The uproar grows. Shouts of
'Ay, there be is! We have him! We have him! Help--help! Hold
fast! Ah! Piper! Piper! Piper!'
How now? What all!--
[The crowd parts to admit the PIPER, haled hither with shouts and
pelting, by MARTIN the Watch and other men, all breathless. His
eyes burn.
MICHAEL
[apart]
Save us!--They have him.
MARTIN
[gaspingly]
Help!
Mark ye--I caught him!--Help,--and hold him fast!
PIPER
I came here,--frog!
MARTIN
Ay, he were coming on;
And after him a squirrel, hopping close!
SECOND MAN
As no man ever saw a squirrel hop--
Near any man from Hamelin! And I looked--
MARTIN
And it was he; and all we rush upon him--
And take him!
PIPER
Loose thy claws, I tell thee I--
ALL
( 'Ware!
( Mercy!
( Let him go!
VOICE FROM CROWD
I have the squirrel!
PIPER
[savagely]
Let the squirrel go!
Or you shall rue it.--Loose him! He's not mine.
[He sees BARBARA and MICHAEL for the first time and recoils with
amazement. BARBARA steps towards him.
BARBARA
Oh, let him go,--let be. His heart is clear,
As water from the well!
[The PIPER gazes at her, open-mouthed.]
ALL
( She talks in her sleep!
( The maid's bewitched!
( Now, will ye hear?
AXEL'S WIFE
He piped and made thee dance!
PETER the Cobbler
'T was he bewitched us!
BARBARA
[serenely]
Whatever was,--it was for love of me.
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