roperty, and the scoundrel has
adopted the most economical means of getting rid of me." I had not as
yet opened my eyes, being daunted at the idea of encountering the dreary
darkness of the grave. But my courage being somewhat augmented by the
foregoing events, I endeavoured to open them. This was impossible; and
on examination, I found that they were bandaged, my head being encircled
with a fillet. On endeavouring to loosen it, I lost my balance, and
tumbled down with a hideous noise. I did not merely fall upon the bottom
of the coffin, as might be expected; on the contrary, I seemed to roll
off it, and fell lower, as it were, into some vault underneath. In
endeavouring to arrest this strange descent, I caught hold of the
coffin, and pulled it on the top of me. Nor was this all; for, before I
could account for such a train of extraordinary accidents below ground,
and while yet stupified and bewildered, I heard a door open, and in an
instant after, human voices. "What, in heaven's name, can be the meaning
of this?" ejaculated I involuntarily. "Is it a dream?--am I asleep, or
am I awake? Am I dead or alive?" While meditating thus, and struggling
to extricate myself from the coffin, I heard some one say distinctly,
"Good God, he is come alive!" My brain was distracted by a whirlwind of
vain conjectures; but before it could arrange one idea, I felt myself
seized upon by both arms, and raised up with irresistible force. At the
same instant the fillet was drawn from my eyes. I opened them with
amazement: instead of the gloom of death, the glorious light of heaven
burst upon them! I was confounded; and, to add to my surprise, I saw
supporting me two men, with whose faces I was familiar. I gazed at the
one, then at the other, with looks of fixed astonishment. "What is
this?" said I; "where am I?"

"You must remain quiet," said the eldest, with a smile. "We must have
you put to bed, and afterwards dressed."

"What is this?" continued I: "am I not dead--was I not buried?"

"Hush, my dear friend--let me throw this great-coat over you."

"But I must speak," said I, my senses still wandering. "Where am I?--who
are you?"

"Do you not know me?"

"Yes," replied I, gazing at him intently--"my friend Doctor Wunderdudt.
Good God! how do you happen to be here? Did I not come alive in the
grave?"

"You may thank us that you did not," said he. "Look around, and say if
you know where you are."

I looked, as he directed, and found m