ery few
of them, were all that were left to me. Poor girl! how tenderly she
tried to divert my sorrow! She, most probably, ascribed it to the
prospect of our speedy separation; and with delicacy and tact, she
tried to trace out some faint outlines of what painters call "extreme
distance,"--a sort of future where all the skies would be rose-colored
and all the mountains blue. I am sure, if a choice had been given me
at that instant, I would rather have been a courageous man than the
greatest genius in the universe. I knew better what was before. At last
it came to ten o'clock, and I arose to say good-bye. I found it very
hard not to fall upon her neck and say, "Don't be angry with poor Potts;
this is his last as it is his first embrace."

"Wear that ring for me and for my sake," said she, giving me one from
her finger; "don't refuse me,--it has no value save what you may attach
to it from having been mine."

Oh dear! what a gulp it cost me not to say, "I 'll never take it off
while I live," and then add, "which will be about eight hours and a half
more."

When I got into the open air, I ran as if a pack of wolves were in
pursuit of me. I cannot say why; but the rapid motion served to warm
my blood, so that when I reached the hotel, I felt more assured and more
resolute.

Rogers was asleep, and so soundly that I had to pull the pillow from
beneath his head before I could awaken him; and when I had accomplished
the feat, either the remote effect of his brandy-and-water or his
drowsiness had so obscured his faculties, that all he could mumble
out was, "Hit him where he can't be spliced,--hit him where they
can't splice him!" I tried for a long time to recall him to sense
and intelligence, but I got nothing from him save the one inestimable
precept; and so I went to my room, and, throwing myself on my bed in
my cloak, prepared for a night of gloomy retrospect and gloomier
anticipation; but, odd enough, I was asleep the moment I lay down.

"Get up, old fellow," cried Rogers, shaking me violently, just as the
dawn was breaking; "we 're lucky if we can get aboard before they catch
us."

"What do you mean?" said I. "What's happened?"

"The Governor has got wind of our shindy, and put all the red-coats in
arrest, and ordered the police to nab us too."

"Bless him! bless him!" muttered I.

"Ay, so say I. He be blessed!" cried he, catching up my words. "But let
us make off through the garden; my gig is down in the offin