es, and run," said I--and Pigtop together.

"I can't," said he, shuddering; "the chasm is awfully deep."

"You must, or die the death of the felon."

"Oh, what shall I do!"

"Cast off the lashing just above you," said Pigtop; "pass it over the
crosspiece over your head, make a running noose, put it under your arms,
and keep the other end of the rope in your hand. You may either cling
to the pole with your legs as you like, or not--for then you can lower
yourself down at your ease, as comfortably as if you were taking a nap."

"Come away, Pigtop--shut the window, close the shutters--the constables
are upon us!" I exclaimed. This was done immediately, and thus was the
immaculate Joshua shut out from all view. As the attacks on the door of
the apartment became more energetic, and we concluded that Joshua was
now safe, we were going to give the authorities entrance, when we heard
a dreadful crash on the outside of the window.

"The lubber's gone by the run, by God!" said Pigtop; "he'll escape
hanging, after all!"

"Let us hope in mercy not," said Sir Reginald, shuddering. "I trust it
is not so. I hear no scream, no shriek. I am sure, by the sound, that
it was the toppling down of the boards; he has most likely displaced
some of them in his descent."

"Shall we admit, Sir Reginald, the people who are thundering at the
door?"

"Not yet: let there be no appearance of disorder--remove these"--
pointing to the small altar and crucifix--"and would it not be as well,
my friend, to divest yourself of those holy vestments? they are
irritating to heretical eyes. Assist me, sir, to my chair."

I placed him respectfully nearly in the position in which I first
discovered him. All vestiges of the Catholic religion were carefully
removed, and the door, at last, thrown open. The crowd entered.

Hurried explanations ensued; but we could not conceal from the
magistrate that a robbery had been planned and nearly effected, and that
the real culprits, for whom, at first, Pigtop and I had been mistaken,
had escaped.

At length, the master of the inn suggested that perhaps they had passed
out of the window, and might be still upon the boarding or the
scaffolding. The shutters were hastily thrown open--and, sight of
horrors! Joshua Daunton was discovered hanging by the neck--dead! Sir
Reginald gazed for some moments in speechless terror on the horrible
spectacle, and then fell back in a death-like swoon.

The body was