146 OVER ON THE ISLAND

Her plan almost succeeds.

Abell suddenly calls on Pearce and asks him to pay last year’s rent of five pounds sterling. The tenant gives him a portion of this rent in three-shilling and four-penny pieces. These Abell refuses to accept, and tells him that if all the money is not immediately paid he will distrain and take the horse.

Pearce, apparently, is quite obliging, and he certainly must have had obliging neighbours. He goes among them and changes the money into Spanish coin, except some small change amounting to about two shillings and six pence. Meanwhile, Abell goes to Pearce’s house with the bailiff, who is a servant of his, distrains, and takes the horse, which is tethered in a field.

Pearce returns and hands over the money. Abell now exacts six shillings more as quit-rent. So Pearce returns to take up a further collection among his neighbours. He comes back with two three—shilling and a four—penny piece and tenders them. Abell, however, refuses them and retains the horse.

Pearce’s patience is now at an end. Abell has sent his bailiff to a neighbour’s for a witness to his proceed— ings, and he himself is seated on some timber near the house. Pearce goes into the house, takes down an old musket with a bayonet attached, takes off his coat and prepares for business. Twice he stabs Abell. Then the bailiff wrests the gun from him, while the wounded man crawls to the next house.

Abell dies.

Pearce absconds. The local government offers a reward of twenty pounds for his capture, but he is never taken. The