90 THE LIFE OF PETER BUFF. 



The night fixed upon for our expedition was very stormy, which 

 was more favourable to us than otherwise, and we thanked our stars 

 that the job was likely to be done in safety. There were only two 

 of us ; a third was to meet us on the road and carry away the prize, 

 while we remained to clear away anything that might lead to our 

 detection. 



On arriving at the place of assignation, we set to work, and were 

 very busily employed, when I felt something tightly grasp my arm ; 

 tlie suddenness of this, at such a time and place (a cemetery), quite 

 startled me for the moment, and filled me with a superstitious terror. 

 A light of a most unearthly hue was now reflected full upon my 

 companion, when to my astonishment I perceived he was in as great 

 trepidation as myself. The light, however, was not so supernatural 

 as I at first imagined, but simply the light from a bull's-eye lantern, 

 the owner of which was one of those ambiguous and now obsolete 

 characters, called watchmen, and who had caused me so much terror 

 by seizing hold of my arm. I and my companion (who was similarly 

 accompanied) were marched across the church-yard with slow and 

 measured steps, until we reached a wall over which we had to climb 

 (a rather awkward affair for the watchmen, encumbered with their 

 coats and lanterns, and having us to take care of). Our conductors 

 paused, sighed, shook their heads, and, having looked aflfectionately 

 in each other's face for some minutes, and not finding any other safe 

 mode of proceeding, the one who felt so much interest in my affairs 

 advanced gloomily, and by dint of great exertion placed himself 

 across the wall, and began to drag me up ; but I made no resistance, 

 and quickly was seated alongside of him. He seemed fatigued with 

 his exertions ; so watching my opportunity, I suddenly raised my 

 foot, by which movement the lantern was propelled a distance of 

 several yards. This unexpected manoeuvre so disconcerted my old 

 guardian, that he unconsciously loosed his hold of my collar, when, 

 being desirous of cutting the connection, I dropped from the wall, 

 and scampered off as fast as possible. 



Some few months after this affair (when through the kindness of 

 a friend I had got into a situation), I went accompanied by some 

 others to a tavern in the neighbourhood, where, meeting with some 



