alani, and alighting
opposite one another on my visage, betook themselves to indecorous
contention for the paltry consideration of my nose.

But, as the loss of his ears proved the means of elevating to the throne
of Cyrus, the Magian or Mige-Gush of Persia, and as the cutting off his
nose gave Zopyrus possession of Babylon, so the loss of a few ounces of
my countenance proved the salvation of my body. Aroused by the pain, and
burning with indignation, I burst, at a single effort, the fastenings
and the bandage. Stalking across the room I cast a glance of contempt at
the belligerents, and throwing open the sash to their extreme horror and
disappointment, precipitated myself, very dexterously, from the window.
this moment passing from the city jail to the scaffold erected for his
execution in the suburbs. His extreme infirmity and long continued
ill health had obtained him the privilege of remaining unmanacled; and
habited in his gallows costume--one very similar to my own,--he lay at
full length in the bottom of the hangman's cart (which happened to be
under the windows of the surgeon at the moment of my precipitation)
without any other guard than the driver, who was asleep, and two
recruits of the sixth infantry, who were drunk.

As ill-luck would have it, I alit upon my feet within the vehicle.
immediately, he bolted out behind, and turning down an alley, was out of
sight in the twinkling of an eye. The recruits, aroused by the bustle,
could not exactly comprehend the merits of the transaction. Seeing,
however, a man, the precise counterpart of the felon, standing
upright in the cart before their eyes, they were of (so they expressed
themselves,) and, having communicated this opinion to one another, they
took each a dram, and then knocked me down with the butt-ends of their
muskets.

It was not long ere we arrived at the place of destination. Of course
nothing could be said in my defence. Hanging was my inevitable fate. I
resigned myself thereto with a feeling half stupid, half acrimonious.
Being little of a cynic, I had all the sentiments of a dog. The hangman,
however, adjusted the noose about my neck. The drop fell.

I forbear to depict my sensations upon the gallows; although here,
undoubtedly, I could speak to the point, and it is a topic upon which
nothing has been well said. In fact, to write upon such a theme it is
necessary to have been hanged. Every author should confine himself to
matters of experience.