ley's in the pageant to-day; a plaguey ill-
favoured hound, who walked with his father," said the landlord, "with a
face sour enough to curdle all the milk in Dublin."

"That was Sir Ludar," said one of the strangers. "I had it from one of
the redshanks."

"Ludar?" said the soldier; "the very man. 'Tis his wench the Captain
hath run away with. She thinketh him gibbeted, and--"

Here the door was flung open suddenly, and in rushed another soldier.

"Have you heard the news?" he cried.

"News?" cried the others, turning round to look at him.

"Why, yes. Her Majesty hath been robbed of a jewel. The traitor's head
that grinned on the gate hath been stolen, I tell you, and there
sticketh a dog's head in its place. 'Tis true."

"Who has done it?"

"That's the point," said the messenger, who was plainly proud to have so
much news to tell. "That's the point. For we were all on guard, I tell
you. Not a soul passed us. 'Tis said 'twas some spirit." Here he
doffed his cap. "We stood below, I tell you, when there came a blast of
wind in our faces with a smell of brimstone in it. I smelt it. Then
something curled up past us, like a white shroud, and shrieked as it
went up. And, before we could look in one another's faces, a great howl
of devilish laughter broke over our heads, and drops of blood! Yes. I
felt them. Here's one on my sleeve--it burns like fire, I tell you.
That was all. We fetched lights and went aloft (who is to be afraid of
a spirit or two?) but we saw naught. Not a footstep in the snow, or a
sign of man or fiend either--except only a headless dog. Ay, you may
stare, but I saw it--it smoked brimstone, neighbours, and the snow all
around it was red-hot! And what was most horrible of all, when we cast
up our lights, I tell you, the Scot's head had changed to the head of a
dog, which grinned and leered at us, with eyes like coals and tongue all
ablaze, till we could scarce stay where we were. That's all. And ere I
go back to that gate, neighbours, may I turn Pope and Spaniard! Give me
a drink, host, for, by my soul, I know not which end of me is
uppermost."

By this time the company had left their benches and were scattered about
the room, gossiping over this last great news and questioning the fellow
more. Some came to the table where Ludar and I sat; and the soldier,
looking hard at me, exclaimed:

"Where saw I that gallows face before? Who be you, sirrah?"

"A printer," said I.