A lighted candle shed its rays around the rude dwelling-room: and the first thing he saw was a young man, who did not look in the least like Pike, stretched upon a mattress; the second was a bushy black wig and appurtenances lying on a chair; and the third was a formidable-looking pistol, conveniently close to the prostrate invalid.
Quick as thought, the surgeon laid his hand upon the pistol and removed it to a safe distance.

He then bent over the sick man, examining him with his penetrating eyes; and what he saw struck him with consternation so great, that he sat down on a chair to recover himself, albeit not liable to be overcome by emotion.
When he left the shed--which was not for nearly half-an-hour after he had entered it--he heard voices at Clerk Gum's front-door.

The storm was over, and their visitor was departing.

Mr.Hillary took a moment's counsel with himself, then crossed the stile and appeared amongst them.
Nodding to the three collectively, he gravely addressed the clerk and his wife.
"I have come here to ask, in the name of our common humanity, whether you will put aside your prejudices, and be Christians in a case of need," he began.

"I don't forget that once, when an epidemic was raging in Calne, you"-- turning to the wife--"were active and fearless, going about and nursing the sick when almost all others held aloof.