He showed no sign of life now, his face looked unnaturally pale in contrast to the dull green slime which besmeared it. "Run to the vicarage and bring some strong waters, Robin," he cried to a youth who stood looking on. "Nay, rather run to the 'Six Bells'; it is nearer," suggested Susan, and the boy dashed away to do their bidding. Meanwhile, Susan had loosed the man's garments around his throat, while the Vicar placed his hand upon his heart. "I fear he is dead!" said the Vicar, in tones of anguish. "Nay," cried Susan, as she observed a green froth gurgling at his mouth, "see, he is breathing!" By this time Robin had returned from the "Six Bells" with a bottle of brandy in his hand. Susan took it from the lad and began carefully to moisten the man's lips with the strong spirit, then to pour a small portion down his throat. Presently a colour flushed into the man's pallid cheeks, and a moment later he opened his eyes and looked wonderingly around. Then, leaving Susan to attend to the sufferer, the Vicar rose to his feet and looked round upon his parishioners. "Now tell me, men, what all this means," he said somewhat sternly. The men looked shamefaced, but their chief spokesman answered the Vicar promptly. "The man is a Government spy," he said; "he meant mischief to all of us, and especially to you, Vicar. We saw him taking notes of all that you did and said in church, and he warned us that he was a Queen's officer, and that to touch him was a hanging matter; so we just 'touched' him, and if you had not come along with Miss Susan we should have drawn his fangs, and he would never more have wrought mischief to innocent and harmless people." The Vicar still preserved a stern countenance, but he had not been human if he had not been secretly touched by this proof of the devotion of his people, however recklessly given. "And these said notes," he said, "they may have been quite harmless; what did you do with them?" "We took them from his pockets, Vicar, then we wrapped them round a big stone and threw them in the pond; they won't do much harm there!" The Vicar's features relaxed into a momentary smile; then he became pensive again, as he said— "Thank God that I and Miss Susan came in time to frustrate your reckless intention; you might have brought down unutterable evils on our parish; and remember, men, there is One who hath said, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay!' What right had you to snatch the judgment from His hand?" At this moment Susan touched the Vicar on the arm, and said— "He is fast recovering consciousness: let the men carry him to his lodgings at the 'Six Bells,' and at once; he needs rest and refreshment." "Yes," replied the Vicar, "I will see to it: and do you, Mistress Susan, go home without me; I will soon follow you." The Vicar turned to one of the men, who had not been actively engaged in the late proceedings.