallowedhishalf-humorousprejudices;andthedoctor,thougharathersadandsilent,wasacompanionableandconsiderateman.PaynterhadevenreadTreherne'spoetryaloud,andhereadadmirably;hehadalsoreadotherthings,notaloud,grubbingupeverythingintheneighborhood,fromguidebookstoepitaphs,thatcouldthrowalightonlocalantiquities.

Anditwasthateveningwhenthelamplightandthelastdaylighthadkindledthecolorsofthewineandsilveronthetableunderthetree,thatheannouncedanewdiscovery.

"Say,Squire,"heremarked,withoneofhisrareAmericanisms,"aboutthosebogeytreesofyours;Idon'tbelieveyouknowhalfthetalestoldroundhereaboutthem.Itseemstheyhaveawayofeatingthings.NotthatIhaveanyethicalobjectiontoeatingthings,"hecontinued,helpinghimselfelegantlytogreencheese."ButIhavemoreorless,broadlyspeaking,anobjectiontoeatingpeople."

"Eatingpeople!"repeatedBarbaraVane.

"Iknowaglobe-trottermustn'tbefastidious,"repliedMr.Paynter."ButIrepeatfirmly,anobjectiontoeatingpeople.Thepeacocktreesseemtohaveprogressedsincethehappydaysofinnocencewhentheyonlyatepeacocks.Ifyouaskthepeoplehere--thefishermanwholivesonthatbeach,orthemanthatmowsthisverylawninfrontofus--they'lltellyoutalestallerthananytropicaloneIbroughtyoufromtheBarbaryCoast.IfyouaskthemwhathappenedtothefishermanPeters,whogotdrunkonAllHallowsEve,they'lltellyouhelosthiswayinthatlittlewood,tumbleddownasleepunderthewickedtrees,andthen--evaporated,vanished,waslickeduplikedewbythesun.IfyouaskthemwhereHarryHawkeis,thewidow'slittleson,

they'lljusttellyouhe'sswallowed;thathewasdaredtoclimbthetreesandsitthereallnight,anddidit.WhatthetreesdidGodknows;thehabitsofavegetableogreleaveonealittlevague.



Buttheyevenaddtheagreeabledetailthatanewbranchappearsonthetreewhensomebodyhaspeteredoutinthisstyle."

"Whatnewnonsenseisthis?"criedVane."Iknowthere'ssomecrazyyarnaboutthetreesspreadingfever,thougheveryeducatedmanknowswhytheseepidemicsreturnoccasionally.AndIknowtheysayyoucantellthenoiseofthemamongothertreesinagale,andIdaresayyoucan.

ButevenCornwallisn'talunaticasylum,andatreethatdinesonapassingtourist--"

"Well,thetwotalesarereconcilableenough,"putinthepoetquietly."Iftherewereamagicthatkilledmenwhentheycameclose,it'slikelytostrikethemwithsicknesswhentheystandfaroff.Intheoldromancethedragon,thatdevourspeople,oftenblastsotherswithasortofpoisonousbreath."

Ashelookedacrossatthespeakersteadily,nottosaystonily.

"DoIunderstand,"heinquired,"thatyouswallowthe

swallowingtreestoo?"

Treherne'sdarksmilewasstillonthedefensive;hisfencingalwaysannoyedtheother,andheseemednotwithoutmaliceinthematter.

"Swallowingisametaphor,"hesaid,"aboutme,ifnotaboutthetrees.Andmetaphorstakeusatonceintodreamland--nobadplace,either.Thisgaren,Ithink,getsmoreandmorelikeadreamatthiscornerofthedayandnight,thatmightleadusanywhere."

Theyellowhornofthemoonhadappearedsilentlyandasifsuddenlyovertheblackhornsoftheseaweed,seemingtoannounceasnightsomethingwhichtillthenhadbeenevening.

Anightbreezecameinbetweenthetreesandracedstealthilyacrosstheturf,andastheyceasedspeakingtheyheard,notonlytheseethinggrass,buttheseaitselfmoveandsoundinallthecracksandcavesroundthemandbelowthemandoneveryside.Theyallfeltthenotethathadbeenstruck--theAmericanasanartcriticandthepoetasapoet;andtheSquire,whobelievedhimselfboilingwithanimpatiencepurelyrational,didnotreallyunderstandhisownimpatience.Inhim,moreperhapsthantheothers--morecertainlythanheknewhimself--theseawindwenttotheheadlikewine.

"Credulityisacuriousthing,"wentonTreherneinalowvoice."Itismorenegativethanpositive,andyetitisinfinite.Hundredsofmenwillavoidwalkingunderaladder;theydon'tknowwherethedooroftheladderwilllead.Theydon'treallythinkGodwouldthrowathunderboltatthemforsuchathing.Theydon'tknowwhatwouldhappen,thatisjustthepoint;butyettheystepasideasfromaprecipice.Sothepoorpeopleheremayormaynotbelieveanything;theydon'tgointothosetreesatnight."

"IwalkunderaladderwheneverIcan,"criedVane,inquiteunnecessaryexcitement.

"YoubelongtoaThirteenClub,"saidthepoet."Youwalkunderaladder

onFridaytodinethirteenatatable,everybodyspillingthesalt.Butevenyoudon'tgointothosetreesatnight."



SquireVanestoodup,hissilverhairflaminginthewind.

"I'llstopallnightinyourtomfoolwoodandupyourtomfooltrees,"hesaid."I'lldoitfortwopenceortwothousandpounds,ifanyonewilltakethebet."

Withoutwaitingforreply,hesnatcheduphiswidewhitehatandsettled

itonwithafiercegesture,andhadgoneoffingreatleoninestridesacrossthelawnbeforeanyoneatthetablecouldmove.

ThestillnesswasbrokenbyMiles,thebutler,whodroppedandbrokeoneoftheplateshecarried.Hestoodlookingafterhismasterwithhislong,angularchinthrustout,lookingyel-lowerwhereitcaughttheyellowlightofthelampbelow.Hisfacewasthussharplyinshadow,butPaynterfanciedforamomentitwasconvulsedbysomepassionpassingsurprise.Butthefacewasquiteasusualwhenitturned,andPaynterrealizedthatanightoffancieshadbegun,likethecrosspurposesofthe"MidsummerNight'sDream."

Thewoodofthestrangetrees,towardwhichtheSquirewaswalking,laysofarforwardontheheadland,whichultimatelyalmostoverhungthesea,thatitcouldbeapproachedbyonlyonepath,whichshoneclearlylikeasilverribboninthetwilight.Theribbonranalongtheedgeofthecliff,wherethesinglerowofdeformedtreesranbesideitalltheway,andeventuallyplungedintotheclosermassoftreesbyonenaturalgateway,ameregapinthewood,lookingdark,likealion'smouth.Whatbecameofthepathinsidecouldnotbeseen,butitdoubtlessledroundthehiddenrootsofthegreatcentraltrees.TheSquirewasalreadywithinayardortwoofthisdarkentrywhenhisdaughterrosefromthetableandtookasteportwo

afterhimasiftocallhimback.

Trehernehadalsorisen,andstoodasifdazedattheeffectofhisidledefiance.WhenBarbaramovedheseemedtorecoverhimself,andsteppingafterher,saidsomethingwhichPaynterdidnothear.Hesaiditcasuallyandevendistantlyenough,butitclearlysuggestedsomethingtohermind;for,afteramoment'sthought,shenoddedandwalkedback,nottowardthetable,butapparentlytowardthehouse.Paynterlookedafterherwithamomentarycuriosity,andwhenheturnedagaintheSquirehadvanishedintotheholeinthewood.

"He'sgone,"saidTreherne,withaclangoffinalityinhistones,liketheslammingofadoor.

"Well,supposehehas?"criedthelawyer,rousedatthevoice."TheSquirecangointohisownwood,Isuppose!Whatthedevil'sallthefussabout,Mr.Paynter?Don'ttellmeyouthinkthere'sanyharminthatplantationofsticks."

"No,Idon't,"saidPaynter,throwingonelegoveranotherandlightingacigar."ButIshallstopheretillhecomesout."

"Verywell,"saidAsheshortly,"I'llstopwithyou,ifonlytoseetheendofthisfarce."

Thedoctorsaidnothing,buthealsokepthisseatandacceptedoneoftheAmerican'scigars.IfTrehernehadbeenattendingtothematterhemighthavenoted,withhissardonicsuperstition,



acuriousfact--that,whileallthreemenweretacitlycondemningthemselvestostayoutallnightifnecessary,all,byoneblankomissionoroblivion,assumedthatitwasimpossibletofollowtheirhostintothewoodjustinfrontofthem.ButTreherne,thoughstillinthegarden,hadwanderedawayfromthegardentable,andwaspacingalongthesinglelineoftreesagainstthedarksea.Theyhadintheirregularinterstices,showingtheseaasthroughaseries

ofwindows,somethingofthelookoftheghostorskeletonofacloister,andhe,havingthrownhiscoatoncemoreoverhisneck,likeacape,passedtoandfroliketheghostofsomenotverysanemonk.

Allthesemen,whetherskepticsormystics,lookedbackfortherestoftheirlivesonthatnightasonsomethingunnatural.Theysatstillorstartedupabruptly,andpacedthegreatgardeninlongdetours,sothatitseemedthatnothreeofthemweretogetheratatime,andnoneknewwhowouldbehiscompanion;yettheirramblingremainedwithinthesamedimandmazyspace.Theyfellintosnatchesofuneasyslumber;thesewereverybrief,andyettheyfeltasifthewholesitting,strolling,oroccasional

speakinghadbeenpartsofasingledream.

Paynterwokeonce,andfoundAshesittingoppositehimatatableotherwiseempty;hisfacedarkinshadowandhiscigar-endliketheredeyeofaCyclops.Untilthelawyerspoke,inhissteadyvoice,Paynterwaspositivelyafraidofhim.Heansweredatrandomandnoddedagain;whenheagainwokethelawyerwasgone,andwhatwasoppositehimwasthebald,palebrowofthedoctor;thereseemedsuddenlysomethingominousinthefamiliarfactthatheworespectacles.AndyetthevanishingAshehadonlyvanishedafewyardsaway,forheturnedatthatinstantandstrolledbacktothetable.WithajerkPaynterrealizedthathisnightmarewasbutatrick

ofsleeporsleeplessness,andspokeinhisnaturalvoice,butratherloud.

"Soyou'vejoinedusagain;where'sTreherne?"

"Oh,stillrevolving,Isuppose,likeapolarbearunderthosetreesonthecliff,"repliedAshe,motioningwithhiscigar,"lookingatwhatanolder(andyouwillforgivemeforthinkingasomewhatbetter)poetcalledthewine-darksea.Itreallyhasasortofpurpleshade;lookatit."

Paynterlooked;hesawthewine-darkseaandthefantastictreesthatfringedit,buthedidnotseethepoet;thecloisterwasalreadyemptyofitsrestlessmonk.

"Gonesomewhereelse,"hesaid,withfutilityfarfromcharacteristic."He'llbebackherepresently.Thisisaninterestingvigil,butavigillosessomeofitsintensitywhenyoucan'tkeepawake.Ah!Here'sTreherne;sowe'reallmustered,asthepoliticiansaidwhenMr.Colmancamelatefordinner.No,thedoctor'soffagain.howrestlessweallare!"Thepoethaddrawnnear,hisfeetwerefallingsoftonthegrass,andwasgazingatthemwithasingularattentiveness.

"Itwillsoonbeover,"hesaid.

"What?"snappedAsheveryabruptly.



"Thenight,ofcourse,"repliedTreherneinamotionlessmanner."Thedarkesthourhaspassed."

"Didn'tsomeotherminorpoetremark,"inquiredPaynterflippantly,"thatthedarkesthourbeforethedawn--?MyGod,whatwasthat?Itwaslikeascream."

"Itwasascream,"repliedthepoet."Thescreamofapeacock."

Ashestoodup,hisstrongpalefaceagainsthisredhair,andsaidfuriously:"Whatthedevildoyoumean?"

"Oh,perfectlynaturalcauses,asDr.Brownwouldsay,"repliedTreherne."Didn'ttheSquiretellusthetreeshadashrillnoteoftheirownwhenthewindblew?Thewind'sbeatingupagainfromthesea;Ishouldn'twonderiftherewasastormbeforedawn."

Dawnindeedcamegraduallywithagrowingnoiseofwind,

andthepurpleseabegantoboilaboutthedarkvolcaniccliffs.Thefirstchangeintheskyshoweditselfonlyintheshapesofthewoodandthesinglestemsgrowingdarkerbutclearer;andabovethegrayclump,againstaglimpseofgrowinglight,theysawalofttheeviltrinityofthetrees.IntheirlonglinesthereseemedtoPayntersomethingfaintlyserpentineandevenspiral.Hecouldalmostfancyhesawthemslowlyrevolvingasinsomecyclicdance,butthis,again,wasbutalastdelusionofdreamland,forafewsecondslaterhewasagainasleep.Indreamshetoiledthroughatangleofinconclusivetales,eachfilledwiththesamestressandnoiseofseaandseawind;andaboveandoutsideallothervoicesthewailingoftheTreesofPride.

Whenhewokeitwasbroadday,andabloomofearlylightlayonwoodandgardenandonfieldsandfarmsformilesaway.Thecomparativecommonsensethatdaylightbringseventothesleeplessdrewhimalertlytohisfeet,andshowedhimallhiscompanionsstandingaboutthelawninsimilarattitudesofexpectancy.Therewasnoneedtoaskwhattheywereexpecting.Theywerewaitingtohearthenocturnalexperiences,comicorcommonplaceorwhatevertheymightprovetobe,ofthateccentricfriend,whoseexperiment(whetherfromsomesubconsciousfearorsomefancyofhonor)theyhadnotventuredtointerrupt.Hourfollowedhour,andstillnothingstirredinthewoodsaveanoccasionalbird.TheSquire,likemostmenofhistype,wasanearlyriser,anditwasnotlikelythathewouldinthiscasesleeplate;itwasmuchmorelikely,intheexcitementinwhichhehadleftthem,thathewouldnotsleepatall.Yetitwasclearthathemustbesleeping,perhapsbysomereactionfromastrain.BythetimethesunwashighinheavenAshethelawyer,turningtotheothers,spokeabruptlyandtothepoint.

"Shallwegointothewoodnow?"askedPaynter,andalmostseemedtohesitate.

"Iwillgoin,"saidTrehernesimply.Then,drawinguphisdarkheadinanswertotheirglances,headded:

"No,donottroubleyourselves.Itisneverthebelieverwhoisafraid."



Forthesecondtimetheysawamanmountthewhitecurlingpathanddisappearintothegraytangledwood,butthistimetheydidnothavetowaitlongtoseehimagain.

Afewminuteslaterhereappearedinthewoodlandgateway,andcameslowlytowardthemacrossthegrass.Hestopped

beforethedoctor,whostoodnearest,andsaidsomething.Itwasrepeatedtotheothers,andwentroundtheringwithlowcriesofincredulity.Theothersplungedintothewoodandreturnedwildly,andwereseenspeakingtoothersagainwhogatheredfromthehouse;thewildwirelesstelegraphywhichistheeducationofcountrysidecommunitiesspreaditfartherandfartherbeforethefactitselfwasfullyrealized;andbeforenightfallaquarterofthecountyknewthatSquireVanehadvanishedlikeaburstbubble.

Widelyasthewildstorywasrepeated,andpatientlyasitwaspondered,itwaslongbeforetherewaseventhebeginningofasequeltoit.

IntheintervalPaynterhadpolitelyremovedhimselffromthehouseofmourning,orratherofquestioning,butonlysofarasthevillageinn;forBarbaraVanewasgladofthetraveler'sexperienceandsympathy,inadditiontothataffordedherbythelawyeranddoctorasoldfriendsofthefamily.EvenTrehernewasnotdiscouragedfromhisoccasionalvisitswithaviewtohelpingthehuntforthelostman.Thefiveheldmanycounselsroundtheoldgardentable,atwhichtheunhappymasterofthehousehaddinedforthelasttime;andBarbaraworeheroldmaskofstone,ifitwasnowamoretragicmask.Shehadshownnopassionafterthefirstmorningofdiscovery,whenshehadbrokenforthonce,speakingstrangelyenoughintheviewofsomeofherhearers.

Shehadcomeslowlyoutofthehouse,towhichherownorsomeoneelse'swisdomhadrelegatedherduringthenightofthewager;anditwasclearfromherfacethatsomebodyhadtoldherthetruth;Miles,thebutler,stoodonthestepsbehindher;anditwasprobablyhe.

"Donotbemuchdistressed,MissVane,"saidDoctorBrown,inalowandratheruncertainvoice."Thesearchinthewoodhashardlybegun.Iamconvincedweshallfind--somethingquitesimple."

"Thedoctorisright,"saidAshe,inhisfirmtones;"Imyself--"

"Thedoctorisnotright,"saidthegirl,turningawhitefaceonthespeaker,"Iknowbetter.Thepoetisright.Thepoetisalwaysright.Oh,hehasbeenherefromthebeginningoftheworld,andseenwondersandterrorsthatareallroundourpath,andonlyhidingbehindabushorastone.Youandyourdoctoringandyourscience--why,youhaveonlybeenhereforafewfumblinggenerations;andyoucan'tconquerevenyourownenemiesoftheflesh.Oh,forgiveme,Doctor,Iknowyoudosplendidly;butthefevercomesinthevillage,andthepeopledieanddieforallthat.Andnowit'smypoorfather.GodhelpusallITheonlythingleftistobelieveinGod;forwecan'thelpbelievingindevils."Andsheleftthem,stillwalkingquiteslowly,butinsuchafashionthatnoone

couldgoafterher.

Thespringhadalreadybeguntoripenintosummer,andspreadagreen



tentfromthetreeoverthegardentable,whentheAmericanvisitor,sittingtherewithhistwoprofessionalcompanions,brokethesilencebysayingwhathadlongbeeninhismind.

"Well,"hesaid,"Isupposewhateverwemaythinkitwisetosay,wehaveallbeguntothinkofapossibleconclusion.Itcan'tbeputverydelicatelyanyhow;but,afterall,

there'saverynecessarybusinesssidetoit.WhatarewegoingtodoaboutpoorVane'saffairs,apartfromhimself?Isupposeyouknow,"headded,inalowvoicetothelawyer,"whetherhemadeawill?"

"Helefteverythingtohisdaughterunconditionally,"repliedAshe."Butnothingcanbedonewithit.There'snoproofwhateverthathe'sdead.""Nolegalproof?"remarkedPaynterdryly.AwrinkleofirritationhadappearedinthebigbaldbrowofDoctorBrown;andhemadeanimpatientmovement.

"Ofcoursehe'sdead,"hesaid."What'sthesenseofallthis

legalfuss?Wewerewatchingthissideofthewood,weren'twe?Amancouldn'thaveflownoffthosehighcliffsoverthesea;hecouldonlyhavefallenoff.Whatelsecanhebebutdead?"

"Ispeakasalawyer,"returnedAshe,raisinghiseyebrows."Wecan'tpresumehisdeath,orhaveaninquestoranythingtillwefindthepoorfellow'sbody,orsomeremainsthatmayreasonablybepresumedtobehisbody."

"Isee,"observedPaynterquietly."Youspeakasalawyer;butIdon'tthinkit'sveryhardtoguesswhatyouthinkasaman."

"IownI'dratherbeamanthanalawyer,"saidthedoctor,ratherroughly."I'dnonotionthelawwassuchanass.What'sthegoodofkeepingthepoorgirloutofherproperty,andtheestateallgoingtopieces?Well,Imustbeoff,ormypatientswillbegoingtopiecestoo."

Andwithacurtsalutationhepursuedhispathdowntothevillage.

"Thatmandoeshisduty,ifanybodydoes,"remarkedPaynter."Wemustpardonhis--shallIsaymannersormanner?"

"Oh,Ibearhimnomalice,"repliedAshegood-humoredly,"ButI'mgladhe'sgone,because--well,becauseIdon'twanthimtoknowhowjollyrightheis."Andheleanedbackinhischairandstaredupattheroofofgreenleaves.

"Youaresure,"saidPaynter,lookingatthetable,"thatSquireVaneisdead?"

"Morethanthat,"saidAshe,stillstaringattheleaves."I'msureofhowhedied."

"Ah!"saidtheAmerican,withanintakeofbreath,andtheyremainedforamoment,onegazingatthetreeandtheotheratthetable.

"Sureisperhapstoostrongaword,"continuedAshe."Butmyconvictionwillwantsomeshaking.Idon'tenvythecounselforthedefense."



"Thecounselforthedefense,"repeatedPaynter,andlookedupquicklyathiscompanion.Hewasstruckagainbytheman'sNapoleon'icchinandjaw,ashehadbeenwhentheyfirsttalkedofthelegendofSt.Securis.

"Then,"hebegan,"youdon'tthinkthetrees--"

"Thetreesbedamned!"snortedthelawyer."Thetreehadtwolegsonthatevening.Whatourfriendthepoet,"headded,withasneer,"wouldcallawalkingtree.Aproposofourfriendthepoet,youseemedsurprisedthatnighttofindhewasnotwalkingpoeticallybytheseaallthetime,andIfearIaffectedtoshareyourignorance.IwasnotsosurethenasIamnow."

"Sureofwhat?"demandedtheother.

"Tobeginwith,"saidAshe,"I'msureourfriendthepoetfollowedVaneintothewoodthatnight,forIsawhimcomingoutagain."

Paynterleanedforward,suddenlypalewithexcitement,andstruckthewoodentablesothatitrattled.

"Mr.Ashe,you'rewrong,"hecried."You'reawonderfulmanandyou'rewrong.You'veprobablygottonsoftrueconvincingevidence,andyou'rewrong.Iknowthispoet;Iknowhimasapoet;andthat'sjustwhatyoudon't.Iknowyouthinkhegaveyoucrookedanswers,andseemedtobeallsmilesandblacklooksatonce;butyoudon'tunderstandthetype.Iknownowwhyyoudon'tunderstandtheIrish.Sometimesyouthinkit'ssoft,andsometimessly,andsometimesmurderous,andsometimesuncivilized;andallthetimeit'sonlycivilized;quiveringwiththesensitiveironyofunderstandingallthat

youdon'tunderstand."

"Well,"saidAsheshortly,"we'llseewho'sright."

"Wewill,"criedCyprian,androsesuddenlyfromthetable.Allthedroopingoftheaesthetehaddroppedfromhim;hisYankeeaccentrosehigh,likeahornofdefiance,andtherewasnothingabouthimbuttheNewWorld.

"IguessIwilllookintothismyself,"hesaid,stretchinghislonglimbslikeanathlete."Isearchthatlittlewoodofyoursto-morrow.It'sabitlate,orI'ddoitnow."

"Thewoodhasbeensearched,"saidthelawyer,risingalso.

"Yes,"drawledtheAmerican."It'sbeensearchedbyservants,policemen,localpoliceman,andquitealotofpeople;anddoyouknowIhaveanotionthatnobodyroundhereislikelytohavesearcheditatall."

"Andwhatareyougoingtodowithit?"askedAshe.

"WhatIbettheyhaven'tdone,"repliedCyprian."I'mgoingtoclimbatree."

Andwithaquaintairofrenewedcheerfulnesshetookhimselfawayatarapidwalktohisinn.



HeappearedatdaybreaknextmorningoutsidetheVaneArmswithalltheairofonesettingoutonhistravelsindistantlands.Hehadafieldglassslungoverhisshoulder,andaverylargesheathknifebuckledbyabeltroundhiswaist,andcarriedwiththecoolbravadoofthebowieknifeofacowboy.Butinspiteofthisbackwoodsman'ssimplicity,orperhapsratherbecauseofit,heeyedwithrisingrelishthepicturesqueplan

andskylineoftheantiquatedvillage,andespeciallythewoodensquareoftheoldinnsignthathungoverhishead;ashield,ofwhichthechargesseemedtohimameremedleyofbluedolphins,goldcrosses,andscarletbirds.Thecolorsandcubiccornersofthatpaintedboardpleasedhimlikeaplayorapuppetshow.Hestoodstaringandstraddlingforsomemomentsonthecobblesofthelittlemarketplace;thenhegaveashortlaughandbegantomountthesteepstreetstowardthehighparkandgardenbeyond.Fromthehighlawn,abovethetreeandtable,hecouldseeononesidethelandstretchawaypastthehouseintoagreatrollingplain,whichundertheclearedgesofthedawnseemeddottedwithpicturesquedetails.Thewoodshereandthereontheplainlooked

likegreenhedgehogs,asgrotesqueastheincongruousbeastsfoundunaccountablywalkingintheblankspacesofmediaevalmaps.Theland,cutupintocoloredfields,recalledtheheraldryofthesignboard;thisalsowasatonceancientandgay.Ontheothersidethegroundtoseawardsweptdownandthenupagaintothefamousorinfamouswood;thesquareofstrangetreeslaysilentlytiltedontheslope,alsosuggesting,ifnotamap,orleastabird's-eyeview.Onlythetriplecenterpieceofthepeacocktreesroseclearoftheskyline;andthesestoodupintranquilsunlightasthingsalmostclassical,atriangulartempleofthewinds.Theyseemedpaganinanewerandmoreplacidsense;andhefeltanewerandmoreboyishcuriosityandcouragefortheconsultingoftheoracle.

Inallhiswanderingshehadneverwalkedsolightly,fortheconnoisseurofsensationshadfoundsomethingtodoatlast;hewasfightingforafriend.

Hewasbroughttoastandstillonce,however,andthatattheverygatewayofthegardenofthetreesofknowledge.justoutsidetheblackentryofthewood,nowcurtainedwithgreenerandlargerleafage,hecameonasolitaryfigure.

ItwasMartin,thewoodcutter,wadinginthebrackenandlookingabouthiminratheralostfashion.Themanseemedtobetalkingtohimself.

"Idroppedithere,"hewassaying."ButI'llneverworkwithitagainIreckon.Doctorwouldn'tletmepickitup,whenIwantedtopickitup;andnowthey'vegotit,likethey'vegottheSquire.Woodandiron,woodandiron,buteatingit'snothingtothem."

"Come!"saidPaynterkindly,rememberingtheman'sdomestictrouble."MissVanewillseeyouhaveanythingyouwant,Iknow.Andlookhere,don'tbroodonallthosestoriesabouttheSquire.Istheretheslightesttraceofthetreeshavinganythingtodowithit?Isthereeventhisextrabranchtheidiotstalkedabout?"

TherehadbeengrowingonPaynterthesuspicionthatthemanbeforehimwasnotperfectlysane;yethewasmuchmorestartledbythesudden

andcoldsanitythatlookedfor.aninstantoutofthewoodman'seyes,asheansweredinhisordinarymanner.



"Well,sir,didyoucountthebranchesbefore?"

Thenheseemedtorelapse;andPaynterlefthimwanderingandwaveringintheundergrowth;andenteredthewoodlikeoneacrosswhosesunnypathashadowhasfallenforaninstant.

Divingunderthewood,hewassoonthreadingaleafypathwhich,

evenunderthatsummersun,shoneonlywithanemeraldtwilight,asifitwereonthefloorofthesea.Itwoundaboutmoreshakilythanhehadsupposed,asifresolvedtoapproachthecentraltreesasiftheyweretheheartofthemazeatHamptonCourt.Theyweretheheartofthemazeforhim,anyhow;hesoughtthemasstraightasacrookedroadwouldcarryhim;and,turningafinalcorner,hebeheld,forthefirsttime,thefoundationsofthosetowersofvegetationhehadasyetonlyseenfromabove,astheystoodwaist-highinthewoodland.Hefoundthesuspicioncorrectwhichsupposedthetreebranchedfromonegreatroot,likeacandelabrum;thefork,thoughstainedandslimywithgreenfungoids,wasquiteneartheground,andofferedafirstfoothold.Heputhisfootinit,andwithoutaflashofhesitationwentaloft,

likeJackclimbingtheBeanstalk.

Abovehimthegreenroofofleavesandboughsseemedsealedlikeafirmamentoffoliage;but,bybendingandbreakingthebranchestorightandleftheslowlyforcedapassageupward;andhadatlast,andsuddenly,thesensationcomingoutonthetopoftheworld.Hefeltasifhehadneverbeenintheopenairbefore.Seaandlandlayinacirclebelowandabouthim,ashesatastrideabranchofthetalltree;hewasalmostsurprisedtoseethesunstillcomparativelylowinthesky;asifhewerelookingoveralandofeternalsunrise.

"SilentuponapeakinDarien,"heremarked,inaneedlessly

loudandcheerfulvoice;andthoughtheclaim,thusexpressed,wasillogical,itwasnotinappropriate.HedidfeelasifhewereaprimitiveadventurerjustcometotheNewWorld,insteadofamoderntravelerjustcomefromit.

"Iwonder,"heproceeded,"whetherIamreallythefirstthateverburstintothissilenttree.Itlookslikeit.Those--"

Hestoppedandsatonhisbranchquitemotionless,buthiseyeswereturnedonabranchalittlebelowit,andtheywerebrilliantwithavigilance,likethoseofamanwatchingasnake.

Whathewaslookingatmight,atfirstsight,havebeenalargewhitefungusspreadingonthesmoothandmonstroustrunk;butitwasnot.

Leaningdowndangerouslyfromhisperch,hedetacheditfromthetwigonwhichithadcaught,andthensatholdingitinhishandandgazingatit.ItwasSquireVane'swhitePanamahat,buttherewasnoSquireVaneunderit.Paynterfeltanamelessreliefintheveryfactthattherewasnot.

Thereintheclearsunlightandseaair,foraninstant,allthetropicalterrorsofhisownidletalesurroundedandsuffocatedhim.Itseemedindeedsomedemontreeoftheswamps;avegetableserpent

thatfedonmen.Eventhehideousfarceinthefancyofdigestingawholemanwiththeexceptionofhishat,seemedonlytosimplifythenightmare.Andhefoundhimselfgazingdullyatoneleafofthetree,whichhappened



tobeturnedtowardhim,sothattheoddmarkings,whichhadpartlymadethelegend,reallylookedalittleliketheeyeinapeacock'sfeather.Itwasasifthesleepingtreehadopenedoneeyeuponhim.

Withasharpefforthesteadiedhimselfinmindandpostureonthebough;hisreasonreturned,andhebegantodescendwiththehatinhisteeth.Whenhewasbackintheunderworldofthewood,hestudiedthehatagain

andwithcloserattention.Inoneplaceinthecrowntherewasaholeorrent,whichcertainlyhadnotbeentherewhenithadlastlainonthetableunderthegardentree.Hesatdown,litacigarette,andreflectedforalongtime.

Awood,evenasmallwood,isnotaneasythingtosearchminutely;butheprovidedhimselfwithsomepracticaltestsinthematter.Inonesensetheverydensityofthethicketwasahelp;hecouldatleastseewhereanyonehadstrayedfromthepath,bybrokenandtrampledgrowthsofeverykind.Aftermanyhours'industry,hehadmadeasortofnewmapoftheplace;andhaddecidedbeyonddoubtthatsomepersonorpersonshad

sostrayed,forsomepurpose,inseveraldefineddirections.Therewasawayburstthroughthebushes,makingashortcutacrossaloopofthewanderingpath;therewasanotherforkingoutfromitasanalternativewayintothecentralspace.Buttherewasoneespeciallywhichwasunique,andwhichseemedtohim,themorehestudiedit,topointtosomeessentialofthemystery.

Oneofthesebeatenandbrokentrackswentfromthespaceunderthepeacocktreesoutwardintothewoodforabouttwentyyardsandthenstopped.Beyondthatpointnotatwigwasbrokennoraleafdisturbed.Ithadnoexit,buthecouldnotbelievethatithadnogoal.Aftersomefurtherreflection,heknelt

downandbegantocutawaygrassandclaywithhisknife,andwassurprisedattheeasewithwhichtheydetachedthemselves.Inafewmomentsawholesectionofthesoilliftedlikealid;itwasaroundlidandpresentedaquaintappearance,likeaflatcapwithgreenfeathers.Forthoughthediscitselfwasmadeofwood,therewasalayerofearthonitwiththelivegrassstillgrowingthere.Andtheremovaloftheroundlidrevealedaroundhole,blackasnightandseeminglybottomless.Paynterunderstooditinstantly.Itwasratherneartheseaforawelltobesunk,butthetravelerhadknownwellssunkevennearer.Herosetohisfeetwiththegreatknifeinhishand,afrownonhisface,andhisdoubtsresolved.Henolongershrankfromnamingwhatheknew.Thiswasnotthefirstcorpsethathadbeenthrowndownawell;here,withoutstoneorepitaph,wasthegraveofSquireVane.Inaflashallthemythologicalfolliesaboutsaintsandpeacockswereforgotten;hewasknockedonthehead,aswithastoneclub,bythehumancommonsenseofcrime.

CyprianPaynterstoodlongbythewellinthewood,walkedrounditinmeditation,examineditsrimandtheringofgrassaboutit,searchedthesurroundingsoilthoroughly,camebackandstoodbesidethewelloncemore.Hisresearchesandreflectionshadbeensolongthathehadnotrealizedthatthedayhadpassedandthatthewoodandtheworldrounditwerebeginningalreadytobesteepedintheenrichmentofevening.Thedayhadbeenradiantlycalm;theseaseemedtobeas

stillasthewell,andthewellwasasstillasamirror.Andthen,quitewithoutwarning,themirrormovedofitselflikealivingthing.



Inthewell,inthewood,thewaterleaptandgurgled,withagrotesquenoiselikesomethingswallowing,andthensettledagainwithasecondsound.Cypriancouldnotseeintothewellclearly,fortheopening,fromwherehestood,wasanellipse,amereslit,andhalfmaskedbythistlesandrankgrasslikeagreenbeard.Forwherehestoodnowwasthreeyardsawayfromthewell,

andhehadnotyethimselfrealizedthathehadsprungbackallthatdistancefromthebrinkwhenthewaterspoke.

III.THEMYSTERYOFTHEWELL

CyprianPaynterdidnotknowwhatheexpectedtoseeriseoutofthewell--thecorpseofthemurderedmanormerelythespiritofthefountain.Anyhow,neitherofthemroseoutofit,andherecognizedafteraninstantthatthiswas,afterall,perhapsthemorenaturalcourseofthings.Oncemorehepulled

himselftogether,walkedtotheedgeofthewellandlookeddown.Hesaw,asbefore,adimglimmerofwater,atthatdepthnobrighterthanink;hefanciedhestillheardafaintconvulsionandmurmur,butitgraduallysubsidedtoanutterstillness.Shortofsuicidallydivingin,therewasnothingtobedone.Herealizedthat,withallhisequipment,hehadnotevenbroughtanythinglikearopeorbasket,andatlengthdecidedtoreturnforthem.Asheretracedhisstepstotheentrance,herecurredto,andtookstockof,hismoresoliddiscoveries.Somebodyhadgoneintothewood,killedtheSquireandthrownhimdownthewell,buthedidnotadmitforamomentthatitwashisfriendthepoet;butifthelatterhadactuallybeenseencomingoutofthewoodthematterwasserious.

Ashewalkedtherapidlydarkeningtwilightwasclovenwithredgleams,thatmadehimalmostfancyforamomentthatsomefantasticcriminalhadsetfiretothetinyforestashefled.Asecondglanceshowedhimnothingbutoneofthoseredsunsetsinwhichsuchserenedayssometimesclose.

Ashecameoutofthegloomygateoftreesintothefullglowhesawadarkfigurestandingquitestillinthedimbracken,onthespotwherehehadleftthewoodcutter.Itwasnotthewoodcutter.

Itwastoppedbyatallblackhatofafuneraltype,andthewholefigurestoodsoblackagainstthefieldofcrimsonfirethatedgedtheskylinethathecouldnotforaninstantunderstandorrecallit.Whenhedid,itwaswithanoddchangeinthewholechannelofhisthoughts.

"DoctorBrown!"hecried."Why,whatareyoudoinguphere?"

"IhavebeentalkingtopoorMartin,"answeredthedoctor,andmadearatherawkwardmovementwithhishandtowardtheroaddowntothevillage.Followingthegesture,Paynterdimlysawanotherdarkfigurewalkingdownintheblood-reddistance.Healsosawthatthehandmotioningwasreallyblack,andnotmerelyinshadow;and,comingnearer,foundthedoctor'sdresswasreallyfunereal,downtothedetailofthedarkgloves.

ItgavetheAmericanasmallbutqueershock,asifthiswereactuallyanundertakercomeuptoburythecorpsethatcouldnotbefound.



"PoorMartin'sbeenlookingforhischopper,"observedDoctorBrown,"butItoldhimI'dpickeditupandkeptitforhim.Betweenourselves,Ihardlythinkhe'sfittobetrustedwithit."Then,seeingtheglanceathisblackgarb,headded:"I'vejustbeentoafuneral.Didyouknowthere'sbeenanotherloss?PoorJakethefisherman'swife,downinthecottageontheshore,

youknow.Thisinfernalfever,ofcourse."

Astheybothturned,facingtheredeveninglight,Paynterinstinctivelymadeacloserstudy,notmerelyofthedoctor'sclothes,butofthedoctor.Dr.BurtonBrownwasa,tall,alertman,neatlydressed,whowouldotherwisehavehadanalmostmilitaryairbutforhisspectaclesandanalmostpainfulintellectualisminhisleanbrownfaceandbaldbrow.Thecontrastwasclinchedbythefactthat,whilehisfacewasoftheascetictypegenerallyconceivedasclean-shaven,hehadastripofdarkmustachecuttooshortforhimtobite,andyetamouththatoftenmovedasiftryingtobiteit.

Hemighthavebeenaveryintelligentarmysurgeon,buthehadmorethelookofanengineeroroneofthoseservicesthatcombineamilitarysilencewithamorethanmilitaryscience.Paynterhadalwaysrespectedsomethingruggedlyreliableabouttheman,andafteralittlehesitationhetoldhimallthediscoveries.

ThedoctortookthehatofthedeadSquireinhishand,andexamineditwithfrowningcare.Heputonefingerthroughtheholeinthecrownandmoveditmeditatively.AndPaynterrealizedhowfancifulhisownfatiguemusthavemadehim;forsosillyathingastheblackfingerwagglingthroughtherentinthatfrayedwhiterelicunreasonably

displeasedhim,Thedoctorsoonmadethesamediscoverywithprofessionalacuteness,andapplieditmuchfurther.ForwhenPaynterbegantotellhimofthemovingwaterinthewellhelookedathimamomentthroughhisspectacles,andthensaid:

"Didyouhaveanylunch?"

Paynterforthefirsttimerealizedthathehad,asafact,workedandthoughtfuriouslyalldaywithoutfood.

"Pleasedon'tfancyImeanyouhadtoomuchlunch,"saidthemedicalman,withmournfulhumor."Onthecontrary,Imeanyouhadtoolittle.Ithinkyouareabitknockedout,andyournervesexaggeratethings.Anyhow,letmeadviseyounottodoanymoreto-night.There'snothingtobedonewithoutropesorsomesortoffishingtackle,ifwiththat;butIthinkIcangetyousomeofthesortofgrapplingironsthefishermenusefordragging.PoorJake'sgotsome,Iknow;I'llbringthemroundtoyoutomorrowmorning.Thefactis,I'mstayingthereforabitashe'sratherinastate,andIthinkisbetterformetoaskforthethingsandnotastranger.Iamsureyou'llunderstand."

Paynterunderstoodsufficientlytoassent,andhardlyknewwhyhestoodvacantlywatchingthedoctormakehiswaydownthesteep

roadtotheshoreandthefisher'scottage.Thenhethrewoffthoughtshehadnotexamined,orevenconsciouslyentertained,andwalkedslowlyandratherheavilybacktotheVaneArms.



Thedoctor,stillfunerealinmanner,thoughnolongersoincostume,appearedpunctuallyunderthewoodensignnextmorning,ladenwithwhathehadpromised;anapparatusofhooksandahangingnetforhoistingupanythingsunktoareasonabledepth.Hewasabouttoproceedonhisprofessionalround,andsaidnothingfurthertodetertheAmericanfromproceeding

onhisownveryunprofessionalexperimentasadetective.Thatbuoyantamateurhadindeedrecoveredmost,ifnotall,ofyesterday'sbuoyancy,wasnowwellfittedtopassanymedicalexamination,andreturnedwithallhisownenergytothesceneofyesterday'slabors.

Itmaywellhavebrightenedandmadebreezierhissecondday'stoilthathehadnotonlythesunlightandthebird'ssinginginthelittlewood,tosaynothingofamorescientificapparatustoworkwith,butalsohumancompanionship,andthatofthemostintelligenttype.Afterleavingthedoctorandbeforeleavingthevillagebehadbethoughthimselfofseekingthelittlecourtorsquarewherestood

thequietbrownhouseofAndrewAshe,solicitor,andtheoperationsofdraggingwereworkedindoubleharness.Twoheadswerepeeringoverthewellinthewood:oneyellow-haired,leanandeager;theotherredhaired,heavyandpondering;andifitbetruethattwoheadsarebetterthanone,itistruerthatfourhandsarebetterthantwo.Inanycase,theirunitedandrepeatedeffortsborefruitatlast,ifanythingsohardandmeagerandforlorncanbecalledafruit.Itweighedlooselyinthenetasitwaslifted,androlledoutonthegrassyedgeofthewell;itwasabone.

Ashepickeditupandstoodwithitinhishand,frowning.

"WewantDoctorBrownhere,"hesaid."Thismaybethebone

ofsomeanimal.Anydogorsheepmightfallintoahiddenwell."Thenhebrokeoff,forhiscompanionwasalreadydetachingasecondbonefromthenet.

Afteranotherhalfhour'seffortPaynterhadoccasiontoremark,"Itmusthavebeenratheralargedog."Therewerealreadyaheapofsuchwhitefragmentsathisfeet.

"Ihaveseennothingyet,"saidAshe,speakingmoreplainly."Thatiscertainlyahumanbone.""Ifancythismustbeahumanbone,"saidtheAmerican.

Andheturnedawayalittleashehandedtheotheraskull.

Therewasnodoubtofwhatsortofskull;therewastheoneuniquecurvethatholdsthemysteryofreason,andunderneathitthetwoblackholesthathadheldhumaneyes.Butjustabovethatontheleftwasanotherandsmallerblackhole,whichwasnotaneye.

Thenthelawyersaid,withsomethinglikeaneffort:"Wemayadmititisamanwithoutadmittingitis--anyparticularman.Theremaybesomething,afterall,inthatyarnaboutthedrunkard;hemayhavetumbledintothewell.Undercertainconditions,aftercertainnaturalprocesses,Ifancy,thebonesmightbe

strippedinthisway,evenwithouttheskillofanyassassin.Wewantthedoctoragain."



Thenheaddedsuddenly,andtheverysoundofhisvoicesuggestedthathehardlybelievedhisownwords.

"Haven'tyougotpoorVane'shatthere?"

HetookitfromthesilentAmerican'shand,andwithasortofhurryfitteditonthebonyhead.

"Don't!"saidtheotherinvoluntarily.

Thelawyerhadputhisfinger,asthedoctorhaddone,throughtheholeinthehat,anditlayexactlyovertheholeintheskull.

"Ihavethebetterrighttoshrink,"hesaidsteadily,butinavibrantvoice."IthinkIamtheolderfriend."

Paynternoddedwithoutspeech,acceptingthefinalidentification.Thelastdoubt,orhope,haddeparted,andheturnedtothedragging

apparatus,anddidnotspeaktillhehadmadehislastfind.

Thesingingofthebirdsseemedtogrowlouderaboutthem,andthedanceofthegreensummerleaveswasrepeatedbeyondinthedanceofthegreensummersea.Onlythegreatrootsofthemysterioustreescouldbeseen,therestbeingfaraloft,andallrounditwasawoodoflittle,livelyandhappythings.Theymighthavebeentwoinnocentnaturalists,oreventwochildrenfishingforeelsortittlebatsonthatsummerholidaywhenPaynterpulledupsomethingthatweighedinthenetmoreheavilythananybone.itnearlybrokethemeshes,andfellagainstamossystonewithaclang.

"Truthliesatthebottomofawell,"criedtheAmerican,withliftinhisvoice."Thewoodman'sax."

Itlay,indeed,flatandgleaminginthegrassesbythewellinthewood,justasithadlaininthethicketwherethewoodmanthrewitinthebeginningofallthesethings.Butononecornerofthebrightbladewasadullbrownstain.

"Isee,"saidAshe,"thewoodman'sax,andthereforetheWoodman.Yourdeductionsarerapid."

"Mydeductionsarereasonable,"saidPaynter,"Lookhere,Mr.Ashe;Iknowwhatyou'rethinking.IknowyoudistrustTreherne;butI'msureyouwillbejustforallthat.Tobeginwith,surelythefirstassumptionisthatthewoodman'saxisusedbytheWoodman.Whathaveyoutosaytoit?"

"Isay'No'toit,"repliedthelawyer."Thelastweaponawoodmanwouldusewouldbeawoodman'sax;thatisifheisasaneman."

"Heisn't,"saidPaynterquietly;"yousaidyouwantedthedoctor'sopinionjustnow.Thedoctor'sopiniononthispointisthesameasmyown.Webothfoundhimmeanderingaboutoutsidethere;it'sobviousthisbusinesshasgonetohishead,atanyrate.Ifthemurdererwereamanofbusinesslikeyourself,

whatyousaymightbesound.Butthismurdererisamystic.Hewasdrivenbysomefanaticalfadaboutthetrees.It'squitelikelyhethoughttherewassomethingsolemn



andsacrificialabouttheax,andwouldhavelikedtocutoffVane'sheadbeforeacrowd,likeCharlesI's.He'slookingfortheaxstill,andprobablythinksitaholyrelic."

"Forwhichreason,"saidAshe,smiling,"heinstantlychuckeditdownawell."

Paynterlaughed.

"Youhavemetherecertainly,"hesaid."ButIthinkyouhavesomethingelseinyourmind.You'llsay,Isuppose,thatwewereallwatchingthewood;butwerewe?Frankly,Icouldalmostfancythepeacocktreesdidstrikemewithasortofsickness--asleepingsickness."

"Well,"admittedAshe,"youhavemetheretoo.I'mafraidIcouldn'tswearIwasawakeallthetime;butIdon'tputitdowntomagictrees--onlytoaprivatehobbyofgoingtobedatnight.Butlookhere,Mr.Paynter;there'sanotherandbetterargument

againstanyoutsiderfromthevillageorcountrysidehavingcommittedthecrime.Grantedhemighthaveslippedpastussomehow,andgonefortheSquire.Butwhyshouldhegoforhiminthewood?Howdidheknowhewasinthewood?Yourememberhowsuddenlythepooroldboyboltedintoit,onwhatamomentaryimpulse.'It'sthelastplacewhereonewouldnormallylookforsuchaman,inthemiddleofthenight.No,it'sanuglythingtosay,butwe,thegrouproundthatgardentable,weretheonlypeoplewhoknew.WhichbringsmebacktotheonepointinyourremarkswhichIhappentothinkperfectlytrue."

"Whatwasthat?"inquiredtheother.

"Thatthemurdererwasamystic,"saidAshe."ButacleverermysticthanpooroldMartin."

Payntermadeamurmurofprotest,andthenfellsilent.

"Letustalkplainly,"resumedthelawyer."Trehernehadallthosemadmotivesyouyourselfadmitagainstthewoodcutter.HehadtheknowledgeofVane'swhereabouts,whichnobodycanpossiblyattributetothewoodcutter.Buthehadmuchmore.WhotauntedandgoadedtheSquiretogointothewoodatall?Treherne.Whopracticallyprophesied,likeaninfernalquackastrologer,thatsomethingwouldhappentohimifhedidgointothewood?Treherne.Whowas,forsomereason,nomatterwhat,obviouslyburningwithrageandrestlessnessallthatnight,kickinghislegsimpatientlytoandfroonthecliff,andbreakingoutwithwildwordsaboutitbeingalloversoon?Treherne.Andontopofallthis,whenIwalkedclosertothewood,whomdidIseeslipoutofitswiftlyandsilentlylikeashadow,butturninghisfaceoncetothemoon?Onmyoathandonmyhonor--Treherne."

"Itisawful,"saidPaynter,likeamanstunned."Whatyousayissimplyawful."

"Yes,"saidAsheseriously,"veryawful,butverysimple.

Treherneknewwheretheaxwasoriginallythrown.Isawhim,onthatdayhelunchedherefirst,watchingitlikeawolf,whileMissVanewastalkingtohim.Onthatdreadfulnight



hecouldeasilyhavepickeditupashewentintothewood.Heknewaboutthewell,nodoubt;whowassolikelytoknowanyoldtraditionsaboutthepeacocktrees?Hehidthehatinthetrees,whereperhapshehoped(thoughthepointisunimportant)thatnobodywoulddaretolook.Anyhow,hehidit,simplybecauseitwastheonethingthatwouldnotsinkinthewell.Mr.Paynter,doyouthinkIwouldsaythisofanymaninmeremeandislike?

Couldanyman.sayitofanymanunlessthecasewascomplete,asthisiscomplete?"

"Itiscomplete,"saidPaynter,verypale."Ihavenothingleftagainstitbutafaint,irrationalfeeling;afeelingthat,somehoworother,ifpoorVanecouldstandalivebeforeusatthismomenthemighttellsomeotherandevenmoreincredibletale."

Ashemadeamournfulgesture.

"Canthesedryboneslive?"hesaid.

"LordThouknowest,"answeredtheothermechanically."Eventhesedrybones--"

Andhestoppedsuddenlywithhismouthopen,ablindinglightofwonderinhispaleeyes.

"Seehere,"hesaidhoarselyandhastily."Youhavesaidtheword.Whatdoesitmean?Whatcanitmean?Dry?Whyarethesebonesdry?"

Thelawyerstartedandstareddownattheheap.

"Yourcasecomplete!"criedPaynter,inmountingexcitement."Whereisthewaterinthewell?ThewaterIsawleaplikeaflame?

Whydiditleap?Whereisitgoneto?Complete!Weareburiedunderriddles."

Ashestooped,pickedupaboneandlookedatit.

"Youareright,"hesaid,inalowandshakenvoice:"thisboneisasdry--asabone."

"Yes,Iamright,"repliedCyprian."Andyourmysticisstillasmysteriousasamystic."

Therewasalongsilence.Ashelaiddownthebone,pickeduptheaxandstudieditmoreclosely.Beyondthedullstainatthecornerofthesteeltherewasnothingunusualaboutitsaveabroadwhiteragwrappedroundthehandle,perhapstogiveabettergrip.Thelawyerthoughtitworth,noting,however,thattheragwascertainlynewerandcleanerthanthechopper.Butbothwerequitedry.

"Mr.Paynter,"hesaidatlast,"Iadmityouhavescored,inthespiritifnotintheletter.Instrictlogic,thisgreaterpuzzleisnotareplytomycase.Ifthisaxhasnotbeendippedinwater,ithasbeendippedinblood;andthewaterjumpingoutofthewellisnotanexplanationofthepoetjumpingoutofthewood.ButIadmitthat

morallyandpracticallyitdoesmakeavitaldifference.Wearenotfacedwithacolossalcontradiction,andwedon'tknowhowfaritextends.Thebodymighthavebeenbroken



uporboileddowntoitsbonesbythemurderer,thoughitmaybehardtoconnectitwiththeconditionsofthemurder.Itmightconceivablyhavebeensoreducedbysomepropertyinthewaterandsoil,fordecompositionvariesvastlywiththesethings.Ishouldnotdismissmystrongprimafaciecaseagainstthelikelypersonbecauseofthesedifficulties.Butherewehavesomethingentirelydifferent.Thatthebones

themselvesshouldremaindryinawellfullofwater,orawellthatyesterdaywasfullofwater--thatbringsustotheedgeofsomethingbeyondwhichwecanmakenoguess.Thereisanewfactor,enormousandquiteunknown.Whilewecan'tfittogethersuchprodigiousfacts,wecan'tfittogetheracaseagainstTreherneoragainstanybody.No;thereisonlyonethingtobedonenow.Sincewecan'taccuseTreherne,wemustappealtohim.Wemustputthecaseagainsthimfranklybeforehim,andtrusthehasanexplanation--andwillgiveit.Isuggestwegobackanddoitnow."

Paynter,beginningtofollow,hesitatedamoment,andthensaid:

"Forgivemeforakindofliberty;asyousay,youareanolderfriendofthefamily.Ientirelyagreewithyoursuggestion,butbeforeyouactonyourpresentsuspicions,doyouknow,IthinkMissVaneoughttobewarnedalittle?Iratherfearallthiswillbeanewshocktoher."

"Verywell,"saidAshe,afterlookingathimsteadilyforaninstant."Letusgoacrosstoherfirst."

FromtheopeningofthewoodtheycouldseeBarbaraVanewritingatthegardentable,whichwaslitteredwithcorrespondence,andthebutlerwithhisyellowfacewaitingbehindherchair.Asthelengthsofgrasslessenedbetweenthem,andthelittle

groupatthetablegrewlargerandclearerinthesunlight,Paynterhadapainfulsenseofbeingpartofanembassyofdoom.Itsharpenedwhenthegirllookedupfromthetableandsmiledonseeingthem.

"IshouldliketospeaktoyouratherparticularlyifImay,"saidthelawyer,withatouchofauthorityinhisrespect;andwhenthebutlerwasdismissedhelaidopenthewholematterbeforeher,speakingsympathetically,butleavingoutnothing,fromthestrangeescapeofthepoetfromthewoodtothelastdetailofthedrybonesoutofthewell.Nofaultcouldbefoundwithanyoneofhistonesorphrases,andyetCyprian,tinglingineverynervewiththefinedelicacyofhisnationabouttheothersex,feltasifshewerefacedwithaninquisitor.Hestoodaboutuneasily,watchedthefewcoloredcloudsintheclearskyandthebrightbirdsdartingaboutthewood,andheheartilywishedhimselfupthetreeagain.

Soon,however,thewaythegirltookitbegantomovehimtoperplexityratherthanpity.Itwaslikenothinghehadexpected,andyethecouldnotnametheshadeofdifference.Thefinalidentificationofherfather'sskull,bytheholeinthehat,turnedheralittlepale,butlefthercomposed;thiswas,perhaps,explicable,sinceshehadfromthefirsttakenthepessimisticview.Butduringtherestofthetale

thererestedonherbroadbrowsunderhercoppercoilsofhair,abroodingspiritthatwasitselfamystery.Hecouldonlytellhimselfthatshewaslessmerelyreceptive,



eitherfirmlyorweakly,thanhewouldhaveexpected.Itwasasifsherevolved,nottheirproblem,butherown.Shewassilentalongtime,andsaidatlast:

"Thankyou,Mr.Ashe,Iamreallyverygratefulforthis.Afterall,itbringsthingstothepointwheretheymusthavecomesoonerorlater."Shelookeddreamilyatthewoodandsea,andwenton:"I'venotonly

hadmyselftoconsider,yousee;butifyou'rereallythinkingTHAT,it'stimeIspokeout,withoutaskinganybody.Yousay,asifitweresomethingverydreadful,'Mr.Trehernewasinthewoodthatnight.'Well,it'snotquitesodreadfultome,yousee,becauseIknowhewas.Infact,weweretheretogether."

"Together!"repeatedthelawyer.

"Weweretogether,"shesaidquietly,"becausewehadarighttobetogether."

"Doyoumean,"stammeredAshe,surprisedoutofhimself,

"thatyouwereengaged?"

"No,no,"shesaid."Weweremarried."

Then,amidastartledsilence,sheadded,asakindofafterthought:

"Infact,wearestill."

Strongaswashiscomposure,thelawyersatbackinhischairwithasortofsolidstupefactionatwhichPayntercouldnothelpsmiling.

"Youwillaskme,ofcourse,"wentonBarbarainthesamemeasuredmanner,"whyweshouldbemarriedsecretly,

sothatevenmypoorfatherdidnotknow.Well,Iansweryouquitefranklytobeginwith;because,ifhehadknown,hewouldcertainlyhavecutmeoffwithashilling.Hedidnotlikemyhusband,andIratherfancyyoudonotlikehimeither.AndwhenItellyouthis,Iknowperfectlywellwhatyouwillsay--theusualadventurergettingholdoftheusualheiress.Itisquitereasonable,and,asithappens,itisquitewrong.IfIhaddeceivedmyfatherforthesakeofthemoney,orevenforthesakeofaman,Ishouldbealittleashamedtotalktoyouaboutit.AndIthinkyoucanseethatIamnotashamed."

"Yes,"saidtheAmerican,withagraveinclination,"yes,Icanseethat."

Shelookedathimthoughtfullyforamoment,asifseekingwordsforanobscurematter,andthensaid:

"Doyouremember,Mr.Paynter,thatdayyoufirstlunchedhereandtoldusabouttheAfricantrees?Well,itwasmybirthday;Imeanmyfirstbirthday.Iwasbornthen,orwokeuporsomething.Ihadwalkedinthisgardenlikeasomnambulistinthesun.Ithinktherearemanysuchsomnambulistsinoursetandoursociety;stunnedwithhealth,druggedwithgoodmanners,fittingtheirsurroundingstoowelltobealive.Well,Icamealivesomehow;

andyouknowhowdeepinusarethethingswefirstrealizewhenwewerebabiesandbegantotakenotice.Ibegantotakenotice.OneofthefirstthingsInoticedwasyourownstory,Mr.Paynter.Ifeel



asifIheardofSt.SecurisaschildrenhearofSantaClaus,andasifthatbigtreewereabogeyIstillbelievedin.ForIdostillbelieveinsuchthings,orratherIbelieveinthemmoreandmore;Ifeelcertainmypoorfatherdroveontherocksbydisbelieving,andyouareallracingtoruinafterhim.ThatiswhyIdohonestlywanttheestate,andthatiswhyIamnotashamedofwantingit.Iamperfectlycertain,Mr.Paynter,thatnobodycansavethis

perishinglandandthisperishingpeoplebutthosewhounderstand.Imeanwhounderstandathousandlittlesignsandguidesintheverysoilandlieoftheland,andtracesthatarealmosttrampledout.Myhusbandunderstands,andIhavebeguntounderstand;myfatherwouldneverhaveunderstood.Therearepowers,thereisthespiritofaplace,therearepresencesthatarenottobeputby.Oh,don'tfancyIamsentimentalandhankerafterthegoodolddays.Theolddayswerenotallgood;thatisjustthepoint,andwemustunderstandenoughtoknowthegoodfromtheevil.Wemustunderstandenoughtosavethetracesofasaintorasacredtradition,or,whereawickedgodhasbeenworshiped,todestroyhisaltarandtocutdownhisgrove."

"Hisgrove,"saidPaynterautomatically,andlookedtowardthelittlewood,wherethesunbrightbirdswereflying.

"Mrs.Treherne,"saidAshe,withaformidablequietness,"Iamnotsounsympatheticwithallthisasyoumayperhapssuppose.Iwillnotevensayitisallmoonshine,foritissomethingbetter.Itis,ifImaysayso,honeymoonshine.Iwillneverdenythesayingthatitmakestheworldgoround,ifitmakespeople'sheadsgoroundtoo.Butthereareothersentiments,madam,andotherduties.Ineednottellyouyourfatherwasagoodman,andthatwhathasbefallenhimwouldbepitiable,evenasthefateofthewicked.Thisisahorriblething,anditischieflyamonghorrorsthatwe

mustkeepourcommonsense.Therearereasonsforeverything,andwhenmyoldfriendliesbutchereddonotcometomewitheventhemostbeautifulfairytalesaboutasaintandhisenchantedgrove."

"Well,andyou!"shecried,androseradiantlyandswiftly."Withwhatkindoffairytalesdoyoucometome?InwhatenchantedgrovesareYOUwalking?YoucomeandtellmethatMr.Paynterfoundawellwherethewaterdancedandthendisappeared;butofcoursemiraclesareallmoonshine!Youtellmeyouyourselffishedbonesfromunderthesamewater,andeverybonewasasdryasabiscuit;butforHeaven'ssakeletussaynothingthatmakesanybody'sheadgoround!Really,Mr.Ashe,youmusttrytopreserveyourcommonsense!"

Shewassmiling,butwithblazingeyes;andAshegottohisfeetwithaninvoluntarylaughofsurrender.

"Well,wemust-begoing,"hesaid."MayIsaythatatributeisreallyduetoyournewtranscendentaltraining?IfImaysayso,Ialwaysknewyouhadbrains;andyou'vebeenlearningtousethem."

Thetwoamateurdetectiveswentbacktothewoodforthemoment,thatAshemightconsidertheremovaloftheunhappySquire'sremains.Ashepointedout,itwasnowlegallypossibletohaveaninquest,

and,evenatthatearlystageofinvestigations,hewasinfavorofhavingitatonce.



"Ishallbethecoroner,"hesaid,"andIthinkitwillbeacaseof'somepersonorpersonsunknown.'Don'tbesurprised;itisoftendonetogivetheguiltyafalsesecurity.Thisisnotthefirsttimethepolicehavefounditconvenienttohavetheinquestfirstandtheinquiryafterward."

ButPaynterhadpaidlittleattentiontothepoint;forhisgreatgift

ofenthusiasm,longwastedonartsandaffectations,wasliftedtoinspirationbytheromanceofreallifeintowhichhehadjustwalked.Hewasreallyagreatcritic;hehadageniusforadmiration,andhisadmirationvariedfittinglywitheverythingheadmired.

"Asplendidgirlandasplendidstory,"hecried."IfeelasifIwereinloveagainmyself,notsomuchwithheraswithEveorHelenofTroy,orsomesuchtowerofbeautyinthemorningoftheworld.Don'tyouloveallheroicthings,thatgravityandgreatcandor,andthewayshetookonestepfromasortofthronetostandinawildernesswithavagabond?Oh,believeme,itisshewhoisthepoet;shehasthehigherreason,andhonorandvalorareatrestinhersoul."

"Inshort,sheisuncommonlypretty,"repliedAshe,withsomecynicism."Iknewamurderessratherwellwhowasverymuchlikeher,andhadjustthatcoloredhair."

"Youtalkasifamurderercouldbecaughtred-hairedinsteadofred-handed,"retortedPaynter."Why,atthisveryminute,youcouldbecaughtred-hairedyourself.Areyouamurderer,byanychance?"

Ashelookedupquickly,andthensmiled.

"I'mafraidI'maconnoisseurinmurderers,asyouareinpoets,"

heanswered,"andIassureyoutheyareofallcolorsinhairaswellastemperament.Isupposeit'sinhumane,butmineisamonstrouslyinterestingtrade,eveninalittleplacelikethis.Asforthatgirl,ofcourseI'veknownherallherlife,and--But--butthatisjustthequestion.HaveIknownherallherlife?HaveIknownheratall?Wassheeventheretobeknown?Youadmireherfortellingthetruth;andsoshedid,byGod,whenshesaidthatsomepeoplewakeuplate,whohaveneverlivedbefore.Doweknowwhattheymightdo--we,whohaveonlyseenthemasleep?"

"Greatheavens!"criedPaynter."Youdon'tdaresuggestthatshe--"

"No,Idon't,"saidthelawyer,withcomposure,"butthereareotherreasons....Idon'tsuggestanythingfully,tillwe'vehadourinterviewwiththispoetofyours.IthinkIknowwheretofindhim."

Theyfoundhim,infact,beforetheyexpectedhim,sittingonthebenchoutsidetheVaneArms,drinkingamugofciderandwaitingforthereturnofhisAmericanfriend;soitwasnotdifficulttoopenconversationwithhim.Nordidheinanywayavoidthesubjectofthetragedy;andthelawyer,seatinghimselfalsoonthelongbenchthatfrontedthelittlemarketplace,wassoonputtingthelastdevelopmentsaslucidlyashehadputthemtoBarbara.

"Well,"saidTreherneatlast,leaningbackandfrowningatthesignboard,withthecoloredbirdsanddolphins,justabouthishead;



"supposesomebodydidkilltheSquire.He'dkilledagoodmanypeoplewithhishygieneandhisenlightenedlandlordism."

Paynterwasconsiderablyuneasyatthisalarmingopening;butthepoetwentonquitecoolly,withhishandsinhispocketsandhisfeetthrustoutintothestreet.

"WhenamanhasthepowerofaSultaninTurkey,andusesitwiththeideasofaspinsterinTooting,Ioftenwonderthatnobodyputsaknifeinhim.Iwishthereweremoresympathyformurderers,somehow.I'mverysorrythepooroldfellow'sgonemyself;butyougentlemenalwaysseemtoforgetthereareanyotherpeopleintheworld.He'sallright;hewasagoodfellow,andhissoul,Ifancy,hasgonetothehappiestparadiseofall."

TheanxiousAmericancouldreadnothingoftheeffectofthisinthedarkNapoleonicfaceofthelawyer,whomerelysaid:"Whatdoyoumean?"

"Thefool'sparadise,"saidTreherne,anddrainedhispotofcider.

Thelawyerrose.HedidnotlookatTreherne,orspeaktohim;butlookedandspokestraightacrosshimtotheAmerican,whofoundtheutterancenotalittleunexpected.

"Mr.Paynter,"saidAshe,"youthoughtitrathermorbidofmetocollectmurderers;butit'sfortunateforyourownviewofthecasethatIdo.ItmaysurpriseyoutoknowthatMr.Trehernehasnow,inmyeyes,entirelyclearedhimselfofsuspicion.Ihavebeenintimatewithseveralassassins,asIremarked;butthere'sonethingnoneofthemeverdid.Ineverknewamurderertotalkaboutthemurder,andthenatoncedeny

itanddefendit.No,ifamanisconcealinghiscrime,whyshouldhegooutofhiswaytoapologizeforit?"

"Well,"saidPaynter,withhisreadyappreciation,"Ialwayssaidyouwerearemarkableman;andthat'scertainlyaremarkableidea."

"DoIunderstand,"askedthepoet,kickinghisheelsonthecobbles,"thatbothyougentlemenhavebeenkindlydirectingmetowardthegallows?"

"No,"saidPaynterthoughtfully."Ineverthoughtyouguilty;andevensupposingIhad,ifyouunderstandme,Ishouldneverhavethoughtitquitesoguiltytobeguilty.Itwouldnothavebeenformoneyoranymeanthing,butforsomethingalittlewilderandworthierofamanofgenius.Afterall,Isuppose,thepoethaspassionslikegreatunearthlyappetites;andtheworldhasalwaysjudgedmoregentlyofhissins.ButnowthatMr.Asheadmitsyourinnocence,IcanhonestlysayIhavealwaysaffirmedit."

Thepoetrosealso."Well,Iaminnocent,oddlyenough,"hesaid."IthinkIcanmakeaguessaboutyourvanishingwell,butofthedeathanddrybonesIknownomorethanthedeadifsomuch.And,bytheway,mydearPaynter"--andheturnedtwobrighteyesontheartcritic--"Iwillexcuseyoufromexcusingme

forallthethingsIhaven'tdone;andyou,Ihope,willexcusemeifIdifferfromyoualtogetheraboutthemoralityofpoets.Asyousuggest,itisafashionableview,butIthinkitisafallacy.



Nomanhaslessrighttobelawlessthanamanofimagination.Forhehasspiritualadventures,andcantakehisholidayswhenhelikes.IcouldpicturethepoorSquirecarriedofftoelflandwheneverIwantedhimcarriedoff,andthatwoodneedednocrimetomakeitwickedforme.Thatredsunsettheothernightwasallthatamurderwouldhavebeentomanymen.No,Mr.Ashe;show,whennextyousitinjudgment,alittlemercytosomewretchedmanwhodrinksandrobs

becausehemustdrinkbeertotasteit,andtakeittodrinkit.Havecompassiononthenextbatchofpoorthieves,whohavetoholdthingsinordertohavethem.ButifeveryoufindMEstealingonesmallfarthing,whenIcanshutmyeyesandseethecityofElDorado,then"--andheliftedhisheadlikeafalcon--"showmenomercy,forIshalldeservenone."

"Well,"remarkedAshe,afterapause,"Imustgoandfixthingsupfortheinquest.Mr.Treherne,yourattitudeissingularlyinteresting;IreallyalmostwishIcouldaddyoutomycollectionofmurderers.Theyareavariedandextraordinaryset."

"Hasiteveroccurredtoyou,"askedPaynter,"thatperhapsthemenwhohavenevercomittedmurderareavariedandveryextraordinaryset?Perhapseveryplainman'slifeholdstherealmystery,thesecretofsinsavoided."

"Possibly,"repliedAshe."Itwouldbealongbusinesstostopthenextmaninthestreetandaskhimwhatcrimeshenevercommittedandwhynot.AndIhappentobebusy,soyou'llexcuseme."

"What,"askedtheAmerican,whenheandthepoetwerealone,"isthisguessofyoursaboutthevanishingwater?"

"Well,I'mnotsureI'lltellyouyet,"answeredTreherne,

somethingoftheoldmischiefcomingbackintohisdarkeyes."ButI'lltellyousomethingelse,whichmaybeconnectedwithit;somethingIcouldn'ttelluntilmywifehadtoldyouaboutourmeetinginthewood."Hisfacehadgrowngraveagain,andheresumedafterapause:

"WhenmywifestartedtofollowherfatherIadvisedhertogobackfirsttothehouse,toleaveitbyanotherdoorandtomeetmeinthewoodinhalfanhour.Weoftenmadetheseassignations,ofcourse,andgenerallythoughtthemgreatfun,butthistimethequestionwasserious,andIdidn'twantthewrongthingdoneinahurry.Itwasaquestionwhetheranythingcouldbedonetoundoanexperimentwebothvaguelyfelttobedangerous,andsheespeciallythought,afterreflection,thatinterferencewouldmakethingsworse.Shethoughttheoldsportsman,havingbeendaredtodosomething,wouldcertainlynotbedissuadedbytheverymanwhohaddaredhimorbyawomanwhomheregardedasachild.Sheleftmeatlastinasortofdespair,butIlingeredwithalasthopeofdoingsomething,anddrewdoubtfullyneartotheheartofthewood;andthere,insteadofthesilenceIexpected,Iheardavoice.ItseemedasiftheSquiremustbetalkingtohimself,andIhadtheunpleasantfancythathehadalreadylosthisreasoninthatwoodofwitchcraft.ButIsoonfoundthatifhewastalkinghewastalkingwithtwovoices.Otherfanciesattackedme,asthattheotherwasthevoiceofthetreeorthevoicesofthethreetreestalkingtogether,andwithnomannear.

Butitwasnotthevoiceofthetree.ThenextmomentIknewthevoice,forIhadheardittwentytimesacrossthetable.Itwasthevoiceofthatdoctorofyours;Ihearditascertainly



asyouhearmyvoicenow."

Afteramoment'ssilence,heresumed:"Ileftthewood,Ihardlyknewwhy,andwithwildandbewilderedfeelings;andasIcameoutintothefaintmoonshineIsawthatoldlawyerstandingquietly,butstaringatmelikeanowl.Atleast,thelighttouchedhisredhairwithfire,buthissquare

oldfacewasinshadow.ButIknew,ifIcouldhavereadit,thatitwasthefaceofahangingjudge."

Hethrewhimselfonthebenchagain,smiledalittle,andadded:"Only,likeagoodmanyhangingjudges,Ifancy,hewaswaitingpatientlytohangthewrongman."

"Andtherightman--"saidPayntermechanically.Treherneshruggedhisshoulders,sprawlingonthealebench,andplayedwithhisemptypot.

IV.THECHASEAFTERTHETRUTH

Sometimeaftertheinquest,whichhadendedintheinconclusiveverdictwhichMr.AndrewAshehadhimselfpredictedandachieved,Paynterwasagainsittingonthebenchoutsidethevillageinn,havingonthelittletableinfrontofitatallglassoflightale,whichheenjoyedmuchmoreaslocalcolorthanasliquor.Hehadbutonecompaniononthebench,andthatanewone,forthelittlemarketplacewasemptyatthathour,andhehadlately,fortherest,beenmuchalone.Hewasnotunhappy,forheresembledhisgreatcountryman,WaltWhitman,incarryingakindofuniversewithhimlikeanopenumbrella;buthewasnotonlyalone,butlonely.

ForAshehadgoneabruptlyuptoLondon,andsincehisreturnhadbeenoccupiedobscurelywithlegalmatters,doubtlessbearingonthemurder.AndTrehernehadlongsincetakenuphispositionopenly,atthegreathouse,asthehusbandofthegreatlady,andheandshewereoccupiedwithsweepingreformsontheestate.Theladyespecially,beingofthesortwhoseverydreams"driveatpractice,"waslandscapegardeningaswiththegesturesofagiantess.Itwasnatural,therefore,thatsosociableaspiritasPayntershouldfallintospeechwiththeoneotherstrangerwhohappenedtobestayingattheinn,evidentlyabirdofpassagelikehimself.Thisman,whowassmokingapipeonthebenchbesidehim,withhisknapsackbeforehimonthetable,wasanartistcometosketchonthatromanticcoast;atallmaninavelvetjacket,withashockoftow-coloredhair,alongfairbeard,buteyesofdarkbrown,theeffectofwhichcontrastremindedPayntervaguely,hehardlyknewwhy,ofaRussian.Thestrangercarriedhisknapsackintomanypicturesquecorners;heobtainedpermissiontosetuphiseaselinthathighgardenwherethelateSquirehadheldhisalfrescobanquets.ButPaynterhadneverhadanopportunityofjudgingoftheartist'swork,nordidhefinditeasytogettheartisteventotalkofhisart.Cyprianhimselfwasalwaysreadytotalkofanyart,andhetalkedofitexcellently,butwithlittleresponse.HegavehisownreasonsforpreferringtheCubiststothecultofPicasso,buthisnewfriendseemedtohavebutafaintinterestineither.HeinsinuatedthatperhapstheNeo-Primitiveswereafterallonly

thinningtheirline,whilethetruePrimitiveswererathertighteningit;butthestrangerseemedtoreceivetheinsinuationwithoutanymarkedreactionoffeeling.WhenPaynterhadevengonebackasfar



intothepastaAthePost-Impressioniststofindacommonground,andnotfoundit,othermemoriesbegantocreepbackintohismind.Hewasjustreflecting,ratherdarkly,thatafterallthetaleofthepeacocktreesneededamysteriousstrangertorounditoff,andthismanhadmuchtheairofbeingone,whenthemysteriousstrangerhimselfsaidsuddenly:

"Well,IthinkI'dbettershowyoutheworkI'mdoingdownhere."

Hehadhisknapsackbeforehimonthetable,andhesmiledrathergrimlyashebegantounstrapit.Paynterlookedonwithpoliteexpressionsofinterest,butwasconsiderablysurprisedwhentheartistunpackedandplacedonthetable,notanyrecognizableworksofart,evenofthemostCubistdescription,but(first)aquireoffoolscapcloselywrittenwithnotesinblackandredink,and(second),totheAmerican'sextremeamazement,theoldwoodman'saxwiththelinenwrapper,whichhehadhimselffoundinthewelllongago.

"Sorrytogiveyouastart,sir,"saidtheRussianartist,

withamarkedLondonaccent."ButI'dbetterexplainstraightoffthatI'mapoliceman."

"Youdon'tlookit,"saidPaynter.

"I'mnotsupposedto,"repliedtheother."Mr.AshebroughtmedownherefromtheYardtoinvestigate;buthetoldmetoreporttoyouwhenI'dgotanythingtogoon.Wouldyouliketogointothematternow?

"WhenItookthismatterup,"explainedthedetective,"IdiditatMr.Ashe'srequest,andlargely,ofcourse,onMr.Ashe'slines.Mr.Asheisagreatcriminallawyer;withabeautifulbrain,sir,

asfullastheNewgateCalendar.Itook,asaworkingnotion,hisviewthatonlyyoufivegentlemenroundthetableintheSquire'sgardenwereacquaintedwiththeSquire'smovements.Butyougentlemen,ifImaysayso,haveawayofforgettingcertainotherthingsandotherpeoplewhichwearerathertaughttolookforfirst.AndasIfollowedMr.Ashe'sinquiriesthroughthestagesyouknowalready,throughcertainsuspicionsIneedn'tdiscussbecausethey'vebeendropped,Ifoundthethingshapingafteralltowardsomething,intheend,whichIthinkweshouldhaveconsideredatthebeginning.Now,tobeginwith,itisnottruethattherewerefivemenroundthetable.Thereweresix."

ThecreepyconditionsofthatgardenvigilvaguelyreturneduponPaynter;andhethoughtofaghost,orsomethingmorenamelessthanaghost.Butthedeliberatespeechofthedetectivesoonenlightenedhim.

"Thereweresixmenandfivegentlemen,ifyouliketoputitso,"heproceeded."ThatmanMiles,thebutler,sawtheSquirevanishasplainlyasyoudid;andIsoonfoundthatMileswasamanworthyofagooddealofattention."

AlightofunderstandingdawnedonPaynter'sface."Sothatwasit,wasit!"hemuttered.

"Doesallourmythologicalmysteryendwithapolicemancollaringabutler?Well,Iagreewithyouheisfarfromanordinarybutler,eventolookat;andthefaultinimaginationismine.



Likemanyfaultsinimagination,itwassimplysnobbishness."

"Wedon'tgoquitesofastasthat,"observedtheofficer,inanimpassivemanner."IonlysaidIfoundtheinquirypointingtoMiles;andthathewaswellworthyofattention.HewasmuchmoreintheoldSquire'sconfidencethanmanypeoplesupposed;andwhenIcross-examinedhimhetoldmeagooddeal

thatwasworthknowing.I'vegotitalldowninthesenoteshere;butatthemomentI'llonlytroubleyouwithonedetailofit.OnenightthisbutlerwasjustoutsidetheSquire'sdining-roomdoor,whenheheardthenoiseofaviolentquarrel.TheSquirewasaviolentgentleman,fromtimetotime;butthecuriousthingaboutthisscenewasthattheothergentlemanwasthemoreviolentofthetwo.MilesheardhimsayrepeatedlythattheSquirewasapublicnuisance,andthathisdeathwouldbeagoodriddanceforeverybody.IonlystopnowtotellyouthattheothergentlemanwasDr.BurtonBrown,themedicalmanofthisvillage.

"ThenextexaminationImadewasthatofMartin,thewoodcutter.

Upononepointatleasthisevidenceisquiteclear,andis,asyouwillsee,largelyconfirmedbyotherwitnesses.Hesaysfirstthatthedoctorpreventedhimfromrecoveringhisax,andthisiscorroboratedbyMr.andMrs.Treherne.Buthesaysfurtherthatthedoctoradmittedhavingthethinghimself;andthisagainfindssupportinotherevidencebythegardener,whosawthedoctor,sometimeafterward,comebyhimselfandpickupthechopper.MartinsaysthatDoctorBrownrepeatedlyrefusedtogiveitup,allegingsomefancifulexcuseeverytime.And,finally,Mr.Paynter,wewillheartheevidenceoftheaxitself."

Helaidthewoodman'stoolonthetableinfrontofhim,andbegantoripupandunwrapthecuriouslinencovering

roundthehandle.

"Youwilladmitthisisanoddbandage,"hesaid."Andthat'sjusttheoddthingaboutit,thatitreallyisabandage.Thiswhitestuffisthesortoflinttheyuseinhospitals,cutintostripslikethis.Butmostdoctorskeepsome;andIhavetheevidenceofJakethefisherman,withwhomDoctorBrownlivedforsometime,thatthedoctorhadthisusefulhabit.And,last,"headded,flatteningoutacorneroftheragonthetable,"isn'titoddthatitshouldbemarkedT.B.B.?"

TheAmericangazedattherudelyinkedinitials,buthardlysawthem.Whathesaw,asinamirrorinhisdarkenedmemory,wastheblackfigurewiththeblackglovesagainsttheblood-redsunset,ashehadseenitwhenhecameoutofthewood,andwhichhadalwayshauntedhim,heknewnotwhy.

"Ofcourse,Iseewhatyoumean,"hesaid,"andit'sverypainfulforme,forIknewandrespectedtheman.Butsurely,also,it'sveryfarfromexplainingeverything.Ifheisamurderer,isheamagician?Whydidthewellwaterallevaporateinanight,andleavethedeadman'sbonesdryasdust?That'snotacommonoperationinthehospitals,isit?"

"Astothewater,wedoknowtheexplanation,"saidthedetective.

"Ididn'ttumbletoitatfirstmyself,beingaCockney;butalittletalkwithJakeandtheotherfishermanabouttheoldsmugglingdaysputmestraightaboutthat.ButIadmitthedriedremainsstillstumpusall.



Allthesame--"

Ashadowfellacrossthetable,andhistalkwassharplycutshort.Ashewasstandingunderthepaintedsign,buttonedupgrimlyinblack,andwiththefaceofthehangingjudge,ofwhichthepoethadspoken,plainthistimeinthebroadsunlight.Behindhimstoodtwobigmeninplainclothes,verystill;

butPaynterknewinstantlywhotheywere.

"Wemustmoveatonce,"saidIthelawyer."Dr.BurtonBrownisleavingthevillage."

Thetalldetectivesprangtohisfeet,andPaynterinstinctivelyimitatedhim.

"HehasgoneuptotheTrehernespossiblytosaygood-by,"wentonAsherapidly."I'Msorry,butwemustarresthiminthegardenthere,ifnecessary.I'vekepttheladyoutoftheway,Ithink.Butyou"--addressingthefactitiouslandscapepainter--"mustgoup

atonceandrigupthateaselofyoursnearthetableandbeready.Wewillfollowquietly,andcomeupbehindthetree.Wemustbecareful,forit'sclearhe'sgotwindofus,orhewouldn'tbedoingabolt."

"Idon'tlikethisjob,"remarkedPaynter,astheymountedtowardtheparkandgarden,thedetectivedartingonahead.

"DoyousupposeIdo?"askedAshe;and,indeed,hisstrong,heavyfacelookedsolinedandoldthattheredhairseemedunnatural,likearedwig."I'veknownhimlongerthanyou,thoughperhapsI'vesuspectedhimlongeraswell."

Whentheytoppedtheslopeofthegardenthedetectivehad

alreadyerectedhiseasel,thoughastrongbreezeblowingtowardthesearattledandflappedhisapparatusandblewabouthisfair(andfalse)beardinthewind.Littlecloudscurledlikefeathers,werescuddingseawardacrossthemany-coloredlandscape,whichtheAmericanartcritichadoncesurveyedonahappiermorning;butitisdoubtfulifthelandscapepainterpaidmuchattentiontoit.Trehernewasdimlydiscernibleinthedoorwayofwhatwasnowhishouse;hewouldcomenonearer,forhehatedsuchapublicdutymorebitterlythantherest.Theotherspostedthemselvesalittlewaybehindthetree.Betweenthelinesofthesemaskedbatteriestheblackfigureofthedoctorcouldbeseencomingacrossthegreenlawn,travelingstraight,asabullet,ashehaddonewhenhebroughtthebadnewstothewoodcutter.To-dayhewassmiling,underthedarkmustachethatwascutshortoftheupperlip,thoughtheyfanciedhimalittlepale,andheseemedtopauseamomentandpeerthroughhisspectaclesattheartist.

Theartistturnedfromhiseaselwithanaturalmovement,andtheninaflashhadcapturedthedoctorbythecoatcollar.

"Iarrestyou--"hebegan;butDoctorBrownpluckedhimselffreewithstartlingpromptitude,tookaflyingleapattheother,toreoffhisshambeard,tossingitintotheairlikeoneofthewildwispsofthecloud;then,withonewildkick,senttheeasel

flyingtopsy-turvy,andfledlikeaharefortheshore.EvenatthatdazzlinginstantPaynterfeltthatthiswildreceptionwasanoveltyandalmostananticlimax;buthehad



notimeforanalysiswhenheandthewholepackhadtofollowinthehunt;evenTrehernebringinguptherearwitharenewedcuriosityandenergy.

Thefugitivecollidedwithoneofthepolicemenwhorantoheadhimoff,sendinghimsprawlingdowntheslope;indeed,thefugitiveseemedinspiredwiththestrengthofawildape.Heclearedatabound

therampartofflowers,overwhichBarbarahadonceleanedtolookatherfuturelover,andtumbledwithblindingspeeddownthesteeppathupwhichthattroubadourhadclimbed.Racingwiththerushingwindtheyallstreamedacrossthegardenafterhim,downthepath,andfinallyontotheseashorebythefisher'scot,andthepiercedcragsandcavernstheAmericanhadadmiredwhenhefirstlanded.Therunawaydidnot,however,makeforthehousehehadlonginhabited,butratherforthepier,asifwithamindtoseizetheboatortoswim.Onlywhenhereachedtheotherendofthesmallstonejettydidheturn,andshowthemthepalefacewiththespectacles;andtheysawthatitwasstillsmiling.

"I'mrathergladofthis,"saidTreherne,withagreatsigh."Themanismad."

Nevertheless,thenaturalnessofthedoctor'svoice,whenhespoke,startledthemasmuchasashriek.

"Gentleman,"hesaid,"Iwon'tprotractyourpainfuldutiesbyaskingyouwhatyouwant;butIwillaskatonceforasmallfavor,whichwillnotprejudicethosedutiesinanyway.Icamedownhereratherinahurryperhaps;butthetruthisIthoughtIwaslateforanappointment."Helookeddispassionatelyathiswatch."Ifindthereisstillsomefifteenminutes.Willyouwaitwithmehereforthatshorttime;afterwhichI

amquiteatyourservice."

Therewasabewilderedsilence,andthenPayntersaid:"Formypart,Ifeelasifitwouldreallybebettertohumorhim."

"Ashe,"saidthedoctor,withanewnoteofseriousness,"foroldfriendship,grantmethislastlittleindulgence.Itwillmakenodifference;Ihavenoarmsormeansofescape;you.cansearchmeifyoulike.Iknowyouthinkyouaredoingright,andIalsoknowyouwilldoitasfairlyasyoucan.Well,afterall,yougetfriendstohelpyou;lookatourfriendwiththebeard,ortheremainsofthebeard.Whyshouldn'tIhaveafriendtohelpme?AmanwillbehereinafewminutesinwhomIputsomeconfidence;agreatauthorityonthesethings.Whynot,ifonlyoutofcuriosity,waitandhearhisviewofthecase?"

"Thisseemsallmoonshine,"saidAshe,"butonthechanceofanylightonthings--well,fromthemoon--Idon'tmindwaitingaquarterofanhour.Whoisthisfriend,Iwonder;someamateurdetective,Isuppose."

"Ithankyou,"saidthedoctor,withsomedignity."Ithinkyouwilltrusthimwhenyouhavetalkedtohimalittle.Andnow,"headdedwithanairofamiablyrelaxingintolightermatters,"letustalkaboutthemurder.

"Thiscase,"hesaidinadetachedmanner,"willbefound,Isuspect,toberatherunique.Thereisaveryclearandconclusivecombination



ofevidenceagainstThomasBurtonBrown,otherwisemyself.Butthereisonepeculiarityaboutthatevidence,whichyoumayperhapshavenoticed.Itallcomesultimatelyfromonesource,andthataratherunusualone.Thus,thewoodcuttersaysIhadhisax,butwhatmakeshimthinkso?HesaysItoldhimIhadhisax;thatItoldhimsoagainandagain.Oncemore,Mr.Paynterherepulleduptheaxoutofthewell;buthow?IthinkMr.PaynterwilltestifythatIbroughthimthetackle

forfishingitup,tacklehemightneverhavegotinanyotherway.Curious,isitnot?Again,theaxisfoundtobewrappedinlintthatwasinmypossession,accordingtothefisherman.Butwhoshowedthelinttothefisherman?Idid.Whomarkeditwithlargelettersasmine?Idid.Whowrappeditroundthehandleatall?Idid.Ratherasingularthingtodo;hasanyoneeverexplainedit?"

Hiswords,whichhadbeenheardatfirstwithpainfulcoldnesswerebeginningtoholdmoreandmoreoftheirattention.

"Thenthereisthewellitself,"proceededthedoctor,withthesameairofinsanecalm."Isupposesome

ofyoubythistimeknowatleastthesecretofthat.Thesecretofthewellissimplythatitisnotawell.Itispurposelyshapedatthetopsoastolooklikeone,butitisreallyasortofchimneyopeningfromtheroofofoneofthosecavesoverthere;acavethatrunsinlandjustunderthewood,andindeedISconnectedbytunnelsandsecretpassageswithotheropeningsmilesandmilesaway.Itisasortoflabyrinthusedbysmugglersandsuchpeopleforagespast.Thisdoubtlessexplainsmanyofthosedisappearanceswehaveheardof.Buttoreturntothewellthatisnotawell,incasesomeofyoustilldon'tknowaboutit.Whenthesearisesveryhighatcertainseasonsitfillsthelowcave,andevenrisesalittlewayinthefunnelabove,makingitlookmorelikeawellthanever.

ThenoiseMr.Paynterheardwasthenaturaleddyofabreakerfromoutside,andthewholeexperiencedependedonsomethingsoelementaryasthetide."

TheAmericanwasstartledintoordinaryspeech.

"Thetide!"hesaid."AndInevereventhoughtofit!IguessthatcomesoflivingbytheMediterranean."

"Thenextstepwillbeobviousenough,"continuedthespeaker,"toalogicalmindlikethatofMr.Ashe,forinstance.Ifitbeaskedwhy,evenso,thetidedidnotwashawaytheSquire'sremainsthathadlaintheresincehisdisappearance,thereisonlyonepossibleanswer.TheremainshadNOTlaintheresincehisdisappearance.Theremainshadbeendeliberatelyputthereinthecavernunderthewood,andputthereAFTERMr.Paynterhadmadehisfirstinvestigation.Theywereputthere,inshort,aftertheseahadretreatedandthecavewasagaindry.Thatiswhytheyweredry;ofcourse,muchdrierthanthecave.Whoputthemthere,Iwonder?"

Hewasgazinggravelythroughhisspectaclesovertheirheadsintovacancy,andsuddenlyhesmiled.

"Ah,"hecried,jumpingupfrom.therockwithalacrity,"hereistheamateurdetectiveatlast!"

Asheturnedhisheadoverhisshoulder,andforafewsecondsdidnotmoveitagain,butstoodasifwithastiffneck.



Inthecliffjustbehindhimwasoneofthecleftsorcracksintowhichitwaseverywherecloven.Advancingfromthisintothesunshine,asiffromanarrowdoor,wasSquireVane,withabroadsmileonhisface.

Thewindwastearingfromthetopofthehighcliffouttosea,passingovertheirheads,andtheyhadthesensationthat

everythingwaspassingovertheirheadsandoutoftheircontrol.Paynterfeltasifhisheadhadbeenblownofflikeahat.ButnoneofthisgaleofunreasonseemedtostirahaironthewhiteheadoftheSquire,whosebearing,thoughself-importantandborderingonaswagger,seemedifanythingmorecomfortablethanintheolddays.Hisredfacewas,however,burntlikeasailor's,andhislightclotheshadaforeignlook.

"Well,gentlemen,"hesaidgenially,"sothisistheendofthelegendofthepeacocktrees.Sorrytospoilthatdelightfultraveler'stale,Mr.Paynter,butthejokecouldn'tbekeptupforever.Sorrytoputastoptoyourbestpoem,Mr.Treherne,

butIthoughtallthispoetryhadbeengoingalittletoofar.SoDoctorBrownandIfixedupalittlesurpriseforyou.AndImustsay,withoutvanity,thatyoulookalittlesurprised."

"Whatonearth,"askedAsheatlast,"isthemeaningofallthis?"

TheSquirelaughedpleasantly,andevenalittleapologetically,

"I'mafraidI'mfondofpracticaljokes,"hesaid,"andthisIsupposeismylastgrandpracticaljoke.ButIwantyoutounderstandthatthejokeisreallypractical.Iflattermyselfitwillbeofverypracticalusetothecauseofprogressandcommonsense,andthekillingofsuchsuperstitionseverywhere.

Thebestpartofit,Iadmit,wasthedoctor'sideaandnotmine.AllImeanttodowastopassanightinthetrees,andthenturnupasfreshaspainttotellyouwhatfoolsyouwere.ButDoctorBrownherefollowedmeintothewood,andwehadalittletalkwhichratherchangedmyplans.Hetoldmethatadisappearanceforafewhourslikethatwouldneverknockthenonsenseonthehead;mostpeoplewouldneverevenhearofit,andthosewhodidwouldsaythatonenightprovednothing.Heshowedmeamuchbetterway,whichhadbeentriedinseveralcaseswherebogusmiracleshadbeenshownup.Thethingtodowastogetthethingreallybelievedeverywhereasamiracle,andthenshownupeverywhereasashammiracle.Ican'tputalltheargumentsaswellashedid,butthatwasthenotion,Ithink."

Thedoctornodded,gazingsilentlyatthesand;andtheSquireresumedwithundiminishedrelish.

"WeagreedthatIshoulddropthroughtheholeintothecave,andmakemywaythroughthetunnels,whereIoftenusedtoplayasaboy,totherailwaystationafewmilesfromhere,andtheretakeatrainforLondon.Itwasnecessaryforthejoke,ofcourse,thatIshoulddisappearwithoutbeingtraced;soImademywaytoaport,andputinaverypleasantmonthortworoundmyoldhauntsinCyprusandtheMediterranean.There'sno

moretosayofthatpartofthebusiness,exceptthatIarrangedtobebackbyaparticulartime;andhereIam.ButI'veheardenoughofwhat'sgoneonroundheretobesatisfied



thatI'vedonethetrick.EverybodyinCornwallandmostpeopleinSouthEnglandhaveheardoftheVanishingSquire;andthousandsofnoodleshavebeennoddingtheirheadsovercrystalsandtarotcardsatthismarvelousproofofanunseenworld.IreckontheReappearingSquirewillscattertheircardsandsmashtheircrystals,sothatsuchrubbishwon'tappearagaininthetwentiethcentury.I'llmakethepeacocktrees

thelaughingstockofallEuropeandAmerica."

"Well,"saidthelawyer,whowasthefirsttorearrangehiswits,"I'msurewe'reallonlytoodelightedtoseeyouagain,Squire;andIquiteunderstandyourexplanationandyourownverynaturalmotivesinthematter.ButI'mafraidIhaven'tgotthehangofeverythingyet.Grantedthatyouwantedtovanish,wasitnecessarytoputbogusbonesinthecave,soasnearlytoputahalterroundtheneckofDoctorBrown?Andwhoputitthere?Thestatementwouldappearperfectlymaniacal;butsofarasIcanmakeheadortailoutofanything,DoctorBrownseemstohaveputittherehimself."

Thedoctorliftedhisheadforthefirsttime.

"Yes;Iputthebonesthere,"hesaid."IbelieveIamthefirstsonofAdamwhoevermanufacturedalltheevidenceofamurderchargeagainsthimself."

ItwastheSquire'sturntolookastonished.Theoldgentlemanlookedratherwildlyfromonetotheother.

"Bones!Murdercharge!"heejaculated."Whatthedevilisallthis?Whosebones?"

"Yourbones,inamannerofspeaking,"delicatelyconcededthedoctor."Ihadtomakesureyouhadreallydied,andnotdisappearedbymagic."

TheSquireinhisturnseemedmorehopelesslypuzzledthanthewholecrowdofhisfriendshadbeenoverhisownescapade."Whynot?"hedemanded."Ithoughtitwasthewholepointtomakeitlooklikemagic.Whydidyouwantmetodiesomuch?"

DoctorBrownhadliftedhishead;andhenowveryslowlyliftedhishand.Hepointedwithoutstretchedarmattheheadlandoverhangingtheforeshore,justabovetheentrancetothecave.ItwastheexactpartofthebeachwherePaynterhadfirstlanded,onthatspringmorningwhenhehadlookedupinhisfirstfreshwonderatthepeacocktrees.Butthetreesweregone.

Thefactitselfwasnosurprisetothem;theclearancehadnaturallybeenoneofthefirstofthesweepingchangesoftheTreherneregime.Butthoughtheyknewitwell,theyhadwhollyforgottenit;anditssignificancereturnedonthemsuddenlylikeasigninheaven.

"Thatisthereason,"saidthedoctor."Ihaveworkedforthatforfourteenyears."

Theynolongerlookedatthebarepromontoryonwhichthefeatherytreeshadoncebeensofamiliarasight;fortheyhadsomething

elsetolookat.AnyoneseeingtheSquirenowwouldhaveshiftedhisopinionaboutwheretofindthelunaticinthatcrowd.Itwasplaininaflashthatthechangehadfallenonhimlike



athunderbolt;thathe,atleast,hadneverhadthewildestnotionthatthetaleoftheVanishingSquirehadbeenbutapreludetothatofthevanishingtrees.Thenexthalfhourwasfullofhisravingsandexpostulations,whichgraduallydiedawayintodemandsforexplanationandincoherentquestionsrepeatedagainandagain.Hehadpracticallytobeoverruledatlast,inspiteoftherespectinwhichhewasheld,beforeanythinglikeaspaceandsilence

weremadeinwhichthedoctorcouldtellhisownstory.Itwasperhapsasingularstory,ofwhichhealonehadeverhadtheknowledge;andthoughitsnarrationwasnotuninterrupted,itmaybesetforthconsecutivelyinhisownwords.

"First,IwishitclearlyunderstoodthatIbelieveinnothing.IdonotevengivethenothingIbelieveaname;orIshouldbeanatheist.Ihaveneverhadinsidemyheadsomuchasahintofheavenandhell.Ithinkitmostlikelywearewormsinthemud;butIhappentobesorryfortheotherwormsunderthewheel.AndIhappenmyselftobeasortofwormthatturnswhenhecan.IfIcarenothingforpiety,Icarelessforpoetry.I'mnotlike

Ashehere,whoiscrammedwithcriminology,buthasallsortsofothercultureaswell.Iknownothingaboutculture,exceptbacteriaculture.IsometimesfancyMr.AsheisasmuchanartcriticasMr.Paynter;onlyhelooksforhisheroes,orvillains,inreallife.ButIamaverypracticalman;andmysteppingstoneshavebeensimplyscientificfacts.InthisvillageIfoundafact--afever.Icouldnotclassifyit;itseemedpeculiartothiscornerofthecoast;ithadsingularreactionsofdeliriumandmentalbreakdown.IstudieditexactlyasIshouldaqueercaseinthehospital,andcorrespondedandcomparednoteswithothermenofscience.Butnobodyhadevenaworkinghypothesisaboutit,exceptofcoursetheignorantpeasantry,whosaidthepeacocktreeswereinsomewildwaypoisonous.

"Well,thepeacocktreeswerepoisonous.Thepeacocktreesdidproducethefever.Iverifiedthefactintheplainploddingwayrequired,comparingallthedegreesanddetailsofavastnumberofcases;andtherewereashockingnumbertocompare.AttheendofitIhaddiscoveredthethingasHarveydiscoveredthecirculationoftheblood.Everybodywastheworseforbeingnearthethings;thosewhocameoffbestwereexactlytheexceptionsthatprovedtherule,abnormallyhealthyandenergeticpeopleliketheSquireandhisdaughter.Inotherwords,thepeasantswereright.ButifIputitthatway,somebodywillcry:'Butdoyoubelieveitwassupernaturalthen?'Infact,that'swhatyou'llallsay;andthat'sexactlywhatIcomplainof.Ifancyhundredsofmenhavebeenleftdeadanddiseasesleftundiscovered,bythissuspicionofsuperstition,thisstupidfearoffear.Unlessyouseedaylightthroughtheforestoffactsfromthefirst,youwon'tventureintothewoodatall.Unlesswecanpromiseyoubeforehandthatthereshallbewhatyoucallanaturalexplanation,tosaveyourpreciousdignityfrommiracles,youwon'tevenhearthebeginningoftheplaintale.Supposethereisn'tanaturalexplanation!Supposethereis,andweneverfindit!SupposeIhaven'tanotionwhetherthereisornotIWhatthedevilhasthattodowithyou,orwithmeindealingwiththefactsIdoknow?Myowninstinctistothinkthereis;thatifmyresearchescouldbefollowedfarenoughitwouldbefoundthatsomehorribleparodyofhayfever,someeffectanalogoustothatofpollen,wouldexplain

allthefacts.Ihaveneverfoundtheexplanation.WhatIhavefoundarethefacts.Andthefactisthatthosetreesonthetoptheredealtdeathrightandleft,ascertainlyasiftheyhadbeengiants,



standingonahillandknockingmendownincrowdswithaclub.ItwillbesaidthatnowIhadonlytoproducemyproofsandhavethenuisanceremoved.PerhapsImighthaveconvincedthescientificworldfinally,whenmoreandmoreprocessionsofdeadmenhadpassedthroughthevillagetothecemetery.ButIhadnotgottoconvincethescientificworld,buttheLordoftheManor.TheSquirewillpardonmysayingthatitwasaverydifferentthing.

Itrieditonce;Ilostmytemper,andsaidthingsIdonotdefend;andIlefttheSquire'sprejudicesrootedanew,likethetrees.Iwasconfrontedwithonecolossalcoincidencethatwasanobstacletoallmyaims.Onethingmadeallmysciencesoundlikenonsense.Itwasthepopularlegend.

"Squire,iftherewerealegendofhayfever,youwouldnotbelieveinhayfever.Iftherewereapopularstoryaboutpollen,youwouldsaythatpollenwasonlyapopularstory.Ihadsomethingagainstmeheavierandmorehopelessthanthehostilityofthelearned;Ihadthesupportoftheignorant.Mytruthwashopelesslytangledupwithatalethat

theeducatedwereresolvedtoregardasentirelyalie.Inevertriedtoexplainagain;onthecontrary,Iapologized,affectedaconversiontothecommon-senseview,andwatchedevents.Andallthetimethelinesofalarger,ifmorecrookedplan,begantogetclearerinmymind.IknewthatMissVane,whetherornosheweremarriedtoMr.Treherne,asIafterwardfoundshewas,wassomuchunderhisinfluencethatthefirstdayofherinheritancewouldbethelastdayofthepoisonoustrees.Butshecouldnotinherit,oreveninterfere,tilltheSquiredied.Itbecamesimplyself-evident,toarationalmind,thattheSquiremustdie.Butwishingtobehumaneaswellasrational,Idesiredhisdeathtobetemporary.

"Doubtlessmyschemewascompletedbyachapterofaccidents,butIwaswatchingforsuchaccidents.ThusIhadaforeshadowingofhowtheaxwouldfigureinthetalewhenitwasfirstflungatthetrees;itwouldhavesurprisedthewoodmantoknowhownearourmindswere,andhowIwasbutlayingamoreelaboratesiegetothetowersofpestilence.ButwhentheSquirespontaneouslyrushedonwhathalfthecountrysidewouldcallcertaindeath,Ijumpedatmychance.Ifollowedhim,andtoldhimallthathehastoldyou.Idon'tsupposehe'lleverforgivemenow,butthatshan'tpreventmesayingthatIadmirehimhugelyforbeingwhatpeoplewouldcallalunaticandwhatisreallyasportsman.Ittakesratheragrandoldmantomakeajokeinthegrandstyle.Hecamedownsoquickfromthetreehehadclimbedthathehadnotimetopullhishatofftheboughithadcaughtin.

"AtfirstIfoundIhadmadeamiscalculation.Ithoughthisdisappearancewouldbetakenashisdeath,atleastafteralittletime;butAshetoldmetherecouldbenoformalitieswithoutacorpse.IfearIwasalittleannoyed,butIsoonsetmyselftothedutyofmanufacturingacorpse.It'snothardforadoctortogetaskeleton;indeed,Ihadone,butMr.Paynter'senergywasadaytooearlyforme,andIonlygotthebonesintothewellwhenhehadalreadyfoundit.Hisstorygavemeanotherchance,however;Inotedwheretheholewasinthehat,andmadeapreciselycorrespondingholeintheskull.Thereasonforcreatingtheotherclewsmaynotbesoobvious.ItmaynotyetbealtogetherapparenttoyouthatIamnotafiendinhumanorm.

Icouldnotsubstantiateamurderwithoutatleastsuggestingamurderer,andIwasresolvedthatifthecrimehappenedtobetracedtoanybody,itshouldbetome.SoI'mnotsurprisedyouwerepuzzledabout



thepurposeoftheragroundtheax,becauseithadnopurpose,excepttoincriminatethemanwhoputitthere.Thechasehadtoendwithme,andwhenitwasclosinginatlastthejokeofitwastoomuchforme,andIfearItooklibertieswiththegentleman'seaselandbeard.Iwastheonlypersonwhocouldriskit,beingtheonlypersonwhocouldatthelastmomentproducetheSquireandprovetherehadbeennocrimeatall.That,gentlemen,isthetruestoryofthepeacocktrees;

andthatbarecragupthere,wherethewindiswhistlingasitwouldoverawilderness,isawasteplaceIhavelaboredtomake,asmanymenhavelaboredtomakeacathedral.

"Idon'tthinkthereisanymoretosay,andyetsomethingmovesinmybloodandIwilltrytosayit.Couldyounothavetrustedalittlethesepeasantswhomyoualreadytrustsomuch?Thesemenaremen,andtheymeantsomething;eventheirfatherswerenotwhollyfools.Ifyourgardenertoldyouofthetreesyoucalledhimamadman,buthedidnotplanandplantyourgardenlikeamadman.Youwouldnottrustyourwoodmanaboutthesetrees,yetyoutrustedhimwithalltheothers.Haveyoueverthoughtwhatallthework

oftheworldwouldbelikeifthepoorweresosenselessasyouthinkthem?Butno,youstucktoyourrationalprinciple.Andyourrationalprinciplewasthatathingmustbefalsebecausethousandsofmenhadfoundittrue;thatBECAUSEmanyhumaneyeshadseensomethingitcouldnotbethere."

HelookedacrossatAshewithasortofchallenge,butthoughtheseawindruffledtheoldlawyer'sredmane,hisNapoleonicmaskwasunruffled;itevenhadasortofbeautyfromitsnewbenignity.

"IamtoohappyjustnowinthinkinghowwrongIhavebeen,"heanswered,"toquarrelwithyou,doctor,aboutourtheories.Andyet,injusticetotheSquireaswellasmyself,Ishoulddemur

toyoursweepinginference.Irespectthesepeasants,Irespectyourregardforthem;buttheirstoriesareadifferentmatter.IthinkIwoulddoanythingforthembutbelievethem.Truthandfancy,afterall,aremixedinthem,wheninthemoreinstructedtheyareseparate;andIdoubtifyouhaveconsideredwhatwouldbeinvolvedintakingtheirwordforanything.Halftheghostsofthosewhodiedoffevermaybewalkingbynow;andkindasthesepeopleare,Ibelievetheymightstillburnawitch.No,doctor,Iadmitthesepeoplehavebeenbadlyused,Iadmittheyareinmanywaysourbetters,butIstillcouldnotacceptanythingintheirevidence."

Thedoctorbowedgravelyandrespectfullyenough,andthen,forthelasttimethatday,theysawhisrathersinistersmile.

"Quiteso,"hesaid."Butyouwouldhavehangedmeontheirevidence."

And,turninghisbackonthem,asifautomatically,hesethisfacetowardthevillage,whereforsomanyyearshehadgonehisround.

trees of pride

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