"Murder, as I expected," said Lucas, as they lifted up the body, and scraped off the snow which covered it; "right through his heart, poor fellow; who would have expected this from such a little varmint? Look about, my lads, and see if we can find anything else. What is Nap scratching at?--a bag--take it up, Martin. Dick, do you go for some people to take the body to the Cat and Fiddle, while we see if we can find anything more." In a quarter of an hour the people arrived, the body was carried away, while the keeper went off in all haste to the authorities. Furness, the schoolmaster, as soon as he had obtained the information, hastened to Rushbrook's cottage, that he might be the first to convey the intelligence. Rushbrook, however, from the back of the cottage, had perceived the people carrying in the body, and was prepared. "My good people, I am much distressed, but it must be told; believe me, I feel for you--your son, my pupil, has murdered the pedlar." "Impossible!" cried Rushbrook. "It is but too true; I cannot imagine how a boy, brought up under my tuition--nay, Mrs Rushbrook, don't cry--brought up, I may say, with such strict notions of morality, promising so fairly, blossoming so sweetly--" "He never murdered the pedlar!" cried Jane, whose face was buried in her apron. "Who then could have?" replied Furness. "He never shot him intentionally, I'll swear," said Rushbrook; "if the pedlar has come to his death, it must have been by some accident. I suppose the gun went off somehow or other; yes, that must be it: and my poor boy, frightened at what had taken place, has run away." "Well," replied the schoolmaster, "such may have been the case; and I do certainly feel as if it were impossible that a boy like Joey, brought up by me, grounded in every moral duty--I may add, religiously and piously instructed--could ever commit such a horrible crime." "Indeed, he never did," replied Jane; "I am sure he never would do such a thing." "Well, I must wish you good-bye now, my poor people; I will go down to the Cat and Fiddle, and hear what they say," cried the pedagogue, quitting the cottage. "Jane, be careful," said Rushbrook; "our great point now is to say nothing. I wish that man would not come here." "Oh, Rushbrook!" cried Jane, "what would I give if we could live these last three days over again." "Then imagine, Jane, what I would give!" replied Rushbrook, striking his forehead; "and now say no more about it." At twelve o'clock the next day the magistrates met, and the coroner's inquest was held upon the body of the pedlar. On examination of the body, it was ascertained that a charge of small shot had passed directly through the heart, so as to occasion immediate death; that the murder had not been committed with the view of robbing, it was evident, as the pedlar's purse, watch, and various other articles were found upon his person.