d voices; and while Hardy and his
companions held on the chair, Quidd and I went about with our hats to
collect as much money as we could.

The old lady was vociferous, and struggled to get out. She flung her
arms about, and cried out, "Deliver me from the flames! Save me from
being burnt!" and everybody thought that the part of guy was acted to
perfection.

Quidd and I got a great deal of money--silver, and copper, and even
gold. Seven-shilling pieces were in circulation at that time, and the
squire and Mr. Hassock passing us, one threw sixpence and the other a
seven-shilling piece to us, for which we gave a louder cheer than
usual. In short, our hats were very nearly half full of money.

The old woman began to be more pacified as she saw the money coming
in, particularly as we put it all into her lap, and told her it should
be hers. But the sight of the squire and the curate, and the
seven-shilling piece, which latter we put into her mouth, seemed quite
to reconcile her to her fate. She became then as gentle as a lamb. She
said:

"Do as you like--do as you like, only don't burn me for a guy; and
give me a drop of something to drink."

"Oh yes," said Quidd, "here is something for you. Hold up your head."

And half a pint of good strong ale soon found its way down the throat
of the dame. After this the chair again moved on, till at last it came
to the market-place, opposite the Town Hall, where an enormous bonfire
was in preparation, over which stood a gallows.

The old lady, when she saw the gallows, screamed "Murder! fire!
brimstone!" and all sorts of horrid cries; but nobody took any heed of
it, except to laugh. They thought it was in keeping with her
character.

"We will not hurt you, we will not hurt you," said I.

But it was of no use; the old lady refused to be pacified.

Just at this moment Quidd felt a severe blow from behind, which sent
him sprawling. I also received a push or a drive, and a loud laugh
burst from those around.

When I turned to see what was the cause of the laughter, what should I
observe but Hannibal, the goat, who had, it appeared, followed his
mistress, and, being excited by her cries, dashed at my schoolfellow
in the way described. Several of the spectators now tried to seize the
goat, but he being of extraordinary strength, butted and pushed so
vigorously that several measured their length upon the earth, to the
no small merriment of the clownish persons who had collected to