h half open, and his dull eye fixed with a heavy leaden stare at
the ceiling. His race was nearly run. He seemed utterly unconscious of the
presence of any one, until the door opened, and Harson, who had gone out,
came in.

He went to the bed, and leaned over the burglar. As he did so, his shadow
falling across the man's face, attracted his attention, and he turned his
heavy eye, and asked, in a husky voice:

'Will I go? What does he say?'

Harson shook his head. 'It's almost over with you, my poor fellow; God
help you!'

The man turned his head away and looked at the wall.

'Do you understand me?' said Harson, anxiously bending over him.

'Yes, yes,' replied the man in the same mumbling tone; 'yes, I'm come for;
my time's up. I was a strong man yesterday; and now! now----! It's very
strange! very strange!' He muttered a few inarticulate words, and then
resumed his old position, looking at the wall, with no sound escaping him
except the low panting of his breath. Suddenly he said, in a louder tone:

'It's all very strange _here_.' He pointed to his head. 'Were you ever at
sea? Yes; well, well--did you ever see a ship toss and swing to and
fro--to and fro--to and fro, and yet keep straight on? Well, my brain
reels and swims in that way. There are dim strange things; men, beasts,
birds, and ghosts hovering about it; but I see straight on, and they are
on all sides of the path; yes, I see it straight, straight, straight and
plain. I'm going on it. They can't make me swerve; but it's awful to have
such company about me on such a journey. Come close to me!'

Harson drew his chair close to the bed and sat down. 'I've sent for a
clergyman,' said he, in a low tone; 'He'll be here presently. You must
endeavor to chase away these thoughts; they are only dreams.'

Craig's thin lips contracted into a smile which was horrible, as without
moving his eyes from their fixed position, he whispered: 'No, no; he won't
do it--he'll not do it. No; I won't blow on you, Bill. Ha! how hot that
bullet was! Lift me up! _He's_ there! Yes, lift me up, so that I may be
above him; up! up! Ha! ha! that'll do. Bill, do you recollect the old
school-master? There! Up! up!'

Harson put his arm under him, and raised him. As he did so, Craig's head
fell against his shoulder, dabbling it with blood. The next instant he
stretched himself out at full length, gave a shudder; a long rattling
breath followed; and he fell back on the pillow--dead.