This section returns to the actions leading up to and including the murder. Again, the weather is associated with the men's behavior. The "lifeless air," the "spent dust," and the "wan hemorrhage of the moon" emphasize the dry September, and all of these images are connected with death.
When Hawkshaw joins McLendon's group, they think that he has changed his mind and has come to join their revenge; however, Hawkshaw continues to try to convince them to stop their thirst for murder. He questions the believability of Miss Minnie's charge, pleading with the group to consider how "a lady will kind of think things about men when there aint any reason to . . ." Because his reasoning falls on deaf ears, he changes his strategy and argues that Will would have left town by now if he were guilty: He would know that he'd be punished. Hawkshaw's attempts at quelling the violence, however, are ineffectual against the men's frenzy and rage.
When the mob captures Will at his workplace, they are ready to kill him on the spot until McLendon stops them. After roughly handcuffing Will and throwing him in the car, they are so agitated that they need something on which to release their pent-up feelings. First McLendon, then the others, strike Will; in defense, Will "swept his manacled hands across their faces and slashed the barber upon the mouth." Hawkshaw strikes back instinctively, and suddenly he wants out of the car.
