"Hush--softly, prithee," said the offended party, his anger all at once
under the influence of a more powerful feeling. He stood still, in the
attitude of listening, earnestly bending forward with great solicitude
and attention.
He pointed to some object just visible through the arches of the wood,
in the dim twilight.
"There is the grey man o' the mine again, as I live, Gregory; we'd best
turn back, for our companions are gone out of hearing." The terrified
rustic was preparing for immediate flight, but Gregory caught him by the
belt.
"How now! stand to thy ground, man," said he; "I've had speech at him
not long ago. We came upon one another suddenly, to be sure, and I could
not well escape, so I stood still. He did the same, shook his pale and
saintly face, and, with a wave o' the hand, bade me pass on."
"But look thee," replied the other, "I'm bodily certain he walks without
a shadow at his tail. See at that big tree there; why, the boughs bend
before he touches 'em, like as they were stricken wi' the wind. I
declare if the very trees don't step aside as if they're afraid of him.
I'll not tarry here, good man.
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