the trees of pride-第7章

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he　Squire　and　thrown　him　down　the　well；　but　he　did　not　admit　for　a　moment　that　it　was　his　friend　the　poet；　but　if　the　latter　had　actually　been　seen　coming　out　of　the　wood　the　matter　was　serious。　As　he　walked　the　rapidly　darkening　twilight　was　cloven　with　red　gleams；　that　made　him　almost　fancy　for　a　moment　that　some　fantastic　criminal　had　set　fire　to　the　tiny　forest　as　he　fled。　A　second　glance　showed　him　nothing　but　one　of　those　red　sunsets　in　which　such　serene　days　sometimes　close。

As　he　came　out　of　the　gloomy　gate　of　trees　into　the　full　glow　he　saw　a　dark　figure　standing　quite　still　in　the　dim　bracken；　on　the　spot　where　he　had　left　the　woodcutter。　　It　was　not　the　woodcutter。

It　was　topped　by　a　tall　black　hat　of　a　funeral　type；　and　the　whole　figure　stood　so　black　against　the　field　of　crimson　fire　that　edged　the　sky　line　that　he　could　not　for　an　instant　understand　or　recall　it。　When　he　did；　it　was　with　an　odd　change　in　the　whole　channel　of　his　thoughts。

〃Doctor　Brown！〃　he　cried。　　〃Why；　what　are　you　doing　up　here？〃

〃I　have　been　talking　to　poor　Martin；〃　answered　the　doctor；　and　made　a　rather　awkward　movement　with　his　hand　toward　the　road　down　to　the　village。　　Following　the　gesture；　Paynter　dimly　saw　another　dark　figure　walking　down　in　the　blood…red　distance。　He　also　saw　that　the　hand　motioning　was　really　black；　and　not　merely　in　shadow；　and；　coming　nearer；　found　the　doctor's　dress　was　really　funereal；　down　to　the　detail　of　the　dark　gloves。　It　gave　the　American　a　small　but　queer　shock；　as　if　this　were　actually　an　undertaker　come　up　to　bury　the　corpse　that　could　not　be　found。

〃Poor　Martin's　been　looking　for　his　chopper；〃　observed　Doctor　Brown；　〃but　I　told　him　I'd　picked　it　up　and　kept　it　for　him。　Between　ourselves；　I　hardly　think　he's　fit　to　be　trusted　with　it。〃　　Then；　seeing　the　glance　at　his　black　garb；　he　added：　〃I've　just　been　to　a　funeral。　　Did　you　know　there's　been　another　loss？　Poor　Jake　the　fisherman's　wife；　down　in　the　cottage　on　the　shore；　you　know。　　This　infernal　fever；　of　course。〃

As　they　both　turned；　facing　the　red　evening　light；　Paynter　instinctively　made　a　closer　study；　not　merely　of　the　doctor's　clothes；　but　of　the　doctor。　　Dr。　Burton　Brown　was　a；　tall；　alert　man；　neatly　dressed；　who　would　otherwise　have　had　an　almost　military　air　but　for　his　spectacles　and　an　almost　painful　intellectualism　in　his　lean　brown　face　and　bald　brow。　The　contrast　was　clinched　by　the　fact　that；　while　his　face　was　of　the　ascetic　type　generally　conceived　as　clean…shaven；　he　had　a　strip　of　dark　mustache　cut　too　short　for　him　to　bite；　and　yet　a　mouth　that　often　moved　as　if　trying　to　bite　it。　He　might　have　been　a　very　intelligent　army　surgeon；　but　he　had　more　the　look　of　an　engineer　or　one　of　those　services　that　combine　a　military　silence　with　a　more　than　military　science。　Paynter　had　always　respected　something　ruggedly　reliable　about　the　man；　and　after　a　little　hesitation　he　told　him　all　the　discoveries。

The　doctor　took　the　hat　of　the　dead　Squire　in　his　hand；　and　examined　it　with　frowning　care。　　He　put　one　finger　through　the　hole　in　the　crown　and　moved　it　meditatively。　And　Paynter　realized　how　fanciful　his　own　fatigue　must　have　made　him；　for　so　silly　a　thing　as　the　black　finger　waggling　through　the　rent　in　that　frayed　white　relic　unreasonably　displeased　him；　The　doctor　soon　made　the　same　discovery　with　professional　acuteness；　and　applied　it　much　further。　For　when　Paynter　began　to　tell　him　of　the　moving　water　in　the　well　he　looked　at　him　a　moment　through　his　spectacles；　and　then　said：

〃Did　you　have　any　lunch？〃

Paynter　for　the　first　time　realized　that　he　had；　as　a　fact；　worked　and　thought　furiously　all　day　without　food。

〃Please　don't　fancy　I　mean　you　had　too　much　lunch；〃　said　the　medical　man；　with　mournful　humor。　　〃On　the　contrary；　I　mean　you　had　too　little。　I　think　you　are　a　bit　knocked　out；　and　your　nerves　exaggerate　things。　Anyhow；　let　me　advise　you　not　to　do　any　more　to…night。　There's　nothing　to　be　done　without　ropes　or　some　sort　of　fishing　tackle；　if　with　that；　but　I　think　I　can　get　you　some　of　the　sort　of　grappling　irons　the　fishermen　use　for　dragging。　　Poor　Jake's　got　some；　I　know；　I'll　bring　them　round　to　you　tomorrow　morning。　The　fact　is；　I'm　staying　there　for　a　bit　as　he's　rather　in　a　state；　and　I　think　is　better　for　me　to　ask　for　the　things　and　not　a　stranger。　I　am　sure　you'll　understand。〃

Paynter　understood　sufficiently　to　assent；　and　hardly　knew　why　he　stood　vacantly　watching　the　doctor　make　his　way　down　the　steep　road　to　the　shore　and　the　fisher's　cottage。　　Then　he　threw　off　thoughts　he　had　not　examined；　or　even　consciously　entertained；　and　walked　slowly　and　rather　heavily　back　to　the　Vane　Arms。

The　doctor；　still　funereal　in　manner；　though　no　longer　so　in　costume；　appeared　punctually　under　the　wooden　sign　next　morning；　laden　with　what　he　had　promised；　an　apparatus　of　hooks　and　a　hanging　net　for　hoisting　up　anything　sunk　to　a　reasonable　depth。　He　was　about　to　proceed　on　his　professional　round；　and　said　nothing　further　to　deter　the　American　from　proceeding　on　his　own　very　unprofessional　experiment　as　a　detective。　That　buoyant　amateur　had　indeed　recovered　most；　if　not　all；　of　yesterday's　buoyancy；　was　now　well　fitted　to　pass　any　medical　examination；　and　returned　with　all　his　own　energy　to　the　scene　of　yesterday's　labors。

It　may　well　have　brightened　and　made　breezier　his　second　day's　toil　that　he　had　not　only　the　sunlight　and　the　bird's　singing　in　the　little　wood；　to　say　nothing　of　a　more　scientific　apparatus　to　work　with；　but　also　human　companionship；　and　that　of　the　most　intelligent　type。　After　leaving　the　doctor　and　before　leaving　the　village　be　had　bethought　himself　of　seeking　the　little　court　or　square　where　stood　the　quiet　brown　house　of　Andrew　Ashe；　solicitor；　and　the　operations　of　dragging　were　worked　in　double　harness。　　Two　heads　were　peering　over　the　well　in　the　wood：　　one　yellow…haired；　lean　and　eager；　the　other　redhaired；　heavy　and　pondering；　and　if　it　be　true　that　two　heads　are　better　than　one；　it　is　truer　that　four　hands　are　better　than　two。　In　any　case；　their　united　and　repeated　efforts　bore　fruit　at　last；　if　anything　so　hard　and　meager　and　forlorn　can　be　called　a　fruit。　It　weighed　loosely　in　the　net　as　it　was　lifted；　and　rolled　out　on　the　grassy　edge　of　the　well；　it　was　a　bone。

Ashe　picked　it　up　and　stood　with　it　in　his　hand；　frowning。

〃We　want　Doctor　Brown　here；〃　he　said。　　〃This　may　be　the　bone　of　some　animal。　　Any　dog　or　sheep　might　fall　into　a　hidden　well。〃　Then　he　broke　off；　for　his　companion　was　already　detaching　a　second　bone　from　the　net。

After　another　half　hour's　effort　Paynter　had　occasion　to　remark；　〃It　must　have　been　rather　a　large　dog。〃　　There　were　already　a　heap　of　such　white　fragments　at　his　feet。

〃I　have　seen　nothing　yet；〃　said　Ashe；　speaking　more　plainly。　〃That　is　certainly　a　human　bone。〃　　〃I　fancy　this　must　be　a　human　bone；〃　said　the　American。

And　he　turned　away　a　little　as　he　handed　the　other　a　skull。

There　was　no　doubt　of　what　sort　of　skull；　there　was　the　one　unique　curve　that　holds　the　mystery　of　reason；　and　underneath　it　the　two　black　holes　that　had　held　human　eyes。　But　just　above　that　on　the　left　was　another　and　smaller　black　hole；　which　was　not　an　eye。

Then　the　lawyer　said；　with　something　like　an　effort：　〃We　may　admit　it　is　a　man　without　admitting　it　isany　particular　man。　There　may　be　something；　after　all；　in　that　yarn　about　the　drunkard；　he　may　have　tumbled　into　the　well。　　Under　certain　conditions；　after　certain　natural　processes；　I　fancy；　the　bones　might　be　stripped　in　this　way；　even　without　the　skill　of　any　assassin。　We　want　the　doctor　again。〃

Then　he　added　suddenly；　and　the　very　sound　of　his　voice　suggested　that　he　hardly　believed　his　own　words。

〃Haven't　you　got　poor　Vane's　hat　there？〃

He　took　it　from　the　silent　American's　hand；　and　with　a　sort　of　hurry　fitted　it　on　the　bony　head。

〃Don't！〃　said　the　other　involuntarily。

The　lawyer　had　put　his　finger；　as　the　doctor　had　done；　through　the　hole　in　the　hat；　and　it　lay　exactly　over　the　hole　in　the　skull。

〃I　have　the　better　right　to　shrink；〃　he　said　steadily；　but　in　a　vibrant　voice。　　〃I　think　I　am　the　older　friend。〃

Paynter　nodded　without　speech；　accepting　the　final　identification。　The　last　doubt；　or　hope；　had　departed；　and　he　turned　to　the　dragging　apparatus；　and　did　not　speak　till　he　had　made　his　last　find。

The　singing　of　the　birds　seemed　to　grow　louder　about　them；　and　the　dance　of　the　green　summer　leaves　was　repeated　beyond　in　the　dance　of　the　green　summer　sea。　　Only　the　great　roots　of　the　mysterious　trees　could　be　seen；　the　rest　being　far　aloft；　and　all　round　it　was　a　wood　of　little；　lively　and　happy　things。　They　might　have　been　two　innocent　naturalists；　or　even　two　children　fishing　for　eels　or　tittlebats　on　that　summer　holiday　when　Paynter　pulled　up　something　that　weighed　in　the　net　more　heavily　than　any　bone。　it　nearly　broke　the　meshes；　and　fell　against　a　mossy　stone　with　a　clang。

〃Truth　lies　at　the　bottom　of　a　well；〃　cried　the　American；　with　lift　in　his　voice。　　〃The　woodman's　ax。〃

It　lay；　indeed；　flat　and　gleaming　in　the　grasses　by　the　well　in　the　wood；　just　as　it　had　lain　in　the　thicket　where　the　woodman　threw　it　in　the　beginning　of　all　these　things。　But　on　one　corner　of　the　bright　blade　was　a　dull　brown　stain。

〃I　see；〃　said　Ashe；　〃the　woodman's　ax；　and　therefore　the　Woodman。　　Your　deductions　are　rapid。〃

〃My　deductions　are　reasonable；〃　said　Paynter；　〃Look　here；　Mr。　Ashe；　I　know　what　you're　thinking。　　I　know　you　distrust　Treherne；　but　I'm　sure　you　will　be　just　for　all　that。　　To　begin　with；　surely　the　first　assumption　is　that　the　woodman's　ax　is　used　by　the　Woodman。　　What　have　you　to　say　to　it？〃

〃I　say　'No'　to　it；〃　replied　the　lawyer。　　〃The　last　weapon　a　woodman　would　use　would　be　a　woodman's　ax；　that　is　if　he　is　a　sane　man。〃

〃He　isn't；〃　said　Paynter　quietly；　〃you　said　you　wanted　the　doctor's　opinion　just　now。　　The　doctor's　opinion　on　this　point　is　the　same　as　my　own。　　We　both　found　him　meandering　about　outside　there；　it's　obvious　this　business　has　gone　to　his　head；　at　any　rate。　If　the　murderer　were　a　man　of　business　like　yourself；　what　you　say　might　be　sound。　　But　this　murderer　is　a　mystic。　He　was　driven　by　some　fanatical　fad　about　the　trees。　It's　quite　likely　he　thought　there　was　something　solemn　and　sacrificial　about　the　ax；　and　would　have　liked　to　cut　off　Vane's　head　before　a　crowd；　like　Charles　I's。　He's　looking　for　the　ax　still；　and　probably　thinks　it　a　holy　relic。〃

〃For　which　reason；〃　said　Ashe；　smiling；　〃he　instantly　chucked　it　down　a　well。〃

Paynter　laughed。

〃You　have　me　there　certainly；〃　he　said。　　〃But　I　think　you　have　something　else　in　your　mind。　　You'll　say；　I　suppose；　that　we　were　all　watching　the　wood；　but　were　we？　　Frankly；　I　could　almost　fancy　the　peacock　trees　did　strike　me　with　a　sort　of　sickness　a　sleeping　sickness。〃

〃Well；〃　admitted　Ashe；　〃you　have　me　there　too。　　I'm　afraid　I　couldn't　swear　I　was　awake　all　the　time；　but　I　don't　put　it　down　to　magic　treesonly　to　a　private　hobby　of　going　to　bed　at　night。　But　look　here；　Mr。　Paynter；　there's　another　and　better　argument　against　any　outsider　from　the　village　or　countryside　having　committed　the　crime。　　Granted　he　might　have　slipped　past　us　somehow；　and　gone　for　the　Squire。　　But　why　should　he