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crowd shouted； 〃There he comes！〃 and I looked； and； lo！ it was the
tinker； before I could cry with joy I was whisked away； and I found
myself in Ely's big church； which was chock full of people to hear
the dean preach； and all eyes were turned to the big pulpit； and
presently I heard them say； 〃There he mounts！〃 and I looked up to
the big pulpit； and； lo！ the tinker was in the pulpit； and he
raised his arm and began to preach。 Anon； I found myself at York
again； just as the drop fell； and I looked up； and I saw not the
tinker； but my own self hanging in the air。'
'You are going mad； bebee； if you want to hasten him； take your
stick and poke him in the eye。'
'That will be of no use； child； the dukkerin tells me so； but I
will try what I can do。 Halloo； tinker！ you must introduce
yourself into a quiet family； and raise confusion … must you？ You
must steal its language； and； what was never done before； write it
down Christianly … must you？ Take that … and that'； and she
stabbed violently with her stick towards the end of the tent。
'That's right； bebee； you struck his face； now once more； and let
it be in the eye。 Stay； what's that？ get up； bebee。'
'What's the matter； child？'
'Some one is coming； come away。'
'Let me make sure of him； child； he'll be up yet。' And thereupon
Mrs。 Herne； rising； leaned forward into the tent； and； supporting
herself against the pole； took aim in the direction of the farther
end。 'I will thrust out his eye；' said she； and； lunging with her
stick； she would probably have accomplished her purpose had not at
that moment the pole of the tent given way； whereupon she fell to
the ground； the canvas falling upon her and her intended victim。
'Here's a pretty affair； bebee；' screamed the girl。
'He'll get up； yet；' said Mrs。 Herne； from beneath the canvas。
'Get up！ … get up yourself； where are you？ where is your … Here；
there； bebee； here's the door； there； make haste； they are coming。'
'He'll get up yet；' said Mrs。 Herne； recovering her breath； 'the
dock tells me so。'
'Never mind him or the dook； he is drabbed； come away； or we shall
be grabbed … both of us。'
'One more blow； I know where his head lies。'
'You are mad； bebee； leave the fellow … gorgio avella。'
And thereupon the females hurried away。
A vehicle of some kind was evidently drawing nigh； in a little time
it came alongside of the place where lay the fallen tent； and
stopped suddenly。 There was a silence for a moment； and then a
parley ensued between two voices； one of which was that of a woman。
It was not in English； but in a deep guttural tongue。
'Peth yw hono sydd yn gorwedd yna ar y ddaear？' said a masculine
voice。
'Yn wirionedd … I do not know what it can be；' said the female
voice； in the same tongue。
'Here is a cart； and there are tools； but what is that on the
ground？'
'Something moves beneath it； and what was that … a groan？'
'Shall I get down？'
'Of course； Peter； some one may want your help？
'Then I will get down； though I do not like this place； it is
frequented by Egyptians； and I do not like their yellow faces； nor
their clibberty clabber； as Master Ellis Wyn says。 Now I am down。
It is a tent； Winifred； and see； here is a boy beneath it。
Merciful father！ what a face。'
A middle…aged man； with a strongly marked and serious countenance；
dressed in sober…coloured habiliments； had lifted up the stifling
folds of the tent； and was bending over me。 'Can you speak； my
lad？' said he in English； 'what is the matter with you？ if you
could but tell me； I could perhaps help you … ' 'What is that you
say？ I can't hear you。 I will kneel down'； and he flung himself
on the ground； and placed his ear close to my mouth。 'Now speak if
you can。 Hey！ what！ no； sure； God forbid！' then starting up； he
cried to a female who sat in the cart； anxiously looking on …
'Gwenwyn！ gwenwyn！ yw y gwas wedi ei gwenwynaw。 The oil！
Winifred； the oil！'
CHAPTER LXXII
Desired effect … The three oaks … Winifred … Things of time … With
God's will … The preacher … Creature comforts … Croesaw … Welsh and
English … Mayor of Chester。
THE OIL； which the strangers compelled me to take； produced the
desired effect； though； during at least two hours； it was very
doubtful whether or not my life would be saved。 At the end of that
period the man said that with the blessing of God he would answer
for my life。 He then demanded whether I thought I could bear to be
removed from the place in which we were； 'for I like it not；' he
continued； 'as something within me tells me that it is not good for
any of us to be here。' I told him； as well as I was able； that I；
too； should be glad to leave the place； whereupon； after collecting
my things； he harnessed my pony； and； with the assistance of the
woman； he contrived to place me in the cart； he then gave me a
draught out of a small phial； and we set forward at a slow pace；
the man walking by the side of the cart in which I lay。 It is
probable that the draught consisted of a strong opiate； for after
swallowing it I fell into a deep slumber； on my awaking； I found
that the shadows of night had enveloped the earth … we were still
moving on。 Shortly； however； after descending a declivity； we
turned into a lane； at the entrance of which was a gate。 This lane
conducted to a meadow； through the middle of which ran a small
brook； it stood between two rising grounds； that on the left； which
was on the farther side of the water； was covered with wood； whilst
the one on the right； which was not so high； was crowned with the
white walls of what appeared to be a farmhouse。
Advancing along the meadow； we presently came to a place where grew
three immense oaks； almost on the side of the brook； over which
they flung their arms； so as to shade it as with a canopy； the
ground beneath was bare of grass； and nearly as hard and smooth as
the floor of a barn。 Having led his own cart on one side of the
midmost tree； and my own on the other； the stranger said to me；
'This is the spot where my wife and myself generally tarry in the
summer season； when we come into these parts。 We are about to pass
the night here。 I suppose you will have no objection to do the
same？ Indeed； I do not see what else you could do under present
circumstances。' After receiving my answer； in which I； of course；
expressed my readiness to assent to his proposal； he proceeded to
unharness his horse； and； feeling myself much better； I got down；
and began to make the necessary preparations for passing the night
beneath the oak。
Whilst thus engaged； I felt myself touched on the shoulder； and；
looking round； perceived the woman； whom the stranger called
Winifred； standing close to me。 The moon was shining brightly upon
her； and I observ