And thus saying, he rolled his eyes about, twisted up his moustachios, stroked his beard, and assumed such a mysterious air, that an indescribable terror seized the bystanders; so much so, that in falling hastily back, some of them tumbled down, and others tumbled over them in a very ridiculous manner. ‘He’s a thief,’ whispered one. ‘Or a Thug,’ said another. ‘Or an evil spirit in the form of a man,’ observed a fourth. ‘At all events, doesn’t he look like one who had _killed another_?’ In short the alarm became general, and several deemed it prudent, first to sneak off, and then take to their heels. A few, however, of the bolder spirits kept their ground; and seeing that the stranger did nothing but take long whiffs from his pipe, sending the smoke peacefully curling over his beard and moustachios out of both his nostrils, they regained their confidence, and began to think that after all he might be some important personage;—who could tell? So after a little pushing and elbowing among themselves, a man was thrust forward, under an idea that something might come of it; but no, the stranger appeared as unmoved as ever. Then another, who had screwed up his courage to that point, boldly advanced, and thus spoke— ‘Do pray, Sir, tell us who upon earth you may be?’—No answer. Then the man who had offered a sleeping place in his house chimed in, and said, ‘Aye, Sir, do let us know who or what you may be? I assure you we are none of us at all afraid of you!’ And with these words he twisted up his moustachios, and tried to look as fierce and bold as possible, while his knees were knocking together, and his heart fluttering all the while. On a repetition of these questions, however, by both these men, the stranger, with infinite gravity, took the pipe from his mouth, and thus spoke:— ‘Are you not too much frightened to hear?’ The runaways, however, had departed, and those left behind seemed determined not to follow them; more especially as the stranger had made no sign as if he would draw his sword; neither did they think he looked at all so horrible now. They therefore one and all called out, ‘No! we are not a bit afraid, let us hear!’ ‘Well then,’ exclaimed the stranger, taking a long puff at his pipe, ‘strange as it may appear to you all, my name is MISCHIEF-MAKER! And what is very extraordinary, whatever I do, wherever I go, wherever I am, I _always_ create mischief, I always _have_ created mischief, and shall continue to do so to the very end of my life!’ And upon this he rolled his eyes, and puffed away at his pipe harder than ever. ‘Oh, is this all,’ cried the party, ‘is this all?’