{"id":"01KG8AKJYX6DTYPGYFYEQ1YEVE","cid":"bafkreifjeqrwohjc5sof4pevv25zq4osaj32kws4ifxozwuisfqvwyil4i","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":3427,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:05.590Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 1","source_file":"01KG89J1DKC9HHJRKY25JZBEXW","start_line":3373,"text":"Without more ado, slipping off the Squire’s raiment, he donned the\r\nscarecrow’s, after carefully shaking out the hay, which, from many\r\nalternate soakings and bakings in rain and sun, had become quite broken\r\nup, and would have been almost dust, were it not for the mildew which\r\ndamped it. But sufficient of this wretched old hay remained adhesive to\r\nthe inside of the breeches and coat-sleeves, to produce the most\r\nirritating torment.\r\n\r\nThe grand moral question now came up, what to do with the purse. Would\r\nit be dishonest under the circumstances to appropriate that purse?\r\nConsidering the whole matter, and not forgetting that he had not\r\nreceived from the gentleman deceased the promised reward for his\r\nservices as courier, Israel concluded that he might justly use the\r\nmoney for his own. To which opinion surely no charitable judge will\r\ndemur. Besides, what should he do with the purse, if not use it for his\r\nown? It would have been insane to have returned it to the relations.\r\nSuch mysterious honesty would have but resulted in his arrest as a\r\nrebel, or rascal. As for the Squire’s clothes, handkerchief, and\r\nspectacle-case, they must be put out of sight with all dispatch. So,\r\ngoing to a morass not remote, Israel sunk them deep down, and heaped\r\ntufts of the rank sod upon them. Then returning to the field of corn,\r\nsat down under the lee of a rock, about a hundred yards from where the\r\nscarecrow had stood, thinking which way he now had best direct his\r\nsteps. But his late ramble coming after so long a deprivation of rest,\r\nsoon produced effects not so easy to be shaken off, as when reposing\r\nupon the haycock. He felt less anxious too, since changing his apparel.\r\nSo before he was aware, he fell into deep sleep.\r\n\r\nWhen he awoke, the sun was well up in the sky. Looking around he saw a\r\nfarm-laborer with a pitchfork coming at a distance into view, whose\r\nsteps seemed bent in a direction not far from the spot where he lay.\r\nImmediately it struck our adventurer that this man must be familiar\r\nwith the scarecrow; perhaps had himself fashioned it. Should he miss it\r\nthen, he might make immediate search, and so discover the thief so\r\nimprudently loitering upon the very field of his operations.\r\n\r\nWaiting until the man momentarily disappeared in a little hollow,\r\nIsrael ran briskly to the identical spot where the scarecrow had stood,\r\nwhere, standing stiffly erect, pulling the hat well over his face, and\r\nthrusting out his arm, pointed steadfastly towards the Squire’s abode,\r\nhe awaited the event. Soon the man reappeared in sight, and marching\r\nright on, paused not far from Israel, and gave him an one earnest look,\r\nas if it were his daily wont to satisfy that all was right with the\r\nscarecrow. No sooner was the man departed to a reasonable distance,\r\nthan, quitting his post, Israel struck across the fields towards\r\nLondon. But he had not yet quite quitted the field when it occurred to\r\nhim to turn round and see if the man was completely out of sight, when,\r\nto his consternation, he saw the man returning towards him, evidently\r\nby his pace and gesture in unmixed amazement. The man must have turned\r\nround to look before Israel had done so. Frozen to the ground, Israel\r\nknew not what to do; but next moment it struck him that this very\r\nmotionlessness was the least hazardous plan in such a strait. Thrusting\r\nout his arm again towards the house, once more he stood stock still,\r\nand again awaited the event.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 1"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AK5N1RMM3XRMGGBS02KR4","peer_type":"subsection","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1DKC9HHJRKY25JZBEXW","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AKJYVMYG2B8WZCR34WQD1","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:09.181Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:15.702Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}