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"Then I'll bury him and cover him up, any how; he'll not come to life again, if he does may I be knocked on the head like him, that's all." Smallbones dragged the body into the ditch, and collecting out of the other parts of the ditch a great quantity of wet leaves, covered the body a foot deep. "There, they won't find him now, because they won't know where to look for him. I say, corporal, I've a notion we had better not be seen here too long." "No," said the corporal, wiping his forehead, putting his handkerchief in his cap,and his cap on his head; "we must go now."

They went to the washerwoman's, delivered the bundle, and then returned on board, when the whole crew were informed of the success of the expedition, and appeared quite satisfied that there was an end of the detested cur; all but Coble, who shook his head. "We shall see," says he; "but I'm blessed if I don't expect the cur back to-morrow morning."

"A hell-cat vould not hate de divil," slowly observed the Jew.

"Well, perhaps not; but she will ruin me if she can."

“Vat vash her name?" said Lazarus.
"Moggy Salisbury."

"Paah! is dat all? vy, my good friend, she
is one of us. Dere, you may go vay-you
may go to bed, Mr. Vanslyperken."
"What do you mean?"

"I mean dat she laughed at you, and frighten you-dat she is one of us, and so is her husband, who vas in your chip. Ven you hang, she and I vill all hang together; now you comprehend?"

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Yes," replied Vanslyperken, "I do now; but how could you trust such people?"

"Trust such people, Mr. Vansly perken! If you prove as true as those peoples, vy all de bitter; now go avay-go to bed-you have vaked up all the peoples here. Good night, Mr. Leeftenant?" and the Jew led the way to the door, and let Vanslyperken out.

We must now return to Vanslyperken, who left the public-house in a state of consterna- "So then," thought Vanslyperken, as he tion. "How could she possibly know any- pursued his way down to the Point, "that wothing about it?" exclaimed he. "My life in man and her husband are-damuation, but the power of that she devil!" And Vansly- I've a great mind to discover all, if it's only perken walked on, turning over the affair in to hang them." But on second thoughts, his mind. "I have gone too far to retreat Vansly perken thought that it was not worth now. I must either go on, or fly the country. while to be hanged himself, just for the pleaFly, where? What a fool I have been!" but sure of hanging others. It was a great relief then Vanslyperken thought of the money. to his mind to know that there was no fear of "No, no, not a fool, but I am very unfortu- discovery. The tip of his nose itched, and he nate." Vansly perken continued his route, rubbed it mechanically: the rubbing brought until it at last occurred to him that he would away all the skin. He remembered the hot go to the Jew Lazarus, and speak with him; poker-the money he had been forced to pay for, thought Vansly perken, if all is discover-his being made to sing and to beg pardon ed, they may think that I have informed, and on his knees; and he cursed Moggy in his then my life will be sought by both parties. heart, the more so, as he felt that he dared Vansly perken arrived at the Jew's abode, not take any steps against her. knocked softly, but received no answer; he knocked again, louder; a bustle and confusion was heard inside, and at last the door, with the chain fixed, was opened a couple of inches, and the Jew stammered out, "Wot vash there at this late hour of the night?"

"It is me, the lieutenant of the cutter," replied Vanslyperken. "I must speak with you directly."

The door was opened, several figures, and the clatter of arms, were heard in the dark passage, and as soon as Vansly perken had entered, it was relocked, and he was left in the dark.

In a minute the Jew, in a woollen wrapper, made his appearance with a light, and led Vanslyperken into the room where he had been shown before. "Now then, Mishter Leeftenant, vat vash de matter?"

"We are discovered, I'm afraid," exclaimed Vanslyperken.

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Holy father Abraham!" exclaimed the Jew, starting back. "But tell me vy you shay sho."

"A woman told me this night that she knew why I came to your house-that I was in her power."

"Vat woman?"

When he came to the Point, he stood on the shingle, looking for his boat, but the men had waited till twelve o'clock, and then presuming that their commander did not intend to come at all that night, had pulled on board again. He was looking round for a waterman to pull him off, when something cold touched his hand. Vansly perken started and almost screamed with fear. He looked, and it was the cold nose of Snarleyyow, who now leaped upon his master.

"Snarleyyow, my poor dog! how came you on shore?"

But the dog, not being able to speak, made no answer.

While Vanslyperken was wondering how the dog could possible have come on shore, and what Corporal Van Spitter could be about to have allowed it, the small casement of a garret window near him was opened, and a head was thrust out.

"Do you want to go on board, sir?" said a tremulous voice.

"Yes," replied Vanslyperken.

"I will be down directly, sir," replied the old boatman, who in a minute or two appeared with his sculls on his shoulder.

"Not easy to find a boat at this time of the "A hell-cat, who hates me as she does the morning, sir," said the man; "but I heard

devil."

you speaking, for I've had such a toothache. "Then what?" these two nights, that I can't shut my eyes." "Why, with the blessing of God, they'll The old man unlocked the chain which both go to hell together, and I don't care how fastened his wherry, and in a few minutes Vansly perken was on the deck of the cutter, bu he found there was no one to receive him, -no watch kept.

"Very well," thought he, "we'll talk about this to-morrow morning. Short or Coble, I wonder which of the two-pretty neglect of duty, indeed-report to the admiral, by heavens."

So saying, Mr. Vanslyperken, with Snarley yow at his heels, went down into the cabin -undressed in the dark, for he would not let any one know that he was on board. It being about three o'clock in the morning, and Mr. Vansly perken being well tired with the events of the day, he was soon in a sound sleep. There will be no difficulty in accounting for the return of the dog, which had a skull much thicker than even the corporal's. He had been stunned with the heavy blows, but not killed. After a certain time he came to himself in his bed of leaves, first scratched with one paw, and then with another, till his senses returned; he rose, worked his way out, and lay down to sleep. After he had taken a long nap, he rose, recovered, shook himself, and trotted down to the peach, but the boat had shoved off, and the cur had remained there waiting for an opportunity to get on board, when his master came down with the same object in view.

But as every soul is fast asleep, we shall now finish the chapter.

CHAPTER XXXII.

Listeners never hear any good of themselves. Vanslyperken was awoke three hours after he had fallen asleep by the noise of the buckets washing the decks. He heard the men talking on deck, and aware that no one knew that he was on board, he rose from his bed, and opened one of the sliding sashes of the skylight, that he might overhear the conversation. The first words he heard were from Bill Spurey.

"I say, Coble, I wonder what the skipper will say when he comes on board, and finds that the dog is gone?"

"Hoh! hoh!" thought Vanslyperken. "I ar❜n't convinced that he is gone yet," replied Coble.

"Smallbones swears that he's settled, this time," replied Spurey.

"So he did before," replied Coble. "Smallbones again," thought Vanslyperken. "I'll- -Smallbones him, if I hang for it."

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Why, he says he buried him two feet deep."

"Ay, ay; but what's the use of burying an animal who's not a human creature? For my part, I say this, that the imp belongs to his master, and is bound to serve him as long as his master lives. When he dies, the dog may be killed, and then

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soon."

"Kill me, you old villain!" muttered Vanslyperken, grinding his teeth.

"Well, anyhow, if the dog be not made away with, no more be smallbones. He ar'n't afeard of the devil himself."

"No, not he; I'n of opinion Smallbones wa'n't sent here for nothing."

"He's escaped him twice, at all events." "Then they knew it," though Vanslyperken, turning pale.

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Ay, and I will take you any bet you please, that the skipper never takes that boy's life. He's charmed, or I a ma gudgeon." Vanslyperken felt that it was his own sus picion, and he trembled at the idea of the lad being supernatural.

"Out of the way, Coble, or I'll fill your shoes," cried out one of the men, slashing a bucket of water.

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"That's not quite so easy, 'cause I've got boots on," replied Coble. However, I'll take another berth."

The men walked away, and Vansly perken could hear no more; but he had heard quite enough. The life of the dog had been attempted by Smallbones, it was evident. Mr. Vanslyperken, after a little agitation, rang the bell.

"By all that's blue, the skipper's on board!" exclaimed the men on deck.

"When the devil did he come?" "Not in my watch, at all events," replied Coble. "Did he come in your's, Short?" "No," replied Short.

"Then it must have been in the corporal's." "The corporal never called me, nor was he on deck," replied Coble. "I've a notion he never kept his watch."

The ring at the bell particularly concerned two people, the two culprits, Smallbones and Corporal Van Spitter.

vious to his answering the bell, Mr. VanslyThe latter made his appearance; but preperken had time to reflect. "So they think my dog is supernatural," said he; "so much the better. I'll make them believe it still

more." Mr. Vansly perken called the dog, and pointed to his bed. The dog, who was

fond of a warm berth, and but seldom allowinto it when invited, and Mr. Vansly perken ed to get on the bed, immediately jumped up clothes. He then drew the curtains of the patted him, and covered him up with the bedbed, and waited to see who would answer the bell. Corporal Van Spitter made his appear

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"How is that, corporal?" The corporal then stated that he had taken the precaution to take the dog on shore, as he was afraid to leave it on board when he went to the washerwoman's, and that he was not long there, but while he was, the dog disappeared. He had looked everywhere, but could not find it.

"You took Smallbones with you," said Vansly perken.

"Yes, mynheer, to carry de linen."

my vengeance;" and Smallbones quitted the cabin.

Vanslyperken finished his toilet, and then turned the dog out of the bed.

He went on deck, and after he had walked a little while, sent for Corporal Van Spitter to consult as to the best method of ascertaining what had become of Snarleyyow. Having entered apparently very carnestly into the corporal's arrangements, who was to go on shore immediately, he desired the corpo

"And where was he when you were at the ral to see his breakfast got ready in the cabin. washerwoman's?"

"He was here and dere."

"

I know that it was he who killed and buried the dog, corporal."

Corporal Van Spitter started; he thought he was discovered.

"Kilt and perryed, mein Gott!" said the corporal, obliged to say something.

"Yes, I overheard the men say so on deck, corporal. He must have taken the opportunity when you were in the house counting the linen."

Now the corporal had time to recover himself, and he argued that anything was better than that he should be suspected. Smallbones were already known to have attempted the life of the dog, so he would leave the lieutenant in his error.

It so happened that the corporal went into the cabin, followed by Small bones; the first object that met his view, was Snarleyyow, sitting on his chest, scratching his ragged ear as if nothing had happened.

"Gott in Himmel!" roared the corporal, turning back, and running out of the cabin, upsetting Smallbones, whom he met in the passage, and trotting like an elephant_right over him. Nor was Smallbones the only one who suffered; two marines and three seamen were successively floored by the corporal, who, blinded with fear, never stopped till he ran his head butt against the lining in the fore peak of the cutter, which, with the timbers of the vessel, brought him up, not all standing, in one sense of the word, for in his mad career his head was dashed so violently against them, that the poor corporal fell

"Mein Gott! he is von d- -n kill-dog feller," observed the corporal. "I look every-down, stunned to insensibility. where, I no find te tog. Den de dog is dead?" In the meantime Smallbones had gained "Yes," replied Vansly perken, "but I'll his feet, and was rubbing his ribs, to ascertain punish the scoundrel, depend upon it. That if they were all whole. "Well, I'm sure," will do, corporal; you may go.' said he, "if I ar'n't flattened for all the world

As Snarleyyow remained perfectly quiet like a pancake, with that ere corporal's during this conversation, we must give Van- weight. One may as well have a broadsly perken great credit for his manœuvre. wheel wagon at once go over one's body; but The corporal went to Smallbones, and re- what could make him come for to go to run peated what had passed. Smallbones snap-away bellowing in that ere manner? ped his fingers.

"He may keelhaul, or hang me, for all I care. The dog is dead. Never fear, corporal, I won't peach upon you. I'm game, and I'll die so-if so be I must."

"Vanslyperken sent for Small bones. Smallbones, who was worked up to the highest state of excitement, came in boldly. "So, you villain, you've killed my dog and buried it."

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No, I ar'n't," replied Smallbones. knows nothing about you dog, sir."

"I

"Why, the men on deck said so, you scoundrel, I heard them."

"I don't care what the men say; I never killed your dog, sir."

"You rascal, I'll have your life!" exclaimed Vanslyperken.

Smallbones grinned diabolically, and Vanslyperken, who remembered all that the men had said in confirmation of his own opinion relative to Smallbones, turned pale. Smallbones, on his part, aware from Corporal Van Spitter, that the lieutenant had such an idea, immediately took advantage of the signs in the lieutenant's countenance, and drawled out, "That's-not-so-easy!"

Vanslyperken turned away. "You may go now, sír, but depend upon it you shall feel

He

must have seen the devil; or, perhaps," thought Smallbones, "that imp of the devil, Snarley yow. I'll go and see what it was, anyhow."

Smallbones rubbing his abdomen, where the corporal had trod hardest, walked into the cabin, where he beheld the dog. He stood with his mouth wide open.

"I defy the devil and all his works," exclaimed he, at last, "and you be one of his, that's sartain. I fear God, and I honor the king, and the parish taught me to read the bible. There you be-resurrectioned up again. Well, it's no use, I suppose. Satan, I defy you, anyhow, but it's very hard that a good Christian should have to get the breakfast ready, of which you'll eat one half; I don't see why I'm to wait upon the devil or his imps."

Then Smallbones stopped, and thought a little. "I wonder whether he bee'd dead, as I thought. Master came on board last night without no one knowing nothing about it, and he might have brought the dog with him, if so be he came to again. I won't believe that he's haltogether not to be made away with, for how come his eye out? Well, I don't care, I'm a good Christian, and may I be swamped if I don't try what he's made of yet. First

time we cuts up beef I'll try and chop your played his double part so well, that if possitail, anyhow, that I will, if I am hung for it." ble he was now higher in favor than ever. Smallbones regained his determination. After a day or two, during which Mr. VanHe set about laying the things for breakfast, slyperken remained on board, he sent for the and when they were ready he went up to corporal, determining to sound him as to the quarter-deck, reporting the same to Mr. whether he would make any attempts upon Vansly perken, who had expected to see him Smallbones; for to such a height had Vanfrightened out of his wits, and concluding his slyperken's enmity arrived, that he now respeech by saying, "If you please, sir, the dog solved to part with some of his darling money, be in the cabin, all right; I said as how I to tempt the corporal, rather than not get rid never kilt your dog, nor buried him neither." of the lad. After many hints thrown out, but "The dog in the cabin !" exclaimed Mr. not taken by the wily corporal, who was reVanslyperken, with apparent astonishment. solved that Vansly perken should speak plain"Why, how the devil could he have come ly, the deed and the reward of ten guineas there?" were openly proclaimed, and Vansly perken waited for the corporal's reply.

"He cummed off, I suppose, sir, same way as you did, without nobody knowing nothing about it," drawled out Smallbones, who then walked away.

In the mean time the corporal had been picked up, and the men were attempting to recover him. Smallbones went forward to see what had become of him, and learnt how it was that he was insensible.

"Mein Gott, Mynheer Vanslyperken! suppose it vas possible, I not take your money, I do it wid pleasure; but, sir, it not possible." "Not possible!" exclaimed Vansly perken. "Not mynheer," replied the corporal, "I not tell you all, tousand tyfil, I not tell you all;" and here the corporal put his hand to his forehead and was silent, much to Vanslyperken's amazement. But the fact was, that Corporal Van Spitter was thinking what he pos ibly could say. At last a brilliant thought struck him-he narrated to the lieutenant how he had seen the ghost of Smallbones, as he thought, when he was floating So reasoned Smallbones, and he reasoned about adrift on the Zuyder Zee-described well. In the meantime the corporal opened with great force his horror at the time of the his eyes, and gradually returned to his senses, appearance of the supernatural object, and and then for the first time, the ship's compa-tailed on to what he believed to be true, that ny, who were all down at their breakfast, demanded of Smallbones the reason of the corporal's conduct.

"Well, then," thought Smallbones, "it may have been all the same with the dog, and I believe there's humbug in it, for if the dog had made his appearance, as master pretends he did, all of a sudden, he'd a been more frightened than me."

which he knew to be false, to wit, that the apparition had cried out to him, that "he was not to be hurt by mortal man." "Gott in Himmel," finished the corporal, "I was never so frightened in my life. I see him now, as plain as I see you, mynheer. Twenty tousand ty fils, but the voice was like de tunder "All!"-and his eye like de lightning-I fell back in one swoon. Ah, mein Gott, mein Gott!"

Why," replied Smallbones," because that ere beast Snarleyyow, be come back again, all alive, a'ter being dead and buried -he's in the cabin now-that's all."

"That's all," exclaimed one. cried another. "The devil!" said a third.

"I said as how it would be," said Obadiah Coble "that dog is no dog, as sure as I sit here."

So well did the corporal play his part, that Vanslyperken became quite terrified; the candle appeared to burn dim, and he dared The return of the dog certainly had a not move to snuff it. He could not but credit strong effect upon the whole of the ship's the corporal, for there was an earnestness company. The corporal swore that he was of description, and a vividness of coloring, not in the cabin, and that Mr. Vanslyperken which could not have been invented; besides, had arranged for his going on shore to look was not the corporal his earnest and only for him, when all of a sudden the dog made friend? "Corporal," said Vansleyperken, his appearance, no one knew how. Small-perhaps you'll like a glass of scheedam; bones found himself so much in the minority, there's some in the cupboard." that he said nothing. It was perfect heresy not to believe that the dog was sent from the lower regions; and as for any further attempts to destroy it, it was considered as perfect insanity.

This was very kind of Mr. Vanslyperken, but he wanted one himself, much more than the corporal. The corporal produced the bottle and the glass, poured it out, made his military salute, and tossed it off.

"Give me another glass, corporal,” said Vansly perken, in a tremulous tone. The lieutenant took one, two, three glasses, one after another, to recover himself.

But this renewed attempt on the part of Smailbones, for Vansly perken was convinced that an attempt had been made, although it had not been successful, again excited the feelings of Mr. Vanslyperken against the lad, The corporal had really frightened him. and he resolved somehow or another to retal. He was convinced that Smallbones had a iate. His anger overcame his awe, and he charmed life. Did he not float to the Ower was reckless in his desire of vengeance. light and back again?-did not a pistol ball There was not the least suspicion of treache-pass through him without injury? Vansly. ry on the part of Corporal Van Spitter in the perken shuddered; he took a fresh glass, and heart of Mr. Vanslyperken, and the corporal then handed the bottle to the corporal, who

helped himself, saluted, and the liquor again disappeared in a moment.

Dutch courage is proverbial, although a libel upon one of the bravest of nations. Vansly perken now felt it, and again he commenced with the corporal. "What were the words?" inquired he.

"Dat he was not to be hurt by mortal man, mynheer. I can take mine piple oath of it," replied the corporal.

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'Damnation!" cried Vanslyperken; "but stop-mortal man-perhaps he may be hurt by woman."

Dat is quite anoder ting, mynheer."

"He shan't escape it I can help it," retorted Vansly perken. "I must think about it. Vanslyperken poured out another glass of scheedum, and pushed the stone bottle to the corporal, who helped himself without ceremony. Mr. Vansly perken was now about two-thirds drunk, for he was not used to such a quantity of spirits.

"Now, if I had only been friends with that -that-hell-fire Moggy Salisbury," thought Vanslyperken, speaking aloud to himself. "Mein Gott, yes, mynheer," replied the corporal.

Again Vanslyperken almost shrieked in a perspiration of fear. The sound now ceased; but it was followed up by a noise like the rattling of glasses, tumbling about the chairs and table, and Vansly perken buried his face under the clothes. Then the door, which had been shut, was heard by him to slam like thunder; and then Snarley yow barked loud and deep. "Oh! God forgive me!" cried the terrified lieutenant. "Our Father which art in heaven-save me-save me!" Shortly afterwards the corporal made his appearance with a light, and inquired if Mr. Vansly perken had called. He found him reeking with perspiration, and half dead with fear. In broken words he stated how he had been visited, and how the same intimation that no mortal man could hurt Smallbones, had been rung into his ears.

"It was only on dream, Mynheer Vanslyperken," observed the corporal.

No-it was no dream," replied Vanslyperken. "Stay in the cabin, good corporal."

"Yes, Mynheer," replied the corporal, drawing the curtains of the bed; and then quietly picking up the various articles on the floor, the table and chairs, which had been overturned.

Vansly perken took another glass-spilling a great deal on the table as he poured it out; he then covered his eyes with his hand, as if Alas! Fear is the mate of guilt. All this in thought. Thereupon the corporal filled horrid visitation was simply that Mr. Van. without being asked; and as he perceived slyperken had heard the corporal's tremendthat his superior remained in the same posi-ous snoring, as he slept in the chair, and tion, and did not observe him, he helped himself to a second glass, and then waited till Vanslyperken should speak again; but the liquor had overpowered him, and he spoke

no more.

The corporal, after a few minutes, went up to his superior; he touched him on his shoulder, saying, "Mynheer," but he obtained no reply. On the contrary, the slight touch made Mr. Vanslyperken fall forward on the table. He was insensible.

So the corporal took him up in his arms, laid him in his bed, then taking possession of the lieutenant's chair, for he was tired of standing so long, he set to work to empty the bottle, which, being large and full at the time that it was produced from the cupboard, took some time, and before it was accomplished, the Corporal Van Spitter had fallen fast asleep in the chair. Shortly afterwards the candle burnt out, and the cabin was in darkness.

which his imagination had turned into the words, "Mortal man." The first exclamation of Mr. Vanslyperken had awoke the corporal, who, aware of the impropriety of his situation, had attempted to retreat; in so doing he had overturned the table and chairs, with the bottles and classes upon them.

Fearful of discovery upon this unexpected noise, he had hastened out of the cabin, -lammed the d or, and waked up Snarley yow; but he knew, from the exclamations of Vanslyperken, that the lieutenant was rightened out of his wits; so he very boldly returned with a candle to ascertain the result of the disturbance, and was delighted to find that the lieutenant was still under the delusion.

So soon as he had replaced everything, the corporal took a chair, and finding that he had fortunately put the cork into the stonebottle before he fell asleep, and that there were still one or two glasses in it, he drank them off, and waited patiently for daylight. By this time Vanslyperken was again asleep, and snoring; so the corporal took away the broken fragments, put the things in order, and left the cabin.

all

It was about three o'clock in the morning when Mr. Vanslyperken began to recover his senses, and as his recollection returned, so were his ears met with a stupendous roaring and unusual noise. It was to his imagination unearthly, for he had been troubled with wild When Vanslyperken awoke and rang his dreams about Smallbones, and his appear- bell, Smallbones entered. Vansly perken got ance to the corporal. It sounded like thunder, up, and finding the cabin as it was left the and Mr. Vanslyperken thought that he could night before, was more than ever persuaded plainly make out," Mortal man! mortal man!" that he had been supernaturally visited. Fear and, at times, the other words of the super- made him quite civil to the fad, whose life natural intimation to the corporal. The he now considered, as the ship's company mortal man was drawn out in lengthened did that of the dog's, it was quite useless for cadence, and in a manner truly horrible. him, at least, to attempt, and thus ends this Vanslyperken called out, "Mor-tal-man," chapter of horrors.

was the reply.

(To be continued.)

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