e has put his foot _in it_ already, we guess!"
_Hilloah!_

Bess was brought to her master--Dick steadfastly gazed
At the eye of his mare, then his foot quick upraised;
His toe touched the stirrup, his hand grasped the rein--
He was safe on the back of his courser again!
As the clarion, fray-sounding and shrill, was the neigh
Of Black Bess, as she answered his cry "Hark-away!"
"Beset me, ye bloodhounds! in rear and in van;
My foot's in the stirrup and catch me who can!"
_Hilloah!_

There was riding and gibing mid rabble and rout,
And the old woods re-echoed the Philistines' shout!
There was hurling and whirling o'er brake and o'er brier,
But the course of Dick Turpin was swift as Heaven's fire.
Whipping, spurring, and straining would nothing avail,
Dick laughed at their curses, and scoffed at their wail;
"My foot's in the stirrup!"--thus rang his last cry;
"Bess has answered my call; now her mettle we'll try!"
_Hilloah!_

Uproarious applause followed Jack's song, when the joviality of the
mourners was interrupted by a summons to attend in the state-room.
Silence was at once completely restored; and, in the best order they
could assume, they followed their leader, Peter Bradley. Jack Palmer
was amongst the last to enter, and remained a not incurious spectator of
a by no means common scene.

Preparations had been made to give due solemnity to the ceremonial. The
leaden coffin was fastened down, and enclosed in an outer case of oak,
upon the lid of which stood a richly-chased massive silver flagon,
filled with burnt claret, called the grace-cup. All the lights were
removed, save two lofty wax flambeaux, which were placed to the back,
and threw a lurid glare upon the group immediately about the body,
consisting of Ranulph Rookwood and some other friends of the deceased.
Dr. Small stood in front of the bier; and, under the directions of Peter
Bradley, the tenantry and household were formed into a wide half-moon
across the chamber. There was a hush of expectation, as Dr. Small looked
gravely round; and even Jack Palmer, who was as little likely as any man
to yield to an impression of the kind, felt himself moved by the scene.

The very orthodox Small, as is well known to our readers, held
everythin