lute Ruthven (see plate), all armed
and prepared for some dreadful encounter: in an instant their followers
had possessed themselves of the doors--flight, therefore, was in vain;
and Bob Transit, in attempting it, narrowly escaped an awkward crack on
the crania from old Jack Townshend, who being past active service, was
posted at the entrance with the beak himself, to do garrison duty.

[Illustration: page345]

"_The traps! the traps!_" vociferated some one in the adjoining room;
"_Douse the glims! stash it--stash it!_" was the general exclamation in
ours: but before the party could effect their purpose, the principals
were in safe custody: and the reader (i.e. pocket-book) containing
all the stolen property, preserved from the flames by the wary eye and
prompt arm of the _indefatigable_ Bishop. Before any one was allowed to
depart the room, a general muster and search took place, in which poor
Bob Transit felt most awkward, as some voluptuous sketches found in his
pocket called forth

She dies; sad outcast! heart-broke by remorse;
Pale, stretch'd against th' inhospitable doors;
While gathering gossips taunt the flesh less corse,
And thank their gods _that they were never w--res!_

~346~~the severe animadversion of his worship, the beak, who lamented
that such fine talent should be thus immorally applied: with this brief
lecture, and a caution for the future, we were allowed to escape; while
almost all the rest, male and female, were marched off to an adjoining
watch-house, to abide the public examination and fiat of the morrow.
Of all the party, old Crony was the most sensibly affected by the late
rencontre; twenty bottles of soda-water could not have produced a more
important change. His conversation and appearance had, in an instant,
recovered their wonted steadiness; and before we were half across the
market, Crony was moralizing upon the dangers of the scene from which we
had so recently and fortunately escaped. But hearts young and buoyant as
ours, when lighted up by the fire of enterprise, and provoked to action
by potent charges of the grape, were not to be dashed by one repulse,
or compelled to beat a retreat at the first brush with a reconnoitring
party; we had sallied forth in pursuit of a spree, and frolic we were
determined upon,

"While misty night, with silent pace,
Steals gradual o'er the wanton chase."

There is something very romantic i