Shouldering his heavy stick, and quickening his pace, he shot on to pass the four ahead.  The largest and strongest man of the number changed swiftly to the side on which he came up, and dexterously closed with him and went down with him; but not before the heavy stick had descended smartly.

‘Let him be!’ said this man in a suppressed voice, as they struggled together on the grass.  ’Fair play!  His is the build of a girl to mine, and he’s got a weight strapped to his back besides.  Let him alone.  I’ll manage him.’

After a little rolling about, in a close scuffle which caused the faces of both to be besmeared with blood, the man took his knee from Neville’s chest, and rose, saying:  ’There!  Now take him arm-in-arm, any two of you!’

It was immediately done.

‘As to our being a pack of thieves, Mr. Landless,’ said the man, as he spat out some blood, and wiped more from his face; ’you know better than that at midday.  We wouldn’t have touched you if you hadn’t forced us.  We’re going to take you round to the high road, anyhow, and you’ll find help enough against thieves there, if you want it.—­Wipe his face, somebody; see how it’s a-trickling down him!’

When his face was cleansed, Neville recognised in the speaker, Joe, driver of the Cloisterham omnibus, whom he had seen but once, and that on the day of his arrival.

’And what I recommend you for the present, is, don’t talk, Mr. Landless.  You’ll find a friend waiting for you, at the high road—­ gone ahead by the other way when we split into two parties—­and you had much better say nothing till you come up with him.  Bring that stick along, somebody else, and let’s be moving!’

Utterly bewildered, Neville stared around him and said not a word.  Walking between his two conductors, who held his arms in theirs, he went on, as in a dream, until they came again into the high road, and into the midst of a little group of people.  The men who had turned back were among the group; and its central figures were Mr. Jasper and Mr. Crisparkle.  Neville’s conductors took him up to the Minor Canon, and there released him, as an act of deference to that gentleman.

’What is all this, sir?  What is the matter?  I feel as if I had lost my senses!’ cried Neville, the group closing in around him.

‘Where is my nephew?’ asked Mr. Jasper, wildly.

‘Where is your nephew?’ repeated Neville, ‘Why do you ask me?’

‘I ask you,’ retorted Jasper, ’because you were the last person in his company, and he is not to be found.’

‘Not to be found!’ cried Neville, aghast.

‘Stay, stay,’ said Mr. Crisparkle.  ’Permit me, Jasper.  Mr. Neville, you are confounded; collect your thoughts; it is of great importance that you should collect your thoughts; attend to me.’

‘I will try, sir, but I seem mad.’

‘You left Mr. Jasper last night with Edwin Drood?’