of the crowd, a paper
raised on a hussar's lance, and as the mob fell back on every aide, a
royal aide-de-camp rode up, followed closely by the mounted runner, and
delivered to the sheriff a reprieve under the sign-manual of His
Majesty George the First.

At 2 P.M. of the same day Gen. Sir Robert Barrington reached Newgate,
and saw Captain Cowen in private. That unhappy man fell on his knees
and made a confession.

Barrington was horrified, and turned as cold as ice to him. He stood
erect as a statue. "A soldier to rob!" said he. "Murder was bad
enough--but to rob!"

Cowen, with his head and hands all hanging down, could only say,
faintly, "I have been robbed and ruined, and it was for my boy. Ah,
me! what will become of him? I have lost my soul for him, and now he
will be ruined and disgraced--by me, who would have died for him." The
strong man shook with agony, and his head and hands almost touched the
ground.

Sir Robert Barrington looked at him and pondered.

"No," said he, relenting a little, "that is the one thing I can do for
you. I had made up my mind to take your son to Canada as my secretary,
and I will take him. But he must change his name. I sail next
Thursday."

The broken man stared wildly; then started up and blessed him; and from
that moment the wild hope entered his breast that he might keep his son
unstained by his crime, and even ignorant of it.

Barrington said that was impossible; but yielded to the father's
prayers, and consented to act as if it was possible. He would send a
messenger to Oxford, with money and instructions to bring the young man
up and put him on board the ship at Gravesend.

This difficult scheme once conceived, there was not a moment to be
lost. Barrington sent down a mounted messenger to Oxford, with money
and instructions.

Cowen sent for Bradbury, and asked him when he was to appear at Bow
Street.

"To-morrow, I suppose."

"Do me a favor. Get all your witnesses; make the case complete, and
show me only once to the public before I am tried."

"Well, Captain," said Bradbury, "you were square with me about poor
Cox. I don't see as it matters much to you; but I'll not say you nay."
He saw the solicitor for the Crown, and asked a few days to collect all
his evidence. The functionary named Friday.

This was conveyed next day to Cowen, and put him in a fever; it gave
him a chance of keeping his son ignorant, but no certainty. Ships were
eternally d