"Cold bites shrewd after your bar, Nathan. Good night, souls. Us shall hear who 'tis to-morrow."
The bell tolled thrice more; then it stopped.
"Bide a minute and I'll come back," said Mr. Gollop. "I can't sleep this night without knowing who 'tis. A very terrible sudden seizure, for certain. Eliza may know."
He crossed the road and entered his own house, which stood against the churchyard wall. They waited and he returned in a minute.
"She knows nought," he said. "Mark dropped in a little bit ago and axed for the key. 'What do 'e want in belfry now, Mr. Baskerville?' she axed him. 'Passing bell,' he said; and Eliza was all agog, of course, for 'twas the first she'd heard of it. 'What's the name?' she said; but he answered nought and went down the steps and away. A minute after the bell began."
"'Tis over now, anyway. I'll step across and meet Mark," said Mr. Baskerville.
One or two others accompanied him; but there was no sign of the ringer. Then, led by Gollop, they entered the silent church and shouted.
"Where be you, Mark Baskerville, and who's dead?" cried Gollop.
In the belfry profound silence reigned, and the ropes hanging from their places above, touched the men as they groped in the darkness.
"He's gone, anyway," declared Nathan. Then suddenly a man's boot rubbed against his face. The impact moved it a moment; but it swung back heavily again.