Unnamed Men at Varner's Store

"Five men in overalls squatted against the wall of Varner's store" (156) - this is how the narrative describes the group whose conversation about Houston's disappearance makes Cotton increasingly uncomfortable. Their discussion suggests all five live nearby. Their "overalls" and "squatting" posture suggest they are all farmers. But the narrative gives no other details to identify them as a group, and distinguishes them from each other only as "the first," "a second," "a third" and "a fourth" (156-57). Cotton's grudge against Houston is common knowledge among them. Apparently the fifth does not speak, while the comments of the other four seem interchangeable.