“Where did he get it, I say?” repeated the man; with the air of one who was propounding a trying problem.

Old Matthew removed his pipe.

“A fool may ask mair questions ner a doctor can answer.”

The shepherd shifted in his seat.

“That Wilson was na shaks nowther,” continued Matthew quietly.  “He was accustomed to ‘tummel’ his neighbors, and never paused to inquire into their bruises.  He’d olas the black dog on his back—­leastways latterly.  Ey, the braizzant taistrel med have done something for Ralph an he lived langer.  He was swearing what he’d do, the ungratefu’ fool; auld Wilson was a beadless body.”

“They say he threatened Ralph’s father, Angus,” said Monsey, with a perceptible shiver.

“Ay, but Angus is bad to bang.  I mind his dingin’ ower a bull on its back.  A girt man, Angus, and varra dreadfu’ when he’s angert.”

“Dus’ta mind the fratch thoo telt me aboot atween Angus and auld Wilson?” said Reuben Thwaite to Matthew Branthwaite.

“What quarrel was that?” asked Monsey.

“Why, the last fratch of all, when Wilson gat the sneck posset frae Shoulthwaite,” said Matthew.

“I never heard of it,” said the schoolmaster.

“There’s nowt much to hear.  Ralph and mysel’ we were walking up to the Moss together ya day, when we heard Angus and Wilson at a bout of words.  Wilson he said to Angus with a gay, bitter sneer, ’Ye’ll fain swappit wi’ me yet,’ said he.  ‘He’ll yoke wi’ an unco weird.  Thy braw chiel ‘ul tryste wi’ th’ hangman soon, I wat.’  And Angus he was fair mad, I can tell ye, and he said to Wilson, ‘Thoo stammerin’ and yammerin’ taistrel, thoo; I’ll pluck a lock of thy threep.  Bring the warrant, wilt thoo?  Thoo savvorless and sodden clod-heed!  I’ll whip thee with the taws.  Slipe, I say, while thoo’s weel—­slipe!’”

“And Angus would have done it, too, and not the first time nowther,” said little Reuben, with a knowing shake of the head.

“Well, Matthew, what then?” said Monsey.

“Weel, with that Angus he lifted up his staff, and Wilson shrieked oot afore he gat the blow.  But Angus lowered his hand and said to him, says he, ‘Time eneuf to shriek when ye’re strucken.’”

“And when the auld one did get strucken, he could not shriek,” added Reuben.

“We know nowt of that reetly,” said Matthew, “and maybe nivver will.”

“What was that about a warrant?” said Monsey.

“Nay, nay, laal man, that’s mair ner ony on us knows for certain.”  “But ye have a notion on it, have ye not?” said Reuben, with a twinkle which was intended to flatter Matthew into a communicative spirit.

“I reckon I hev,” said the weaver, with a look of self-satisfaction.

“Did Ralph understand it?” asked Monsey.

“Not he, schoolmaister.  If he did, I could mak’ nowt on him, for I asked him theer and then.”

“But ye knows yersel’ what the warrant meant, don’t ye?” said Reuben significantly.