tunity of discovering
what sort of a place it was, though it looked wretched
enough. The grog was brought--"Here's all round the grave-
stone, (said one)--come, drink away, my hearty--don't be
alarm'd, we are rum fellows, and we'll put you up to a rig
or two--we are got a rum covey in the corner there, and you
must lend us a hand to get rid of him:" then, holding up the
light, what was the surprise of the poor Comedian to espy a
dead body of a man--"You can help us to get him away, and
by G----you shall, too, it's of no use to flinch now."

A circumstance of this kind was new to him, so that his
perplexity was only increased by the discovery; but he
plainly perceived by the last declaration, that having
engaged in the business, it would be of no use to leave it
half done: he therefore remained silent upon the subject,
drank his grog, when Jack came up stairs to say the cart was
ready.

"Lend a hand, (said one of them) let us get our load down
stairs--come, my Master, turn to with a good heart, all's
right."

With this the body was conveyed down stairs.

At the back of the house was a small yard separated from a
neighbouring street by a wall--a signal was given by some
one on the other side which was understood by those within--
it was approaching nine o'clock, and a dark night--"Come,
(said one of them,) mount you to the top of the wall, and
ding the covey over to the carcass-carter." This being
complied with, the dead body was handed up to him, which was
no sooner done than the Carman outside, perceiving the
Watchman approach--"It von't do," said he, and giving a
whistle, drove his cart with an assumed air of carelessness
away; while the poor Comedian, who had a new character to
support, in which he did not conceive himself well up,{1}
was holding the dead man on his lap with the legs projecting
over the wall; it was a situation of the utmost delicacy and
there was no time to recast the part, he was therefore,
obliged to blunder through it as well as he could; the
perspiration of the living man fell plentifully on the
features of the dead as the Charley approached in a position
to pass directly under him. Those inside had sought the
shelter of the house, telling him to remain quiet till the
old Scout was gone