The two laborers turned to each other. On the face of each was a bucolic leer. They eyed each other for an instant and then the taller of the two slowly raised his forefinger, tapped his forehead, and winked knowingly to his companion. He was a tall, loose-jointed fellow, with a little black mark on the left side of his nose and there was something impudent and aggressive in him as he stood there grinning and showing his yellow fangs. His companion was short and stocky, with a freckled face, sandy hair, and a manner suggestive of bashful awkwardness. He turned to the two strangers furtively, as if half fearful that the other’s actions might give offense. “The Doctor,” repeated the taller man slowly and with peculiar intonation; “the Doctor! I guess the chances be he’s not far off and in a hot chase after both of yees!” And he chuckled softly to himself, glancing at his companion. “Not far off! Have you seen him? Which way did he go?” quickly inquired Dean. “Seen him?” repeated the rustic; “no! I ain’t seen him, nor any of his men.” “Then what made you say he was not far off?” demanded Dean. Silence from the two rustics, who continued to exchange glances. “Look here, my good men!” exclaimed Kearns impatiently; “wake up and listen to me. Just show us the way to the road and you shall be suitably rewarded. Perhaps, too, you would find us a horse and carriage which we could hire to take us home.” The two men stared at the speaker, open-mouthed, amazed. Again they turned to each other. “A horse and kerridge!” they exclaimed in a breath. Then they broke into a loud laugh. Now it was the turn of Kearns and the Professor to exchange glances of astonishment. That a simple request to be supplied with information as to where a horse and carriage could be hired should produce such results was certainly amazing. Kearns stepped nearer to Dean. “I believe these fellows are crazy,” he whispered. “Perhaps they have escaped from the Weldon Asylum.” “The smaller man seems a case of senile dementia,” whispered back the Professor, cautiously; “but the larger fellow looks to me like a dangerous lunatic--possibly a homicidal maniac. We may be in danger of our lives!” While this colloquy was in progress, the rustics had not taken their eyes off the strangers for an instant. The taller of the two again spoke up. “A horse and kerridge,” he said. “Maybe if ye had a pitchfork apiece ye could scoot away through the air, leaving only a streak of brimstone behind ye. I’ve heerd tell o’ sech things!” Kearns’ quick temper flashed up. He advanced upon the speaker. “Confound you, you impudent----” “Run fer it, Jem; run fer it!” yelled the smaller man apprehensively. “They’re a-goin’ to spell!” He took to his heels at full speed. Jem gave one quick glance at Kearns and was off after his companion. Kearns and the Professor stood watching their rapidly retreating figures until they disappeared around the bend of a hill.