“Ay, it’s a dam’d funny world,” he went on in a lower tone, as if half speaking to himself.  “A fu’ purse an’ you’ve plenty o’ frien’s, an’ a woman when you need her, but if your purse is toom, your heart may grien a hell o’ a lang while afore yin wad ever come near you.”

Thus the evening passed till some were lying below the table, unable to sit up and take their round; and finally the closing hour arrived, and all had to disperse.

Black Jock, again left to himself, deserted by all his company, and in spite of all the drink he had consumed walking fairly steadily, stepped out upon the country road, neither caring nor knowing in which direction he went.  His head bent forward upon his breast, or rolling occasionally from side to side, seemed too heavy for his neck to support, as he swayed from the center of the road to its margin.

The horrible staring eyes began again to infest his journey, and seemed to accompany him wherever he went.  He could not get away from them.  Out in the lonely night, the whole sky merry with stars, was alive with staring eyes, that glared down upon him from above with a cold sinister light.  They looked at him from the hedgerows; they glared at him from behind every bush or knoll by the wayside; they glowered at him from behind the trees; and they even perched upon his shoulders and peeped at him in accusation.

“Damn you!” he growled, striking at them as if he would brush them from his sight; but still they followed and accused no matter where he turned.  He grew more and more irritated and alarmed, as they seemed to multiply with every minute that passed; and he quickened his pace, but in spite of his speed, they still pursued and multiplied.

Driven mad by the persistence of their stare, he rushed from side to side of the road, striking at them, hitting out with his hands, and kicking with his feet; but still they grew in numbers and in immensity.

He shook himself as if to free his body from them; he rushed ahead, swearing and muttering; he growled and shouted, sometimes pleading to be let alone, and sometimes roaring defiance to the night air; but still the eyes held him relentlessly, implacably, and ever growing in numbers, until it seemed as if the whole countryside were alive with them.  They came nearer and receded again; they swarmed round him in legions, then withdrew behind the hedges to stare at him with wide-open lids.  They drew him onward, and he advanced cautiously.  Then they rushed at him, and retired again, as if driven back; but still they were there, just round the bend of the road, just behind that bush, just over that hedge, and behind that tree, glaring and looking at him, and ready to rush forth again as soon as they thought he was sufficiently off his guard.

“Back!” he roared again, striking out with his fist as they rose only a couple of yards ahead.  “Back! an’ be damned to you,” as a whole swarm larger and larger, so that they lighted up the night, came rushing round him.