What's the matter?"
"I warn you that anything you say will be used aganst you," he said. "You're under arrest."
" I killa heem," Julio said.
He struggled.
Two men held him.
The little girl howled steadily, holding the bread. "You steala my seester," Julio said.
"Let go, meesters."
" Steal his sister?" I said. "Why, I've been--"
"Shet up," Anse said. "You can tell that to Squire."
" Steal his sister?" I said.
Julio broke from the men and sprang at me again, but the marshal met him and they struggled until the other two pinioned his arms again.
Anse released him, panting.
"You durn furriner," he said. "I've a good mind to take you up too, for assault and battery." He turned to me again. "Will you come peaceable, or do I handcuff you?"
"I'll come peaceable," I said. "Anything, just so I can find someone--do something with-- Stole his sister," I said. "Stole his--"
" I've warned you," Anse said. "He aims to charge you with meditated criminal assault.
Here, you, make that gal shut up that noise."
"Oh," I said.
Then I began to laugh.
Two more boys with plastered heads and round eyes came out of the bushes, buttoning shirts that had already dampened onto their shoulders and arms, and I tried to stop the laughter, but I couldn't.
"Watch him, Anse, he's crazy, I believe."
"I'll h-have to qu-quit," I said. "It'll stop in a mu-minute.
The other time it said ah ah ah," I said, laughing.
"Let me sit down a while." I sat down, they watching me, and the little girl with her streaked face and the gnawed looking loaf, and the water swif and peaceful below the path.
After a while the laughter ran out.
But my throat wouldn't quit trying to laugh, like retching after your stomach is empty.
"Whoa, now," Anse said. "Get a grip on yourself."
"Yes," I said, tightening my throat.
There was another yellow butterfly, like one of the sunflecks had come loose.
After a while I didn't have to hold my throat so tight.
I got up. "I'm ready.
Which way?"
We followed the path, the two others watching Julio and the little girl and the boys somewhere in the rear.
The path went along the river to the bridge.
We crossed it and the tracks, people coming to the doors to look at us and more boys materialising from somewhere until when we turned into the main street we had quite a procession.
Before the drug store stood an auto, a big one, but I didn't recognise them until Mrs Bland said,
" Why, Quentin!
Quentin Compson!"
Then I saw Gerald, and Spoade in the back seat, sitting on the back of his neck.
And Shreve.
I didn't know the two girls.
"Quentin Compson!" Mrs Bland said.
" Good afternoon," I said, raising my hat. "I'm under arrest.
I'm sorry I didn't get your note.
Did Shreve tell you?"
"Under arrest?" Shreve said.
"Excuse me," he said. He heaved himself up and climbed over their feet and got out.
He had on a pair of my flannel pants, like a glove.
I didn't remember forgetting them.
I didn't remember how many chins Mrs Bland had, either.
The prettiest girl was with Gerald in front, too.