Page:Tales for the farmers' ingle-neuk (2).pdf/6

 of the footstep, to convince the people that there was something so remarkably peculiar in its shape, there could be little doubt of finding out the person to whom it belonged by the means proposed. Every one now seemed eager to have his shoes examined, and hastened to set himself on the grass. Two shoemakers were employed to take the measurement, and Mr accompanied them with the drawing in his hand. had placed himself in the middle of the crowd, and I saw him make one or two unsuccessful attempts to shift his seat, so as to escape examination. When at last his turn came, his colour suddenly changed to a deadly pale, and with a horrid groan he fell senseless on the ground. He was restored by the application of some water which was quickly procured; and looking wildly round him, he exclaimed, 'You cannot say that I did it! It was dark—who saw me? 'God Almighty saw you, unhappy young man!' said Mr in a tone which thrilled through my heart; for he had now taken the dimensions of  shoe, and found it corresponded in every particular to the copy he had drawn. The murderer, for I had now no doubt that this was he, having recovered his strength, started up on his feet, and drawing a sharp pointed knife from his pocket, threatened to stab to the heart the man that laid hands on him. He then made a desperate spring, and before any person had sufficient presence of mind to prevent him, reached the churchyard wall, which he cleared without difficulty,