THE " JANE " RUNS A CARGO. 3OI 



" ' What's that they say ? ' quoth the traveller. 



' They want another pint, for they have not had 

 such a prize for the last twelvemonth.' 

 ' That's me ! ' groaned the querist. 

 ' They have five pikes already, and expect more 

 before morning,' continued the valet. 

 ' Truculent scoundrels ! ' 

 ' The largest is intended for yourself ! ' 



" ' Lord defend me ! ' ejaculated the stranger. 

 ' They wonder if you are sleeping.' 



" ' Cold-blooded monsters ; they want to despatch 

 us quietly.' 



" ' The owner swears that nobody shall enter this 

 room till morning.' 



" ' Ay, then they will have daylight, and no diffi- 

 culty.' 



" ' And now, he urges them to go to bed.' 



" ' Heaven grant they may ! for then, escape from 

 this den of murder might be possible.' 



" Listening with a beating heart until unequivocal 

 symptoms of deep sleep were heard from the kitchen, 

 the unhappy Englishman, leaving his effects to fortune, 

 crawled through the window half-dressed, and, with a 

 world of trouble and perilous adventure, managed early 

 next morning to reach his original place of destination. 



" Never, however, was man more mortified than he, 

 when he related his fearful story. His tale was fre- 

 quently interrupted by a laugh, which politesse vainly 

 endeavoured to control. 



" ' Zounds ! ' cried the irritated Englishman, no 

 longer able to conceal his rage, ' is my throat so valueless 

 that its cutting should merely raise a horse-laugh ? ' 



" ' My dear friend,' replied the host, ' you must excuse 

 me it is so funny, I cannot, for the life of me, be serious. 



