n, who, with the ferocity of the boar he so much resembled, thus
furiously attacked him. Nevertheless, as may be imagined, he was not
disposed to yield up his life tamely. He saw at once the villain's
murderous intentions, and, well aware of his prodigious power, would not
have risked a close struggle could he have avoided it. Snatching the
eel-spear from the wall, he had hurled it at the head of his adversary,
but without effect. In the next instant he was locked in a clasp
terrible as that of a Polar bear. In spite of all his struggles, Luke
was speedily hurled to the ground: and Jem, who had thrown himself upon
him, was apparently searching about for some weapon to put a bloody
termination to the conflict, when the trampling of a horse was heard at
the door, three taps were repeated slowly, one after the other, and a
call resounded from a whistle.

"Damnation!" ejaculated Jem, gruffly, "interrupted!" And he seemed
irresolute, slightly altering his position on Luke's body.

The moment was fortunate for Luke, and, in all probability, saved his
life. He extricated himself from the ferryman's grasp, regained his
feet, and, what was of more importance, the weapon he had thrown away.

"Villain!" cried he, about to plunge the spear with all his force into
his enemy's side, "you shall----"

The whistle was again heard without.

"Don't you hear that?" cried Jem: "'Tis Turpin's call."

"Turpin!" echoed Luke, dropping the point of his weapon. "Unbar the
door, you treacherous rascal, and admit him."

"Well, say no more about it, Sir Luke," said Jem, fawningly; "I knows I
owes you my life, and I thank you for it. Take back the lowre. He should
not have shown it me--it was that as did all the mischief."

"Unbar the door, and parley not," said Luke contemptuously.

Jem complied with pretended alacrity, but real reluctance, casting
suspicious glances at Luke as he withdrew the bolts. The door at length
being opened, haggard, exhausted, and covered with dust, Dick Turpin
staggered into the hut.

"Well, I am here," said he, with a hollow laugh. "I've kept my word--ha,
ha! I've been damnably put to it; but here I am, ha, ha!" And he sank
upon one of the stools.

"We heard you were apprehended," said Luke. "I am glad to find the
information was false," added he, glancing angrily at the ferryman.

"Whoever told you that, told you a lie, Sir Luke," replied Dick; "but
what are you scowling at, old Charon?--and you, Sir Luke? W