"If there's witchcraft in it, I won't have anything to do with it," said Reuben.
"Bless you! there's no witchcraft in it. 'Tis the simplest thing possible, as you'll see. Two of your guests have been out all night."
"How do you know that?" asked Reuben.
"Because I saw them return, not half an hour ago. The servant rode on to Lyme. I'm sure of it, for I heard his master tell him to go on to Captain Ellesdon's house."
"Ah, indeed!" exclaimed the ostler, surprised.
"Yes, you didn't know that, Reuben," said the smith. "Now let us proceed to business."
Thereupon, he took up the horse's feet, and examined the shoes, twice over, very deliberately.
After the second examination, he said, with a grin:
"Now, Reuben, I can tell you something that will surprise you. This horse has only three shoes on, as you know. Each shoe has been put on in a different county—Somerset, Stafford, Worcester."
"Did you say Worcester?" cried Reuben.