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ss of ale like this where we are going." He took a candle, descended the cellar, one of the officers peeping after him to see that all was right, and again sitting down to the beef and beer. Both of them found the beef splendid; but beginning to find the ale rather long in making its appearance, they descended the cellar, and found Johnny Darbyshire had gone quietly off at a back door. Loud was the laughter of the country round at Johnny Darbyshire's outwitting of the bailiff's, and desperate was their quest after him. It was many a day, however, before they again got sight of him. When they did, it was on his own hearth, just as they had done at first. Not a soul was visible but himself. The officers declared now that they would make sure of him, and yet drink with him too. "With all my heart," said Johnny; "and draw it yourselves, too, if you will." "Nay, I will go down with you," said one; "my comrade shall wait here above." "Good," said Johnny, lighting a candle. "Now, mind, young man," added he, going hastily forwards towards the cellar steps,--"mind, I say, some of these steps are bad. It's a dark road, and--nay, here!--this way,--follow me exactly." But the man was too eager not to let Johnny go too far before him; he did not observe that Johnny went some distance round before he turned down the steps. There was no hand-rail to this dark flight of steps, and he walked straight over into the opening. "Hold!--hold! Heavens! the man's gone,--didn't I tell him!--" A heavy plunge and a groan announced the man's descent into the cellar. "Help!--help!" cried Johnny Darbyshire, rushing wildly into the room above. "The man, like a madman, has walked over the landing into the cellar. If he isn't killed, it's a mercy. Help!" snatching another candle; "but hold--take heed! take heed! or thou'lt go over after him!" With good lighting, and careful examination of the way, the officer followed. They found the other man lying on his back, bleeding profusely from his head, and insensible. "We must have help! there's no time to lose!" cried Johnny Darbyshire, springing up stairs. "Stop!" cried the distracted officer, left with his bleeding fellow, and springing up the steps after Johnny. But he found a door already bolted in his face; and cursing Johnny for a treacherous and murderous scoundrel, he began vainly denouncing his barbarity in leaving his comrade thus to perish, and kicked and thundered lusti
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