rate.

"It was you did it, mother; recollect it was not I," cried he.

"I did it--and you paid for it--and all the gold is mine."

"But are you quite sure that he is dead?"

"Sure--yes, and in judgment now, if there is any."

Vanslyperken surveyed the body of Smallbones, who, although he had heard
every word, lay without motion, for he knew his life depended on it.
After a minute or two the lieutenant was satisfied.

"I must go on board now, mother; but what will you do with the body?"

"Leave that to me; who ever comes in here? Leave that to me, craven,
and, as you say, go on board."

Vanslyperken opened the door, and went out of the room; the old hag made
the door fast, and then sat down on the chair, which she replaced by the
side of the fire, with her back to Smallbones.

The lad felt very faint from loss of blood, and was sick at the stomach,
but his senses were in their full vigour. He now was assured that
Vanslyperken was gone, and that he had only the old woman opposed to
him. His courage was unsubdued, and he resolved to act in self-defence
if required; and he softly drew the bayonet out of his breast, and then
watched the murderous old hag, who was rocking herself in the chair.

"Yes, yes, the gold is mine," muttered she--"I've won it, and I'll count
it. I won it dearly;--another murder--well, 'tis but one more. Let me
see, what shall I do with the body? I must burn it, by bits and bits--
and I'll count the gold--it's all mine, for he's dead."

Here the old woman turned round to look at the body, and her keen eyes
immediately perceived that there was a slight change of position.

"Heh!" cried she, "not quite dead yet? we must have the hammer again,"
and she rose from her chair, and walked with an unsteady pace to pick up
the hammer, which was at the other side of the fire-place. Smallbones,
who felt that now was his time, immediately rose, but before he could
recover his feet, she had turned round to him: with a sort of low yell,
she darted at him with an agility not to be imagined in one of her years
and decrepit appearance, and struck at him. Smallbones raised his left
arm, and received the blow, and with his right plunged the bayonet deep
into the wrinkled throat of the old woman. She grappled with him, and
the struggle was dreadful; she caught his throat in one of her bony
hands, and the nails pierced into it like the talons of a bird of prey--
the fingers of the other she inserted int