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you see, Sirs, as soon as I heard the gun go off, and some one a-calling out "Murder!" I guessed as how some mischief was a-doing; so I runs into the garden in no time, and just before me, on the grass, near a thicket, on this hand of me——No, no; on the other hand of me,—a yard off, belike, (for I'll tell your honours exact how it was,) I sees a black thing lying on the ground, at my feet.

JUSTICE.

And near the house? about a yard from it, you say?

LABOURER.

About a yard from the right or the left of me, I an't quite sure which; but, as I said, I took it for some black thing; but when I came close to it, I found it was a hat.

JUSTICE.

Well, well; give us no more of thy story at present, but let us look at the hat. Is there a name in it?

LABOURER.

No, your honour; and so I thought no harm to take it home to my poor boy. (Shows the hat.)

BRUTON (starting as he looks on it).

Good God!