128 Buz. 



by one, and dropped them into a stocking, which he 

 placed under the pillow of the bed. 



Directly the convict had seen where the stocking 

 was hidden away, he dropped on his hands and 

 knees, and crept to the garden gate, opening which 

 as quietly as he could, he slunk out into the lane, 

 and stole away unobserved. 



But before he had gone far he stopped, and 

 clenching his hands, swore a horrible oath that he 

 would have the gold that night, even if he did mur- 

 der to obtain it. 



Meanwhile, the cruel spider was getting very hun- 

 gry ; for when he told Buz that he had lately eaten 

 a fat fly, he told her what was false. 



The fact is, he had eaten nothing for a very con- 

 siderable time, and the wings he had pointed out 

 were those of a miserable victim devoured long 

 since. 



So now he was becoming impatient, and had twice 

 left his den to see if Buz was yet weak enough to be 

 attacked with impunity. 



On both occasions, however, she had seen his 

 approach, and had made such a struggle to free her- 

 self, that he had been frightened back. 



But the third time he came, Buz lay perfectly still, 

 and to all appearance dead. Several times the spi- 



