Everyone began to move. They had expected burns, wounds, something ugly, but they saw - nothing! The bandages and false hair flew across the passage into the bar. Everyone fell over everyone else down the steps. For the man who stood there shouting was a man up to the shoulders, and then — nothing! People down in the village heard shouts and saw the people rushing out of the inn. They saw Mrs Hall fall down, and Mr Henfrey jump, so as not to fall over her, and then they heard the frightful cries of Millie, who, running quickly from the kitchen at the noise, had come on the headless stranger from behind. Then her cries stopped suddenly. Everyone in the village street, old and young, about 40 or more of them, collected in a crowd around the inn door. 'What was he doing?' 'Ran at them with a knife.' 'I heard the girl.' 'No head, I tell you.' 'Nonsense.' 'Took off his bandages.' Everyone spoke at once. Suddenly Mr Hall appeared, very red and determined, then Mr Bobby Jaffers, the village policeman, and then the serious Mr Wadgers. Mr Hall marched up the steps, walked straight to the door of the parlour and found it open. 'Policeman,' he said,'do your duty.' Jaffers marched in, Hall next, Wadgers last. They saw the headless figure facing them, with a half-eaten piece of bread in one gloved hand and a piece of cheese in the other. 'That's him,' said Hall. 'What the devil's this?' came in an angry voice from above the collar of the strange figure. 'Well, Mister,' said Jaffers, 'I've got to arrest you, head or no head.