“It’s ill work,” she said, “a-poking fun at those who’ve given you naught but civil answers.”
Kearns and Dean stood watching the retreating figures as they passed down the road. Suddenly, as by one impulse, they faced each other. The Professor laid his hand upon Kearns’ shoulder.
“The twenty-fifth of July—did you hear that woman say——”
“Yes; I heard,” answered Kearns, slowly.
“If her statement be true, we have been dead to the world for a good six weeks.”
Both men stood silent for a moment. Then the Professor again spoke:
“These strange surroundings—the queer actions of these people! What can it all mean?”
“Mean!” answered Kearns with a laugh. “It begins to look as if we were either mad, or bewitched!”
CHAPTER II
THE MAN WITH THE COCKED HAT
For a long minute they stood there, facing each other, undecided and perplexed, bewildered by the strangeness of the situation. Kearns spoke first.