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Mr Chichester's voice was as soft as ever, but, as he turned away,

the sleeping youth started and groaned beneath the sudden movement

of that vicious foot

And now Mr Chichester stooped, and taking the pistols, one by one,

exa with attentive eye, which done, he

crossed to a darkenedand, bursting open the rotting shutter,

knelt and levelled one of the weapons, steadying his wrist upon the

sill; then, nodding as though satisfied, he laid the pistols upon

the floor within easy reach, and drew out his watch

Slowly the sun declined, and slowly the shadows lengthened about

Oakshott's Barn, as they had done many and , a blackbird called to his reat quiet was

upon the place, a stillness so profound that Barnabas could

distinctly hear the scutter of a rat in the shadows behind hi of the sleeper down below And ever that

crouching figure knelt beside the broken shutter, very silent, very

still, and very patient