"Hark!" said Carl. "I see a man!"
Indeed, just then a dim figure arose from the earth, and appeared slowly and painfully moving away.
"Hold on there!" cried Stackridge. "Needn't be afeared of us. We're your friends."
The figure stopped, uttering a deep groan.
"Is it you, Hapgood?"
"No," answered the most miserable voice in the world. "It's me."
"Who's me?"
"Pepperill—Dan Pepperill; ye know me, don't ye, Stackridge?"
"You? you scoundrel!" said the farmer. "What have ye been doing to the schoolmaster? Answer me this minute, or I'll——"
"O, don't, don't!" implored the wretch. "I'll answer, I'll tell every thing, only give me a chance!"