Seemingly, a little knot of men stood at the water's edge. As we drew nearer I could distinguish their forms but not their occupation, for they stood in a circle, intent on some object in their midst concealed from our view. Presently, however, they fell into a rough line as though making for the archway to Ready-Money Cove. Something they carried among them, and continually stooped over; but what it was I could not see. Their pace was very slow, but they turned into the arch and were disappearing, when I caught sight of the uncouth little figure of Joe Roscorla among the last, and ran forward, hailing him by name. At the sound of my voice Joe started, turned round and made a slow pause; then, with a few words to his neighbour, came quickly towards me. As he drew near, I saw that his face was white and his manner full of embarrassment; but he put on a smile, and spoke first-- "Why, Jasper, what be doin' along here?" "I'm going home. Has Uncle Loveday seen mother? And is she better?" "Aw iss, he've a seen her an' she be quieter: leastways, he be bound to do her a power o' good. But what be goin' back for? 'Tain't no use botherin' indoors wi' your mother in thicky wisht state. Run about an' get some play." "What were you doing down by the Rock just now, Joe?" Joe hesitated for a while; stammered, and then said, "Nuthin." "But, Joe, you were doing something: what were you carrying over to Ready-Money?" "Look-ee here, my lad, run an' play, an' doan't ax no questions. 'Tain't for little boys to ax questions. Now I comes to think of it, Doctor said as you was to stay over to Lizard Town, 'cos there ain't no need of a passel of boys in a sick house: so run along back." Joe's voice had a curious break in it, and his whole bearing was so unaccountable that I did not wonder when Tom quietly said-- "Joe, you're telling lies." Now Joe was, in an ordinary way, the soul of truth: so I looked for an explosion. To my surprise, however, he took no notice of the insult, but turned again to me-- "Jasper, lad, run along back: do'ee now." His voice was so full of entreaty that a sudden suspicion took hold of me. "Joe, is--has anything happened to mother?" "Noa, to be sure: she'll be gettin' well fast enough, if so be as you let her be." "Then I'll go and see Uncle Loveday, and find out if I am really to go back." I made a motion to go, but he caught me quickly by the arm. "Now, Jasper, doan't-'ee go: run back, I tell'ee--run back--I tell'ee you _must_ go back." His words were so earnest and full of command that I turned round and faced him. Something in his eyes filled me with sickening fear. "Joe, what were you carrying?" No answer. "Joe, what were you carrying?" Still no answer; but an appealing motion of the hand. "Joe, what was it?" "Go back!" he said, hoarsely. "Go back!" "I will not, until I have seen what you were carrying." "Go back, boy: for God's sake go back!"