soner, certainly," observed Philip. you examined his pockets ?"

"Have

"To be sure, we have," replied the landlord. "But, do you suppose, when I came up, that he had not got rid of whatever he had taken from the poor gentleman? Let him alone for that-he's an old offender, I warrant him."

"That is more than you, or I, can tell," said Travers. "But, if I understood you rightly, you came upon him, unaware; and, had he had any property to conceal, he could not have effected it, I think, without your observation. What have you to say for yourself?"

"Lord!, master," answer'd the culprit ; "it does n't signify much what a poor man has to say in his own favor. I've no evidence, but my accuser-and he seems inclined to hang me, without benefit of judge, or jury; but, I hope, my case will be a lesson to people, in future, not to trouble themselves with what don't concern them."

Explain; nor fear the voice of prejudice," said our hero.

My story is a very simple one, and soon told," quoth the fellow. "I was travelling, in hopes of getting a little bread, (for, I have not eat, these two days-no work was to be had) and, passing through this field, I found a man lying upon his face, with a pitchfork sticking in his back, and all over blood. If I had seen a dog in the same state, I should have done what I could for him: so, seeing he had some life in him, I took the fork out of his back, and was trying to stop the blood, when that man (pointing to the landlord) came up, and charged me with murder. I made him no answer, I believe, for I was too busy about the poor gentleman; but he halloo'd out "murder," and then, being join'd by some of these people, he laid hold of me. If I had been inclined, I could have got away, easily, when I first saw him."

"There is some reason in what you say,' return'd Philip: "but, character goes a great way, in a case like your's. Have you no one to vouch for your's."

"No," said the fellow, shaking his head; "I have no friend, nor relation, in the world. I work, when I can get employment; and

when I can't, I starve. But, that's nothing to the purpose. I shall be hang'd, at last, for doing a piece of kindness to a fellowcreature."

"If you are guilty, you ought, and will, suffer the punishment your crime deserves but, if innocent, you need not despair. You will be tried by a British jury-whose decisions never swerve from justice. Circumstances appear against you; but, for my own part, I am always inclined to side with the accused, and think no man has a right to deem another guilty, until the law has pronounced him so.”

He gave him two guineas.

"Take this," continued he, "and get you some refreshment; and you, gentlemen, who have taken charge of him, treat him as one human being should treat another."

Part of the crowd moved off with the prisoner, while the other convey'd the body into the house; and, amongst the latter, Philip, who was conversing on the late melancholy event, with his landlord, in the kitchen; when they heard a loud bustle, and, presently, a number of people hustled a

man into the room-bound, and dress'd in the same coat and waistcoat that the deceased had worn, on the preceding night.

He was a short, squat figure, with a potbelly, and cheese-cutter legs. His face was large and round; his forehead high and prominent; his brows wide asunder, and extending, from the top of his nose, to the peak of his sun-burn'd locks, on the summit of either temple. He had odd-color'd eyes-the one hazel, the other grey; and so strong a squint with the latter, that it was a matter of some difficulty, when two persons were present, to ascertain towards which of the parties his organs of vision were directed. His nose was dilated, and so completely turn'd up, that his nostrils were nearer perpendicular, than horizontal; and he had a mouth extending almost from ear to ear, and so square at the corners, that it resembled that of a China-lion, which is, frequently, seen, grinning on a chimney-piece.

"What have 'ee trusted I, in this here way, for all the world like a rabbit, vor?” cried he, trembling. "I were froightful enow to be call'd out o' my bed, in such a

desperate harry-that's what I were—without being lugg'd away, like thief to gallows -wi my eyes half open.-What-a-dickins! do it all mean?"

"The meaning is plain enough," replied a tall, spindle-shank'd, old man, whose dress declared him beadle of the parish; who, with others, had been drawn thither, by the cry of murder, and now held this second culprit by one side of his collar-" too plain, you villain."

Philip now interfered, and, perceiving the fellow to be much alarm'd, told his interrogator, it would be better to give him a little time, to recollect himself, before any farther questions are put to him.

"He is a rascal, sir. We found him (I and my friend, Mr. Surrogate) in his master's clothes; and he will not tell us how he came by them," observed the man, who secured the prisoner on the other side.

"Ecod! you should ax un, how they came by I; for I know nought o' matter,' replied the countryman.

"Don't be alarm'd," said Philip; "but, speak freely, and explain this business."