THE colonel's STORY. l6l 



country gentleman, enveloped in a huge driving-coat, 

 and apparently like one who had travelled a consider- 

 able distance. 



" I looked at the criminal ; he was the ruin of a power- 

 ful man, and the worst-visaged scoundrel imaginable. 

 He was perfectly unmoved, and preserved a callous sort 

 of hardiesse ; and as the priests hurried over their Latin 

 prayers, made a careless response whenever they 

 directed him. The door leading to the drop was open, 

 and the felon looked out upon the crowd most earnestly. 

 * He is not there^' he murmured : * he caused my appre- 

 hension, hut he will not see me die ' ; and added, with 

 a grim smile, * Morden, you neither kept your word, nor 

 proved your prophecy ! ' The muffled stranger stood 

 suddenly forward : ' I am here, Bulger ! I paid for 

 your apprehension y and have come some hundred miles 

 to witness your execution I ' 



" ' Morden,' said the dying felon, solemnly, ' if a 

 ghost can come back again, Fll visit you I ' 



" The person addressed smiled coldly : * I found 

 you unable to execute your threats while living, and, 

 believe me, I apprehend nothing from you when dead.' 



*' The clock struck — the sheriff gave the signal — 

 Bulger advanced to the scaffold — the drop fell, and in 

 two minutes he was a corpse." 



M 



