434 
DOG, 
whatever. But a hustling sort of noise was heard 
at the further end of the closet. His lordship then 
fired one of his pistols by way of alarm. A piercing 
cry,, ending in a loud groan, immediately came 
from the dog. “ Great God 1’* exclaimed his lord- 
ship, I have surely destroyed my defender/’ He 
ran out for a light, and snatched a candle from the 
inn-holder, who came, in apparent consternation, 
as if to inquire into the alarm of the family. Others 
of the house now entered the room ; but without 
paying attention to their questions, his lordship ran 
towards the closet to look for his dog. “ The door 
is open ! the door is open !” As his lordship was re- 
entering ike closet, he was met by his servant, who, 
with every mark of almost speechless consternation 
in his voice and countenance, exclaimed, " O my 
lord ! my lord ! I have seen such shocking sights,” 
and, without being able to finish his sentence, he 
sunk on the floor. Before his master could explore 
the cause of this, or succeed in raising up his fallen 
domestic, the poor dog came limping from the closet, 
while a bloody track marked his path. He gained, 
with great difficulty, the place where his lordship 
stood aghast, and fell at his master’s feet. Every 
demonstration of grief ensued ; but the dog, unmind- 
ful of his wounds, kept his eyes still intent upon the 
closet door ; and denoted that the whole of the 
mystery was not yet developed. 
Seizing the other pistol from the servant who had 
fallen into a swoon, his lordsdip now re-entered 
the closet. The wounded dog crawled after him, 
when, on examining every part, he perceived, in 
one corner, an opening into the inn-yard, by a 
kind of trap-door, to which some broken steps 
descended. The dog seated himself on the steps ; 
but there was nothing to be seen but a cqmmo^r 
sack. Nor was any thing visible upon the floor, 
except some drops of blood, part of which were 
