, as I leant against the
damp walls of the prison.

The day at last broke, and the sun rose, and poured his beaming rays
through the barred windows. I looked at myself, and was shocked at my
appearance; my smock-frock was covered with black mud, my clothes were
equally disfigured. I had lost my hat when in the water, and I felt the
dry mud cracking on my cheeks. I put my hands up to my head, and I
pulled a quantity of duck-weed out of my matted and tangled hair. I
thought of the appearance I should make when summoned before the
magistrates, and how much it would go against me. "Good God!" thought
I, "who, of all the world of fashion--who, of all those who once caught
my salutation so eagerly--who, of all those worldly-minded girls, who
smiled upon me but one short twelve months since, would imagine, or
believe, that Japhet Newland could ever have sunk so low--and how has he
so fallen? Alas! because he would be honest, and had strength of mind
enough to adhere to his resolution. Well, well, God's will be done; I
care not for life; but still an ignominious death--to go out of the
world like a dog, and that too without finding out who is my father."
And I put my fettered hands up and pressed my burning brow, and remained
in a sort of apathetic sullen mood, until I was startled by the opening
of the door, and the appearance of the constables. They led me out
among the crowd, through which, with difficulty, they could force their
way; and followed by the majority of the population of Hounslow, who
made their complimentary remarks upon the _footpad_, I was brought
before the magistrates. The large stout man was then called up to give
his evidence, and deposed as follows:--

"That he was walking to Hounslow from Brentford, whither he had been to
purchase some clothes, when he was accosted by two fellows in
smock-frocks, one of whom carried a bundle in his left hand. They asked
him what o'clock it was; and he took out his watch to tell them, when he
received a blow from the one with the bundle, (this one, sir, said he,
pointing to me,) on the back of his head; at the same time the other
(the wounded man who was now in custody) snatched his watch. That at
the time he had purchased his clothes at Brentford, he had also bought a
bag of shot, fourteen pounds' weight, which he had, for the convenience
of carrying, tied up with the clothes in the bundle; and perceiving that
he was about to be robbed, he had swung his bund