company in sitting up with him. Have as much strong beer as you
like, and be sure to bring him and the constable here by nine o'clock
to-morrow morning."

"Oh, grandfather, you'll be sorry for this! I did not think you had been
so hard-hearted!" sobbed Phoebe. "You'll be very sorry for this."

"Yes, very sorry, that he will. God bless you, Miss Phoebe," said Jesse.

"What! does he threaten? Take him off, Daniel. And you, Phoebe, go to
bed and compose yourself. Heaven bless you, my darling!" said the fond
grandfather, smoothing her hair, as, the tears still chasing each other
down her cheeks, she stood leaning against his knee. "Go to bed and to
sleep, my precious! and you, Sally, bring me my pipe:" and wondering
why the fulfilment of a strong desire should not make him happier, the
honest farmer endeavoured to smoke away his cares.

In the meanwhile, old Daniel conducted Jesse to the Chequers, and having
lodged him safely in an upper room, sought out "an ancient, trusty,
drouthy crony," with whom he sate down to carouse in the same apartment
with his prisoner. It was a dark, cold, windy, October night, and the
two warders sate cosily by the fire, enjoying their gossip and their
ale, while the unlucky delinquent placed himself pensively by the
window. About midnight the two old men were startled by his flinging
open the casement.

"Miss Phoebe! look! look!"

"What? where?" inquired Daniel.

"Miss Phoebe!" repeated the prisoner; and, looking in the direction to
which Jesse pointed, they saw the flames bursting from Farmer Cob-ham's
house.

In a very few seconds they had alarmed the family, and sprung forth in
the direction of the fire; the prisoner accompanying them, unnoticed in
the confusion.

"Luckily, master's always insured to the value of all he's worth, stock
and goods," quoth the prudent Daniel.

"Miss Phoebe!" exclaimed Jesse: and even as he spoke he burst in the
door, darted up the staircase, and returned with the trembling child in
his arms, followed by aunt Dorothy and the frightened servants.

"Grandpapa! dear grandpapa! where is grandpapa? Will no one save my dear
grand-papa?" cried Phoebe.

And placing the little girl at the side of her aunt, Jesse again mounted
the blazing staircase. For a few moments all gave him up for lost But he
returned, tottering under the weight of a man scarcely yet aroused from
heavy sleep, and half suffocated by the smoke and flames.

"Miss Phoebe! he's safe, Miss