Eben turned with a cry of surprise, and confronted him.
He saw before him the strangest man he had ever before seen. A man with a deformed, hunched back, with crooked, crazy legs, with long, swinging arms, and an enormous nose. He was dressed in a corduroy jacket, and leggings of the same material, which terminated in a pair of plain moccasins. On his head was an old flat cap covered with ashes—a cap made from green wood, Eben could see. An old cloak of undressed sheep-skin was flung over his shoulders, and this, in unison with his ghastly, white face, staring, fishy eye, and straggling drab hair, gave him, to say the least, a strange appearance.
Eben was, for the moment, alarmed at his ugly companion, and did not know what to do or say. At last he stammered out:
“Who are yer?”
“No matter—for the present. I will tell you after I have done talking with you. I have come to see you on business.”
“Business? What d’ye mean?” asked Eben, beginning to become more and more surprised.
“Time is scarce. The young man and woman are in danger. I need your help. There is work enough for both of us.”
“What man and woman?”
“The young woman that was lost.”
“Ha! do you know any thing of ’em? Speak quick!”