sed. Another charge was then brought against
them by the Captain, who accused them of kidnapping him when a boy, and
placing him in the hands of a Dutch skipper, named Van Galgebrok, with
instructions to throw him overboard, which was done, though he
afterwards escaped. But this accusation, for want of sufficient
evidence, met with the same fate as the first, and Jonathan came off
victorious. It was thought, however, if the skipper _could_ have been
found, that the result of the case would have been materially different.
This was rather too much to expect; for we all know, if Mr. Wild wishes
to keep a man out of the way, he'll speedily find the means to do so."

"Ay, ay," cried the jailers, laughing.

"_I_ could have given awkward evidence in that case, if I'd been so
inclined," said Mrs. Spurling, "ay and found Van Galgebrok too. But I
never betray an old customer."

"Mr. Wild is a great man," said the hangman, replenishing his pipe, "and
we owe him much, and ought to support him. Were any thing to happen to
him, Newgate wouldn't be what it is, nor Tyburn either."

"Mr. Wild has given you some employment, Mr. Marvel," remarked Shotbolt.

"A little, Sir," replied the executioner, with a grim smile.

"Out of the twelve hundred subjects I've tucked up, I may safely place
half to his account. If ever he requires my services, he shall find I'm
not ungrateful. And though I say it that shouldn't say it, no man can
tie a better knot. Mr. Wild, gentlemen, and the nubbin' cheat."

"Fill your glasses, gentlemen," observed Ireton, "and I'll tell you a
droll thing Jack said this morning. Amongst others who came to see him,
was a Mr. Kneebone, a woollen-draper in Wych Street, with whose pockets,
it appears, Jack, when a lad, made a little too free. As this gentleman
was going away, he said to Jack in a jesting manner, 'that he should be
glad to see him to-night at supper.' Upon which the other answered,
'that he accepted his invitation with pleasure, and would make a point
of waiting upon him,' Ha! ha! ha!"

"_Did_ he say so?" cried Shotbolt. "Then I advise you to look sharply
after him, Mr. Ireton; for may I be hanged myself if I don't believe
he'll be as good as his word."

At this juncture, two women, very smartly attired in silk hoods and
cloaks, appeared at the door of the Lodge.

"Ah! who have we here?" exclaimed Griffin.

"Only Jack's two wives--Edgeworth Bess and Poll Maggot," replied Austin,
laughing.

"They c