All said, though they could not see him, “that’s Hopcraft,” for Job Latter was seen sitting, and looking very solemn, near the opening in front of the cart. Soon after, Sir Henry Clavering, who had been early to Castleborough, rode up on his way to the Hall, accompanied by Mr. Gethin Thorne, the clerk to the magistrates; and Sir Henry received the most reverential touches of the hat, and curtseys from the village women; for his chase after Scammel, and his foiling him in the river till he was obliged to let himself drown, or be taken and hanged, had made him very much of a hero in their eyes. “A fine young fellow is Sir Henry,” said one to another; “and he’s a heart in him, and he _can_ run too! By Guy! though, if Scammel had turned on him, I wonder how it would ha’ gone? I should na’ like to ha’ got a blow of his iron fist.” “No; but you’re not so sure as he could have got a blow at Sir Henry. He’s got the use of his limbs, you may depend. Them young fellows at college, they practisen’ at what’s caw’d Jim Nasti-sticks—what that is I know na; but they tell’n me it makes ’em wondrous strong and agile. They can jump aside and dodge, and catch a man out like a harlequin.” Such was the village discourse while Hopcraft, safely handcuffed to Job Latter, descended from the cart, and was conducted into the smoking-room at the manor. There was no open window there for him to attempt an escape from, even if he had been a likely man for such an experiment. He looked very much frightened, and yet he stood in a peculiar position, for Scammel being dead, there was not a single witness against him; and Mr. Degge told him that he was not bound to criminate himself, but that anything he had to say they should take down, but it must be on his oath, and he must understand it would be brought forward at any future hearing in court. It was expected that Hopcraft would be very close; and as Scammel was gone, and could not come against him, would leave the magistrates to find out anything they could; but the case was quite different. Hopcraft said, as he was now sure that Scammel could never again come down on him, he would tell all he knew. He said that Scammel came to him that afternoon at the ferry, and said he was just come out of prison, where Mr. Drury had put him, and he vowed vengeance on him. Hopcraft said he told him to mind what he did, and not to do anything there and then to bring him into trouble. When he saw Mr. Drury coming riding towards them, as they sat under the bushes, he said, “Well, Nathan, as you are such a cursed coward, give me your fork, go you and pull the fellow over, and then come back again; I’ve something more to say to you.” With that he skulked into the bushes; but when I was just beginning to pull the boat, out he jumped, and knocked down Mr. Drury in a twinkling. I could not cry out for fright; my voice stuck in my throat.” “But you helped to throw the murdered man into the river?” said the justice’s clerk.