SEIZURE. 295 



by the kitchen-fire, which in such houses 

 are never suffered to go out. Rousing myself 

 at daylight, I walked into the yard, and, 

 going into the only stable that was open, 

 beheld, to my agreeable surprise, my two 

 horses. 



I immediately resolved upon removing 

 them myself to the horse-dealer's who 

 lived over the way, and went up to 

 the head of one of them to undo the 

 halter, when a man in a rough great- 

 coat, and with a very gruff voice, asked 

 me what I was about. 



I told him I was about to take the 

 horses away, as they were my pro- 

 perty. 



"Touch them at your peril," said the 

 man. 



Nothing daunted, I proceeded to put my 

 intention in force, when very high words 

 ensued, and I was anticipating something 

 like a push or a blow, when he pro- 

 duced a paper signed by the mayor of 



