"Therefore I did not. And the apron I had got muffled over my ears made the sound appear further off than it really was. But close upon the noise came an awful cry; and that was followed by a shrill scream, as if from a woman. That startled me, if you like, and I jumped up, and threw off my apron, and looked on to the plateau. I could not see anything; neither the man nor the young ladies; so I thought it time to go and search after them. I had got nearly up to the Round Tower, that ruined wall, breast high, which is on the plateau----"
"You need not explain," said the coroner, "we know the place."
"When a man darted out from the shade of it," continued the witness. "He cut across to the side of the plateau next the village, and disappeared down that dangerous steep path in the cliffs, which nobody afore, I guess, ever ventured down but in broad daylight."
"Was it the same man you saw just before running on to the plateau?"
"Of course it was."
"By what marks did you know him again?"
"By no marks at all. I should not know the man from Adam. My own senses told me it was the same, because there was no other man on the plateau."
"Your own senses will not do to speak from. Remember, witness, you are on your oath."
"Whether I am on my oath or off it, I should speak the truth," was the response of the imperturbable witness.
"What next?"