s!' were many
times repeated by the crowd.

'And now let us see after poor Mr. Clairmont,' said Sir William, going
up to the carriage, which lay on its side. The two _stout gentlemen_ who
had clambered up into the oak, seeing the enemy breathless, had summoned
courage to descend, and were trying to pacify and unharness the
trembling horses.

'How are you, my dear sir? how are you, Mr. Clairmont?' said the
baronet, speaking aloud, not being able to see into the carriage.

'_What_ am I, you mean, nephew,' roared out the old gentleman. 'Why I am
a perfect mass of blanc-mange, bruised to a universal pulp.'

[Illustration: _'There he goes!'--Page 261._]

'I hope not,' replied the baronet; 'no bones broken, I trust?'

'Bones! I don't think I've such a thing as a bone belonging to me no
more than if I had been hermetically sealed in a register-boiler. I tell
you I'm nothing but a huge fricandeau; you may cut me in slices, and
take me out piecemeal.'

'I am happy to hear you are in a state to make merry with your
misfortunes, my dear sir,' rejoined Sir William; 'but, seriously, how
shall we manage to get you out?'

'The tiger is dead as Napoleon, uncle, and lies at the feet of your
favourite Apicius,' said William.

'And the horses are taken off,' added the baronet; 'but I fear the
raising of the carriage to assist your descending cannot be effected
without giving you some more severe jolting. Where is your valet?
Perhaps he can help you if the coach-door be got open. Melange,' cried
Mr. Clairmont, 'are you dead or stupid?'

'Ni l'un ni l'autre, monsieur,' replied the servant doggedly.

'Then pray bestir yourself, and get me out of this miserable ruin. Don't
you hear them say the tiger is killed? Why do you stay sprawling here
looking as ghastly as if he were grinning at you in all his glory?'

Melange began to move.

'There now,' said his master, 'you have set your foot on the bottle in
the side-pocket; there it goes--a bottle of my finest claret!'

Melange popped his head over the perpendicular floor of the carriage,
and seeing the tiger positively dead he sprang out with great facility,
and appeared to have received no other injury than certain indications
of culinary luxuries which besprinkled his habit so plentifully as to
give his tailor (had he seen it) hopes of an ample order for a refit.

'Well, Melange,' said Sir William, 'what measure are you about to take
for your master's relief?'

'The carriage