Finally, raising his arm, he flourished it and then made two or three stabs and lunges in the air, then walking on tiptoe he adyanced to Martin lying so still on the yellow grass in the midst of that black-robed company, the hot sun shining on his naked white body.
The others all immediately pressed forward, craning their necks and looking highly excited: they were expecting great things; but when the man with a knife had got quite close to Martin he was seized with fear and made two or three long jumps back to where the others were; and then, recovering from his alarm, he quietly put back the knife under his coat.
"We really thought you were going to begin," said one of the crowd.
"Oh no; no indeed; not just yet," said the other.
"It is very disappointing," remarked one.
The man with the knife turned on him and replied with dignity, "I am really surprised at such a remark after all I have said on the subject.

I do wish you would consider the circumstances of the case.
They are peculiar, for this person--this Martin--is not an ordinary person.

We have been keeping our eyes on him for some time past, and have witnessed some remarkable actions on his part, to put it mildly.
Let us keep in mind the boldness, the resource, the dangerous violence he has displayed on so many occasions since he took to his present vagabond way of life." "It appears to me," said one of the others, "that if Martin is dead we need not concern ourselves about his character and desperate deeds in the past." "_If_ he is dead!" exclaimed the other sharply.

"That is the very point,--_is_ he dead?
Can you confidently say that he is not in a sound sleep, or in a dead faint, or shamming and ready at the first touch of the knife to leap up and seize his assailant--I mean his carver--by the throat and perhaps murder him as he once murdered a spoonbill ?" "That would be very dreadful," said one.
"But surely," said another, "there are means of telling whether a person is dead or not?
One simple and effectual method, which I have heard, is to place a hand over the heart to feel if it still beats." "Yes, I know, I have also heard of that plan.

Very simple, as you say; but who is to try it?
I invite the person who makes the suggestion to put it in practice." "With pleasure," said the other, coming forward with a tripping gait and an air of not being in the least afraid.