city in an opposite direction, and make a considerable detour before he reached the appointed place of meeting. All this did Winky Boss perform with his usual deliberate and accurate observance of orders. The papers were carefully secured, the valise was strapped to his back, he was equipped in his travelling garb, mounted upon the back of Punchinello, smoking his pipe, and proceeding out of the city at an easy trot, when upon turning the corner of a street he found himself in the very midst of the infuriated mob, who were hurrying towards the Boompies for the purpose of arresting the Burgomaster. Being recognized by some of these worthies, he was seized, pulled from his horse, and his valise torn from his back before he had time to prepare for defence, even could it have availed him against such a formidable host of assailants. The contents of the valise, which was hastily ransacked, not only confirmed the rumours of "I don't know any such person," calmly replied Boss. "I mean your villanous master," resumed the same party. “I have no villanous master," answered Boss. "I am no servant of yours?" 66 Saucy scoundrel! you will not deny that you serve Adrian Beverning.” "No; I am too proud of such a master to deny him." "And you know where he is at this moment." "Ja, Ja,” replied Boss, with a familiar nod of his head. “Then why did you not tell us so in the first instance ?" "Because I have no intention to do so, either first or last." "Villain!" resumed the fellow, holding a long pointed knife to his throat,-" have you now a mind to discover?" "Not the least in the world," replied Boss, with the utmost seeming indifference. “Cut out his stubborn tongue!" exclaimed another of the mob. "Do!" said Boss. "I shall be more likely to tell you then:" and as he said this, he slowly puffed a mouthful of smoke into the face of this new assailant. "Curse the fellow!" continued the same par"he seems to mind his pipe more than our threats." ty, "A good deal more,” replied Boss, favouring him with another whiff, which so provoked the recipient that he violently dashed the pipe out of his mouth. Boss had endured, with patience, the scurrilous terms applied to his master and himself; but an insult to his pipe was beyond the limitations assigned to his phlegm. His eyes began to wink and sparkle with rapid corruscations, and though the rest of his face was as imperturbable as if it had been cut out of wood, his limbs appeared to sympathize with his optics; for he suddenly raised his muscular arm, and, with one blow, laid the destroyer of his pipe sprawling upon the ground, amidst its frag ments. This was the signal for a general tumult and assault: knives were drawn and flourished, fists began to rain blows upon the broad shoulders of Boss, and it would probably have gone hard with him, had not the leader of the rabble, in a loud and authoritative voice, ordered them to desist; reminding them that the prisoner was, perhaps, the only person who could guide them to the traitorous Burgomaster's retreat, and that the torture would presently wring the secret from him. "I will state nothing," cried Winky Boss," to an angry mob, which may pervert every thing I utter into a crime; but if you will take me before the Justiciary Vanderhoof, I will make a deposition of all that I know." "To the Justiciary! Away with him to the Justiciary!" cried the many-headed monster; and they forthwith began hauling him to the opposite extremity of the town, where that functionary dwelt; and which was the sole reason why his name had been mentioned by the prisoner. Considerable time was gained for his fugitive master, by his thus diverting the attention of the mob; nor was he a whit more disposed to give them the information they sought, when they at length reached the magistrate's residence. No sooner did that personage understand the object of this unexpected visit, than he seated himself with all due ceremony in his hall of justice, |