or five minutes, and
I'll finish it."

Thus urged, the damsels began to raise their voices in loud lamentation.

"What the devil are you howling about?" cried Langley. "Do you think we
are to be disturbed in this way? Make less noise, hussies, or I'll turn
you out of the Lodge."

"For shame, Mr. Langley," rejoined Mrs. Spurling: "I blush for you, Sir!
To call yourself a man, and interfere with the natural course of
affection! Have you no feeling for the situation of those poor
disconsolate creatures, about to be bereaved of all they hold dear? Is
it nothing to part with a husband to the gallows? I've lost four in the
same way, and know what it is." Here she began to blubber loudly for
sympathy.

"Comfort yourself, my charmer," said Mr. Marvel, in a tone intended to
be consolatory. "I'll be their substitute."

"_You!_" cried the tapstress, with a look of horror: "Never!"

"Confusion!" muttered Jack, suddenly pausing in his task, "the saw has
broken just as I am through the spike."

"Can't we break it off?" replied Mrs. Maggot.

"I fear not," replied Jack, despondingly.

"Let's try, at all events," returned the Amazon.

And grasping the thick iron rod, she pushed with all her force against
it, while Jack seconded her efforts from within. After great exertions
on both parts, the spike yielded to their combined strength, and snapped
suddenly off.

"Holloa--what's that?" cried Austin, starting up.

"Only my darbies," returned Jack, clinking his chains.

"Oh! that was all, was it?" said the turnkey, quietly reseating himself.

"Now, give me the woollen cloth to tie round my fetters," whispered
Sheppard. "Quick."

"Here it is," replied Edgeworth Bess.

"Give me your hand, Poll, to help me through," cried Jack, as he
accomplished the operation. "Keep a sharp look out, Bess."

"Stop!" interposed Edgeworth Bess; "Mr. Langley is getting up, and
coming this way. We're lost."

"Help me through at all hazards, Poll," cried Jack, straining towards
the opening.

"The danger's past," whispered Bess. "Mrs. Spurling has induced him to
sit down again. Ah! she looks this way, and puts her finger to her lips.
She comprehends what we're about. We're all safe!"

"Don't lose a moment then," cried Jack, forcing himself into the
aperture, while the Amazon, assisted by Bess, pulled him through it.

"There!" cried Mrs. Maggot, as she placed him without noise upon the
ground; "you're safe so far."

"Come, my disconsolate