84 WARWICK WOODLANDS, 



" That'll do, Timothy," interposed Archer, unwilling, as I 

 thought, that the secret mysteries of his establishment should 

 be revealed any further to the profane ears which were gaping 

 round about us " that'll do for the present give Mr. Draw 

 that flip he's looking at it very angrily, I see ! and then turn 

 in, or you'll be late in the morning ; and, by George, we must 

 be away by four o'clock at latest, for we have all of sixty miles 

 to make to-morrow, and Tom's fat carcase will try the springs 

 most consumedly, down hill." 



Matters thus settled, in we turned, and as it seemed to me, 

 within five minutes, I was awakened by Harry Archer, who 

 stood beside my bed full dressed, with a candle in his hand. 



" Get up," he whispered, u get up, Frank, very quietly ; slip 

 on your great-coat and your slippers we have a chance to serve 

 Tom out he's not awake for once ! and Timothy will have the 

 horses ready in five minutes !" 



Up I jumped on the instant, hauled on a rough-frieze pea- 

 jacket, thrust my unstockinged feet into their contrary slippers, 

 and followed Harry, on the tips of my toes, along a creaking 

 passage, guided by the portentous ruckling snorts, which varied 

 the profundity of the fat man's slumbers. When I reached his 

 door, there stood Harry, laughing to himself, with a small quiet 

 chuckle, perfectly inaudible at three feet distance, the intensity 

 of which could, however, be judged by the manner in which it 

 shook his whole person. Two huge horse-buckets, filled to the 

 brim, were set beside him ; and he had cut a piece of an old 

 broomstick so as to fit exactly to the width of the passage, 

 across which he had fastened it, at about two feet from the 

 ground, so that it must most indubitably trip up any person, 

 who should attempt to run along that dark and narrow thor- 

 oughfare. 



" Now, Frank," said he, " see here ! I'll set this bucket here 

 behind the door we'll heave the other slap into his face there 

 he lies, full on the broad of his fat back, with his mouth wide 

 open and when he jumps up full of fight, which he is sure to 

 do, run you with the candle, whfch blow out the moment .he 

 appears, straight down the passage. I'll stand back here, and 

 as he trips over that broomstick, which he is certain to do, I'll 

 pitch the other bucket on his back and if he does not think 

 he's bewitched, I'll promise not to laugh. I owe him two or 

 three practical jokes, and now I've got a chance, so I'll pay him 

 all at once." 



