art of the house,
and two men fell mortally wounded. But this only incensed the assailing
party the more. With a drawn cutlass in one hand and a cocked pistol in
the other, Blueskin rushed up stairs. The landing was defended by Quilt
Arnold and the Jew. The former was shot by Blueskin through the head,
and his body fell over the bannisters. The Jew, who was paralysed by his
companion's fate, offered no resistance, and was instantly seized.

"Where is your accursed master?" demanded Blueskin, holding the sword to
his throat.

The Jew did not speak, but pointed to the audience-chamber. Committing
him to the custody of the others, Blueskin, followed by a numerous band,
darted in that direction. The door was locked; but, with the bars of
iron, it was speedily burst open. Several of the assailants carried
links, so that the room was a blaze of light. Jonathan, however, was
nowhere to be seen.

Rushing towards the entrance of the well-hole, Blueskin touched the
secret spring. He was not there. Opening the trap-door, he then
descended to the vaults--searched each cell, and every nook and corner
separately. Wild had escaped.

Robbed of their prey, the fury of the mob became ungovernable. At
length, at the end of a passage, next to the cell where Mrs. Sheppard
had been confined, Blueskin discovered a trap-door which he had not
previously noticed. It was instantly burst open, when the horrible
stench that issued from it convinced them that it must be a receptacle
for the murdered victims of the thief-taker.

Holding a link into the place, which had the appearance of a deep pit,
Blueskin noticed a body richly dressed. He dragged it out, and
perceiving, in spite of the decayed frame, that it was the body of Sir
Rowland Trenchard, commanded his attendants to convey it up stairs--an
order which was promptly obeyed.

Returning to the audience-chamber, Blueskin had the Jew brought before
him. The body of Sir Rowland was then laid on the large table. Opposite
to it was placed the Jew. Seeing from the threatening looks of his
captors, that they were about to wreak their vengeance upon him, the
miserable wretch besought mercy in abject terms, and charged his master
with the most atrocious crimes. His relation of the murder of Sir
Rowland petrified even his fierce auditors.

One of the cases in Jonathan's museum was now burst open, and a rope
taken from it. In spite of his shrieks, the miserable Jew was then
dragged into the well-