rves
were offended with a dreadful stench, which surprised him the more as
the casement was open. Vanslyperken surveyed the room: he perceived
that the blood had been washed from the floor, and sand strewed over it.
Had he not known that Smallbones had been on board of the cutter the
day before, he would have thought that it had been the smell of the dead
body not yet removed. This thought crossing his imagination,
immediately made the truth flash upon him, and, as if instinctively, he
went up to the bed and pulled down the clothes, when he recoiled back
with horror at uncovering the face of his mother, now of a livid blue,
and in the last stage of putrefaction.

Overcome with the horrid sight, and the dreadful stench which
accompanied it, he reeled to the casement and gasped for breath. A
sickness came over him, and for some time he was incapable of acting,
and barely capable of reflection.

"She is gone, then," thought he at last, and he shuddered when he asked
himself _where_. "She must have fallen by the hands of the lad,"
continued he, and immediately the whole that had happened appeared to be
revealed to him. "Yes, yes, he has recovered from the blow--killed her
and locked the door--all is clear now, but I have revenged her death."

Vanslyperken, who had now recovered himself, went softly to the door,
took out the key, and locked himself in. He had been debating in his
mind whether he should call in the neighbours: but, on reflection, as no
one had seen him enter, he determined that he would not. He would take
his gold, and leave the door locked, and the key under it, as he found
it, before her death was discovered: it would be supposed that she died
a natural death, for the state of the body would render it impossible to
prove the contrary. But there was one act necessary to be performed, at
which Vanslyperken's heart recoiled. The key of the oak chest was about
his mother's person, and he must obtain it; he must search for it in
corruption and death, amongst creeping worms and noisome stench. It was
half an hour before he could make up his mind to the task: but what will
avarice not accomplish!

He covered up the face, and with a trembling hand turned over the
bedclothes. But we must not disgust our readers; it will suffice to
say, that the key was obtained, and the chest opened.

Vanslyperken found all his own gold, and much more than he had ever
expected, belonging to his mother. There were ot