you through," said Jerry, taking advantage of the uproar
that ensued to whisper to his chum; "none of them will dare to lift a
finger against you now. They are all your friends for life."

"Nevertheless," returned Turpin, "I should be glad to know what has
become of Bess."

"If it's your prancer you are wanting," chirped a fluttering creature,
whom Turpin recognized as Luke's groom, Grasshopper, "I gave her a fresh
loaf and a stoup of stingo, as you bade me, and there she be, under yon
tree, as quiet as a lamb."

"I see her," replied Turpin; "just tighten her girths, Grasshopper, and
bring her after me, and thou shalt have wherewithal to chirp over thy
cups at supper."

Away bounded the elfin dwarf to execute his behest.

A loud shout now rent the skies, and presently afterwards was heard the
vile scraping of a fiddle, accompanied by the tattoo of a drum.
Approaching Turpin, a host of gipsies elevated the highwayman upon their
shoulders, and in this way he was carried to the centre of the green,
where the long oaken table, which had once served the Franciscans for
refection, was now destined for the stage of the pageant.

Upon this table three drums were placed; and Turpin was requested to
seat himself on the central one. A solemn prelude, more unearthly than
the incantation in the Freyschuetz, was played by the orchestra of the
band, conducted by the Paganini of the place, who elicited the most
marvellous notes from his shell. A couple of shawms[35] emitted
sepulchral sounds, while the hollow rolling of a drum broke ever and
anon upon the ear. The effect was prodigiously fine. During this
overture the patrico and the upright man had ascended the rostrum, each
taking his place; the former on the right hand of Turpin, the latter
upon his left. Below them stood the knight of Malta, with Excalibur
drawn in his hand, and gleaming in the sunshine. On the whole, Dick was
amused with what he saw, and with the novel situation in which he found
himself placed. Around the table were congregated a compact mass of
heads; so compact, indeed, that they looked like one creature--an Argus,
with each eye upturned upon the highwayman. The idea struck Turpin that
the restless mass of parti-colored shreds and patches, of vivid hues and
varied tintings, singularly, though accidentally, disposed to produce
such an effect, resembled an immense tiger-moth, or it might be a Turkey
carpet spread out upon the grass!

The scene was a joyo