ker,
which happened to be red hot; the ostler pulled down a rusty firelock,
that hung by the roof, over a flitch of bacon. Tom Clarke perceiving the
landlady and her children distracted with terror, conducted them, out of
mere compassion, below stairs into the cellar; and as for Mr. Ferret, he
prudently withdrew into an adjoining pantry.

But as a personage of great importance in this entertaining history was
forced to remain some time at the door before he could gain admittance,
so must the reader wait with patience for the next chapter, in which he
will see the cause of this disturbance explained much to his comfort and
edification.

CHAPTER TWO

IN WHICH THE HERO OF THESE ADVENTURES MAKES HIS FIRST APPEARANCE ON THE
STAGE OF ACTION.

The outward door of the Black Lion had already sustained two dreadful
shocks, but at the third it flew open, and in stalked an apparition that
smote the hearts of our travellers with fear and trepidation. It was the
figure of a man armed cap-a-pee, bearing on his shoulders a bundle
dropping with water, which afterwards appeared to be the body of a man
that seemed to have been drowned, and fished up from the bottom of the
neighbouring river.

Having deposited his burden carefully on the floor, he addressed himself
to the company in these words: "Be not surprised, good people, at this
unusual appearance, which I shall take an opportunity to explain, and
forgive the rude and boisterous manner in which I have demanded, and
indeed forced admittance; the violence of my intrusion was the effect of
necessity. In crossing the river, my squire and his horse were swept
away by the stream, and, with some difficulty, I have been able to drag
him ashore, though I am afraid my assistance reached him too late, for
since I brought him to land he has given no signs of life."

Here he was interrupted by a groan, which issued from the chest of the
squire, and terrified the spectators as much as it comforted the master.
After some recollection, Mr. Fillet began to undress the body, which was
laid in a blanket on the floor, and rolled from side to side by his
direction. A considerable quantity of water being discharged from the
mouth of this unfortunate squire, he uttered a hideous roar, and, opening
his eyes, stared wildly around. Then the surgeon undertook for his
recovery; and his master went forth with the ostler in quest of the
horses, which he had left by the side of the river. His