The mill-men resolved to bestow public honors on Dominicus Pike , only hesitating whether to tar and feather him , ride him on a rail or refresh him with an ablution at the town-pump , on the top of which he had declared himself the bearer of the news . The selectmen , by advice of the lawyer , spoke of prosecuting him for a misdemeanor in circulating unfounded reports , to the great disturbance of the peace of the commonwealth . Nothing saved Dominicus either from mob-law or a court of justice but an eloquent appeal made by the young lady in his behalf . Addressing a few words of heartfelt gratitude to his benefactress , he mounted the green cart and rode out of town under a discharge of artillery from the schoolboys , who found plenty of ammunition in the neighboring clay-pits and mud-holes . As he turned his head to exchange a farewell glance with Mr. Higginbotham 's niece a ball of the consistence of hasty-pudding hit him slap in the mouth , giving him a most grim aspect . His whole person was so bespattered with the like filthy missiles that he had almost a mind to ride back and supplicate for the threatened ablution at the town-pump ; for , though not meant in kindness , it would now have been a deed of charity . However , the sun shone bright on poor Dominicus , and the mud -- an emblem of all stains of undeserved opprobrium -- was easily brushed off when dry . Being a funny rogue , his heart soon cheered up ; nor could he refrain from a hearty laugh at the uproar which his story had excited . The handbills of the selectmen would cause the commitment of all the vagabonds in the State , the paragraph in the Parker 's Falls Gazette would be reprinted from Maine to Florida , and perhaps form an item in the London newspapers , and many a miser would tremble for his moneybags and life on learning the catastrophe of Mr. Higginbotham . The pedler meditated with much fervor on the charms of the young schoolmistress , and swore that Daniel Webster never spoke nor looked so like an angel as Miss Higginbotham while defending him from the wrathful populace at Parker 's Falls . Dominicus was now on the Kimballton turnpike , having all along determined to visit that place , though business had drawn , him out of the most direct road from Morristown . As he approached the scene of the supposed murder he continued to revolve the circumstances in his mind , and was astonished at the aspect which the whole case assumed . Had nothing occurred to corroborate the story of the first traveller , it might now have been considered as a hoax ; but the yellow man was evidently acquainted either with the report or the fact , and there was a mystery in his dismayed and guilty look on being abruptly questioned . When to this singular combination of incidents it was added that the rumor tallied exactly with Mr. Higginbotham 's character and habits of life , and that he had an orchard and a St. Michael 's pear tree , near which he always passed at nightfall , the circumstantial evidence appeared so strong that Dominicus doubted whether the autograph produced by the lawyer , or even the niece 's direct testimony , ought to be equivalent . Making cautious inquiries along the road , the pedler further learned that Mr. Higginbotham had in his service an Irishman of doubtful character whom he had hired without a recommendation , on the score of economy . `` May I be hanged myself , '' exclaimed Dominicus Pike , aloud , on reaching the top of a lonely hill , `` if I 'll believe old Higginbotham is unhanged till I see him with my own eyes and hear it from his own mouth . And , as he 's a real shaver , I 'll have the minister , or some other responsible man , for an endorser . '' It was growing dusk when he reached the toll-house on Kimballton turnpike , about a quarter of a mile from the village of this name . His little mare was fast bringing him up with a man on horseback who trotted through the gate a few rods in advance of him , nodded to the toll-gatherer and kept on towards the village . Dominicus was acquainted with the toll-man , and while making change the usual remarks on the weather passed between them .
`` I suppose , '' said the pedler , throwing back his whiplash XXXXX bring it down like a feather on the mare 's flank , `` you have not seen anything of old Mr. Higginbotham within a day or two ? ''
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