l find 'em. We'll go on a pilgrimage from house to house,
asking if any lady there has lost a night-cap and found a pair of
dueling-pistols.'

* * * * *

CHAPTER IV.

In very good spirits, the party crossed the river, and inquired at the
baggage-room in reference to each and all black leather traveling-bags
arrived that day, took notes of where they were sent, and set out to
follow them up. In due time they reached the Continental, and, as luck
would have it, met the unhappy bridal pair just coming down stairs in
charge of the policeman.

'What's all this?' inquired the Captain.

'Oh, a couple of burglars, caught with a valise full of stolen
property.'

'A valise!--what kind of a valise?'

'A black leather valise. That's it, there.'

'Here!--Stop!--Hallo!--Policeman!--Landlord! It's all right. You're all
wrong. That's my valise. It's all a mistake. They got changed at the
depot. This lady and gentleman are innocent. Here's their valise, with
her night-cap in it.'

Great was the laughter, multifarious the comments, and deep the interest
of the crowd in all this dialogue, which they appeared to regard as a
delightful entertainment, got up expressly for their amusement.

'Then you say this 'ere is yourn?' said the policeman, relaxing his hold
on the bridegroom, and confronting the Captain.

'Yes, it's mine.'

'And how did you come by the spoons?'

'Spoons, you jackanapes!' said the Captain. 'Pistols!--dueling-pistols!'

'Do you call these pistols?' said the policeman, holding up one of the
silver spoons marked 'T.B.'

The Captain, astounded, gasped, 'It's the wrong valise again, after
all!'

'Stop! Not so fast!' said the police functionary, now invested with
great dignity by the importance of the affair he found himself engaged
in. 'If so be as how you've got this 'ere lady's valise, she's all
right, and can go. But, in that case, this is yourn, and it comes on you
to account for them 'are stole spoons. Have to take _you_ in charge, all
four of ye.'

'Why, you impudent scoundrel!' roared the Captain; 'I'll see you in
----. I wish I had my pistols here; I'd teach you how to insult
gentlemen!'--shaking his fist.

The dispute waxed fast and furious. The outsiders began to take part in
it, and there is no telling how it would have ended, had not an
explosion, followed by a heavy fall and a scream of pain, been heard in
an adjoining room.

The crowd rushed to the scene