Murders > Tales for the farmers' ingle-neuk

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of the footstep, to convince the people that there
was something so remarkably peculiar in its
shape* there could be little doubt of finding out
the person to whom it belonged by the means
proposed. Every one now seemed eager to have
his shoes examined, arid hastened to set himself
on the grass. Two shoemakers were employed
to take the measurement, and Mr Johnson
accompanied them with the drawing in his hand.
Stewart had placed1 Himself in the-middle of
the crowd, and I saw him make one or two
unsuccessful attempts to shift his seat, so as to-
escape examination. When at last’ his1 turn'
catne, his colour suddenly changed 'to a deadly
pale, and with a horrid groan he -fell senseless
on the ground. H ; was restored by the appli¬
cation of some water which was quickly procured,
and, looking wildly round him, he exclaimed,
* ^ ou cannot say that I did it! It was dark—
who satv me ? ‘ God- xMmighty saw you, un¬
happy young man !’ said Mr Johnson in a1 tone
which thrilled through my heart ; for he hadJ
now taken the dimensions of Stewwrt’s shoe,
and found it corresponded in every particular to
the copy he had drawn. The murderer, for I
had now no doubt that this was he, having re¬
covered his strength, started up on his feet, and
drawing a sharp pointed knife from his pocket,
threatened to stab to the heart the man that laid*
hands on him. He then made a- desperate
spring, and before any person had sufficient pre¬
sence of mind to prevent him, reached the churelw
yard wall, which he cleared without difficulty,