impatience. Then he got a pitchfork, on the prongs of which he
collected the garments, one by one, and so handed them up to Mr.
Pawkins, who was still minus necktie, socks and boots. Before, however,
he was ready for these, the visitors had retired, leaving him to
complete his toilet in private. Hearing steps again, he hurriedly picked
up his wet clothes and re-ascended the ladder. The colonel had evidently
asked Sylvanus to take the place of Maguffin about the two horses, for
he was the newcomer. Now, Mr. Pawkins bore no malice, but, when jokes
were going, he did not like to be left the chief victim. He had had some
fun out of the boys; now he would have some more. The Yankee could mew
to perfection. He began, and Sylvanus called the strange cat. It would
not come, so he climbed the ladder after it, and had almost reached the
top, when, with vicious cries, the animal flew at him, seized him by the
back of the neck, and drew blood that he could feel trickling down his
back. Tugging ineffectually at the beast, he ran out to the kitchen,
calling upon everybody to take off that mad cat that was killing him.
The cat was taken off, amid shrieks of laughter, and proved to be Mr.
Pawkins' rolled up wet trousers and vest, the water from which was the
blood imagined by Sylvanus. The owner of the garments entered
immediately behind his victim, and from his banter the elder Pilgrim
gladly escaped to resume his stable duties, feeling that he had been
demeaned in the eyes of the laughing Tryphena.

Timotheus and Ben were busy cleaning out the coach house, putting tables
and seats into it, and generally preparing for the inquest. Mr. Bangs,
at the coroner's request, empanelled the jury, consisting of the Squire,
the captain, and the two clergymen, the three Richards, the three cited
jurors, with old Styles from the post office, and Ben Toner. The charred
masses of humanity, pervaded by a sickening smell of spirits, were taken
from the waggon, and placed in rough board shells, decently covered over
with white cloths. The woman called Flower was brought from the post
office, and kept in custody, till she gave her evidence; and Bangs
himself, with Messrs. Terry, Coristine, and Bigglethorpe, Sylvanus,
Rufus, and Timotheus were cited as witnesses. Some evidence was also
expected from Matilda and her son. When the coach house doors were
thrown open, all hilarity ceased--even the children seemed to realize
that something very solemn was goi