-broom reared aloft, and threatening
instant ruin to his person.

From this double peril, what but the happiest genius could have
suggested to Mr. Tiffany, an instant and straightforward flight from the
house; in which he immediately engaged, making up the road--the Captain
with his musket, and Mopsey with her hearth-broom, close at his heels.
If Mr. Tiffany Carrack had promptly employed his undoubted resources of
youth and activity, his escape from the necessity of disclosure or
surrender had been perhaps easy; but it so happened that his progress
was a good deal baffled by the conflict constantly kept up in his brain,
between the desire to use his legs in the natural manner, and to
preserve that antique pace of tottering gentility which he had acquired
from that devilish fine old fellow, the Prince of Baden-Baden, so that
at one moment he was in the very hands of the enemy, and at the next,
flying like an antelope in the distance. The gun, constantly following
him with a loud threat, from the Captain, seemed, in the moonlight, like
a great finger perpetually pointing at his head; till at last it became
altogether too dreadful to bear, and making up the road toward
Brundage's, which still further inflamed the pursuit, in sheer
exhaustion he rushed through an open gate into a neighboring tan-yard,
and took refuge in the old bark-mill. There was but a moment's rest
allowed him even here, for Mopsey and the Captain, furiously threatening
all sorts of death and destruction, presently rushed in at the door, and
sent him scampering about the ring like a distracted colt, in his first
day's service; a game of short duration, for the Captain and Mopsey,
closing in upon him from opposite directions compelled him to retreat
again into the open air. How much longer the chase might have continued,
it were hard to tell, for as his pursuers made after him, Mr. Tiffany
Carrack suddenly disappeared, like a melted snow-flake, from the surface
of the earth. In his confused state he had tumbled into a vat,
fortunately without the observation of the inexorable enemy, although as
he clung to the side the Captain discharged his musket directly over his
head.

"I guess that's done his business," said the Captain. "We'll come and
look for the body in the morning."

Now it is strongly suspected that both Mopsey and the Captain knew well
enough all along that this was Mr. Tiffany Carrack they had been
pursuing, and that as they watched him fr