olved to steal
slowly upon him, collar him, and demand an explanation. With this view I
approached him, concealing myself as well as I could, and was so
successful that I had actually got within ten yards of my prey without
being discovered. At this instant, hearing footsteps, he turned round,
looked alarmed, and took to his heels. I was after him in a moment, and
the flight on one side, and pursuit on the other, were keenly contested.
Thanks to Wolstang's long legs, they were better than the short ones
with which my antagonist was furnished, and I caught him by the collar
as he was about to enter a wood. I grasped my body with Herculean grip,
so terrified was I to lose it. "And now, you villain," said I, as soon
as I could recover breath, "tell me the meaning of this. Restore me my
body, or by heaven I will----"

"You will do what?" asked he, with the most insolent coolness. This
question was a dagger to my soul, for I knew that any punishment I
inflicted upon him must be inflicted upon myself. I stood mute for a
few seconds, still holding him strongly in my grasp. At last throwing
pity aside, by one vast effort I cried out, "I declare solemnly,
Wolstang, that if you do not give me back my body I shall kill you on
the spot."

"Kill me on the spot!" replied he. "Do you mean to say that you will
kill your own body?"

"I do say so," was my answer. "I will rather destroy my dear body, than
it should be disgraced by a scoundrel like you."

"You are jesting," said Wolstang, endeavouring to extricate himself.

"I shall show you the contrary," rejoined I, giving him a violent blow
on the nose, and another on the ribs. These strokes almost drew tears
from my eyes; and when I saw my precious blood flowing, I certainly
would have wept aloud, but for the terrible energy which rage had given
me. The punishment had its evident effect, however, upon Wolstang, for
he became agitated and alarmed, grew pale, and entreated me to let him
go. "Never, you villain, till you return me back my body. Let me be
myself again, and then you are free."

"That is impossible," said he, "and cannot be done without the agency of
another person, who is absent; but I hereby solemnly swear, that five
days after my death your body shall be your own."

"If better terms cannot be had, I must take even these, but better I
shall have; so prepare to part with what is not your own. Take yourself
back again, or I will beat you to mummy." So saying, I laid