"Well, I should think you was smart!" cried sundry of them in turn.
"Set there like a bump on a log, an' wonder what's the matter! Never
heard of anything so numb in all my born days. If I was a man, I guess
I'd see!"
It was Brad Freeman who broke the spell, with a sudden thought and
cry,--
"By thunder! maybe's suthin 's afire!"
He leaped to his feet, and with long, loping strides made his way up
the hill to Tiverton church. The men, in one excited, surging rabble,
followed him. The women were before them. They, too, had heard the
tolling for the unknown dead, and had climbed a quicker way, leaving
fire and cradle behind. At the very moment when they were pressing, men
and women, to the open church door, the last lingering clang had
ceased, the bell lay humming itself to rest, and Nicholas Oldfield
strode out and faced them. By this time, factions had broken up, and
each woman instinctively sought her husband's side, assuring herself of
protection against the unresting things of the spirit. Young Nick's
Hattie found her lawful ally, with the rest.
"My soul!" said she in a whisper, "it's father!"
Nicholas touched her arm in warning, and stood silent. He felt that the
waters were troubled, as he had known them to be once or twice in his
boyhood.
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