He was labouring along, when he became aware of some other
pedestrians behind him. As they were coming up at a faster pace
than his, he stood aside, against one of the high banks, to let
them pass. But their manner was very curious. Only four of them
passed. Other four slackened speed, and loitered as intending to
follow him when he should go on. The remainder of the party (half-
a-dozen perhaps) turned, and went back at a great rate.
He looked at the four behind him, and he looked at the four before
him. They all returned his look. He resumed his way. The four in
advance went on, constantly looking back; the four in the rear came
closing up.
When they all ranged out from the narrow track upon the open slope
of the heath, and this order was maintained, let him diverge as he
would to either side, there was no longer room to doubt that he was
beset by these fellows. He stopped, as a last test; and they all
stopped.
'Why do you attend upon me in this way?' he asked the whole body.
'Are you a pack of thieves?'
'Don't answer him,' said one of the number; he did not see which.
'Better be quiet.'
'Better be quiet?' repeated Neville. 'Who said so?'
Nobody replied.
'It's good advice, whichever of you skulkers gave it,' he went on
angrily. 'I will not submit to be penned in between four men
there, and four men there. I wish to pass, and I mean to pass,
those four in front.'
They were all standing still; himself included.
'If eight men, or four men, or two men, set upon one,' he
proceeded, growing more enraged, 'the one has no chance but to set
his mark upon some of them.
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