that moved to cast a shadow upon the floor. All was still
and motionless, save the two victors, who were much distressed and
bruised.

"Well!" said Jack Pringle, with a hearty execration, as he wiped his
face with the back of his hand; "saving your presence, doctor, we are
masters of the field, doctor; but it's plaguey like capturing an empty
bandbox after a hard fight."

"But we have got the picture, Jack--we have got the picture, you see,
and that is something. I am sure we saved that."

"Well, that may be; and a pretty d----d looking picture it is after all.
Why, it's enough to frighten a lady into the sulks. I think it would be
a very good thing if it were burned."

"Well," said the doctor, "I would sooner see it burned than in the hands
of that--"

"What?" exclaimed Jack.

"I don't know," said Mr. Chillingworth; "but thief I should say, for it
was somewhat thief-like to break into another man's house and carry off
the furniture."

"A pirate--a regular land shark."

"Something that is not the same as an honest man, Jack; but, at all
events, we have beaten him back this time."

"Yes," said Jack, "the ship's cleared; no company is better than bad
company, doctor."

"So it is, and yet it don't seem clear in terms. But, Jack, it you
hadn't come in time, I should have been but scurvily treated. He was too
powerful for me; I was as nigh being killed as ever I have been; but you
were just in time to save me."

"Well, he was a large, ugly fellow, sure enough, and looked like an old
tree."

"Did you see him?"

"Yes, to be sure I did."

"Well, I could not catch a glimpse of his features. In fact, I was too
much employed to see anything, and it was much too dark to notice
anything particular, even if I had had leisure."

"Why, you had as much to do as you could well manage, I must say that,
at all events. I didn't see much of him myself; only he was a tall,
out-of-the-way sort of chap--a long-legged shark. He gave me such a dig
or two as I haven't had for a long while, nor don't want to get again;
though I don't care if I face the devil himself. A man can't do more
than do his best, doctor."

"No, Jack; but there are very few who do do their best, and that's the
truth. You have, and have done it to some purpose too. But I have had
enough for one day; he was almost strong enough to contend against us
both."

"Yes, so he was."

"And, besides that, he almost carried away the picture--that was a great
hi