r a conveyance and a safe shelter. Meanwhile, stay in the back
room till I return."

He opened the door, and Mr. Hippus slipped in like a frightened bat. But
as Veitel was about to shut the door upon him, the old creature pushed
between it and the wall, crying in high dudgeon, "I will not remain in
the dark like a rat; you must leave me a light. I will have a light, you
devil!"

"They will see from below that there is a light in the room, and that
will betray us."

"I will not sit in the dark!" screamed the old man once more.

Muttering a curse, Veitel took up the lamp and carried it into the inner
room. Then he closed the door and hurried into the street. Very
cautiously he approached the dwelling of Loebel Pinkus. There all was
still; and, looking into the bar, he discerned Pinkus sitting among his
guests in all the security of a good conscience. He crept up the steps
to his former abode, then took some rusty keys from a hidden corner,
carefully examined the sleeping-room, and saw with satisfaction that it
was both dark and empty. He hurried on to the gallery, where he remained
for a moment looking at the rolling cloud-masses and the dusky stream.
Every thing was favorable, but there was not an instant to be lost, for
a capricious breeze sometimes blew over the water, and the fog seemed to
be breaking up. In a short time the wind would clearly reveal the
stream, the outlines of the houses, and the lanterns, which now looked
like red specks at the corners of the streets.

Itzig hurried on next to the end of the gallery, and turned the key in a
door which concealed the way down the steps. The door creaked as it
opened. Itzig went down to the river and tried to ascertain its depth.
The platform which ran along the base of the houses, and which was
generally visible the whole year through, was covered; but a few strides
through the water would lead from these steps to those of the
neighboring house. Veitel stared down into the river, and put his foot
into it to see how deep one would have to wade before reaching those
steps. So occupied was he with the escape of the old man, that he did
not heed, did not even feel the cold. The water rose to his knee. He
looked round once more. All was darkness, mist, silence, like that of
the grave, but for the wail of the water and the rising wind.

Meanwhile Hippus tried to make himself comfortable. After having sent
all manner of curses after Veitel, he gave his troubled mind to