“And now, Fox—tell us all about it.”

We were all seated round a crackling fire of dried
branches. The autumn evenings were chilly in those
elevated regions.

“When I returned from my interview with Bertha,”
began Rabenmark, without any further preface, “I found
that I had, naturally enough, much overstayed the appointed
time. I skulked about in the neighbourhood of
the `Swine,' but could see nothing of Lackland, Morton,
or the coffin-maker. I resolved to set out by myself. It
was about nine o'clock, and a bright moon. I had travelled
about ten miles, when I perceived that I was dogged.
I reached the shadow of a tree, and sprang into a
field. I had been perceived, however, and was immediately
followed by my persecutors. In five minutes I was
attacked by four stout men. At first, I hoped that they
were robbers. I, however, soon recognized in one, an
agent of the police, and presently they all addressed me

[figure description] Page 066.[end figure description]

by name. I knocked one down, but the rest were, of
course, too much for me. They took me prisoner, bound
me, and carried me back to the nearest village.

“I was confined for the night in an upper room of a
house of large dimensions. As it was dark when I
went up stairs, I could not exactly understand where I
was. They threw me into a room which was unfurnished,
and locked and double-locked the door. They told
me, on departing, that I should be, to-morrow, conducted
to the common jail. They observed, that I must
be grateful for one night's respite. They helped themselves
to all the money I had with me, as an earnest,
they said, of the thousand dollars they were to have for
my apprehension. They then went away.

“I lay for a long time quiet. I was fatigued, and a
little injured from the rough handling I had received.
At last I shook off my torpor and arose. I found that
my hands had been bound behind my back. I made a
violent exertion, and snapped the cord in twain. I
walked round the room: as I said, it was unfurnished,
and of rather large dimensions. There was a door,
communicating, apparently, with another chamber. A
light streamed through the key-hole. I looked in. A
corpse was laid out on a bed; candles were placed
around, and there were two or three attendants present.
There seemed, however, to be no mourners. From the
conversation of the servants, I gathered that it was the
body of a nobleman, who was a stranger in the place.
It seems, that he had died suddenly; that in dying, he
had made a last request to be buried at once, at the dead
of night, in the most secret manner possible, and in a
designated place, about a mile from one of the city
gates. One of the three persons stated that he had

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received a handsome bequest from the deceased, and had
promised to see his dying wishes fulfilled. The proper
authorities had been notified, and permission of interment
obtained. The others were to assist him in his
undertaking. As it wanted three quarters of an hour
to midnight, they went to another room. They agreed
to meet together exactly at twelve, and in the mean time
went to repose.

“The corpse was left on the bed. The candles were
still burning. I waited a long time. The men went
away talking and laughing. I heard them in the passage.
I listened till I heard their last footfall on the
stairs. All became again as silent as the grave. After
a few minutes a bold idea occurred to me. I hastened
to put it into execution. I knew that no additional
harm could result to me if I should fail. I tried the
door which opened between the two rooms. It was
locked. It was, however, of a slight construction. I
easily kicked out a panel. I crept into the room. I
drew my cloak after me.

“Without a moment's hesitation, I seized upon the
dead man. I dragged him without ceremony from the
bed. I tore off his shroud. I threw around him my
cloak. I placed my large slouched hat upon his head.
I again crept through the door, seized the corpse by the
heels, and pulled him into the room after me. As I was
forcing him through the door, the hat fell off. A ghastly
moonbeam fell full upon his distorted features. The
face assumed an unearthly grin. I felt a little frightened.
I manned myself, however, and completed my
task. I placed the body in a natural sleeping position
in the corner of my room. I folded the cloak closely
about it, and pressed the hat upon its brows. I looked

[figure description] Page 068.[end figure description]

at him a moment—was satisfied with the deception, and
left him as my representative. In return, I now hastened
to assume his place. I borrowed and put on his grave
clothes—wrapped myself in his shroud, and laid myself
down on his bed of state. I waited patiently, but not
without some tremors, for the issue. At last the door
opened. In spite of my singular and precarious situation,
I had almost fallen into a doze. The noise, of
course, aroused me. The three men entered. They
were vulgar-looking persons. One was smoking a pipe.
They jested at the absurdity of the old fellow for insisting
on so whimsical a burial. They lifted me from the
bed, and placed me hastily in the coffin which they had
brought with them. They had not the least suspicion
of the trick I had been playing. They carried me down
stairs, and placed me in a hearse. Two of them
mounted the driving-seat—one of them ran on before
with a spade.

“I had been careful to retain my dagger with me.
With this I easily forced off the coffin-lid. Watching
my opportunity, I rolled myself out of the coffin, sprang
from behind upon the two men who were driving, uttered
a hideous yell, and jumped upon the ground.
The men had fallen out on each side. The horse had
stopped. When they perceived, by the light of the moon,
that the coffin had been overturned, and directly afterwards
saw the dead body stalking across the road in his
shroud, they were horror-struck. They fell upon their
knees, and began to pray. Of course, they could not
doubt that it was a ghost.

“Without more ado, I hastened to complete my escape.
I tucked up my winding-sheet with one hand, as
scrupulously as an ancient gentlewoman her petticoats

[figure description] Page 069.[end figure description]

on a rainy day, and fled across the fields. After I had
gone I should think five miles, I paused for an instant's
repose. I now threw away my borrowed attire, and
pursued my way more leisurely in my peasant's dress.
After this, I completed my journey hither without interruption.
I esteem myself peculiarly fortunate that I
arrived in time to see the capture of old Potiphar, and
the happiness of my friend Trump.”

“A very pretty and very ingenious escape,” said
Skamp. “I assure you, Herr Baron, that I am proud of
my disciples.”

“I wonder who the old gentleman was whose place
you usurped in so irregular a manner,” said Lackland.

“Did I not mention his name?” said Rabenmark.
I forgot then to tell you what I heard from my friends,
the undertakers. It seems he was a Pommeranian gentleman,
of great wealth, as reported, and a stranger in these
parts. His name was Count Bernard Von Rothenberg.”

“Thousand Donnerwetter!” shouted Pappenheim.
“My old uncle, Rothenberg!”

“Your uncle! your uncle! What uncle?” cried a
dozen voices.

“The very same rich old tyrant of an uncle,” said
Pappenheim, “who has always opposed my union with
Ida on account of her plebeian blood. His estate was
entailed upon me. He could not keep it from me after
his death, so he took devilish good care to make me feel
the want of it during his life. He was a miserly old tyrant.
But no matter. Peace to the dead! Give me joy, my
boys. I am now Count Pappenheim Von Rothenberg,
with twenty thousand dollars a-year.

“Well,” said Trump, “it was as well, after all, my
dear Pappenheim, that our elopements miscarried. We

[figure description] Page 070.[end figure description]

had the sport and now my business is settled satisfactorily.
As for you, I suppose there is no doubt about
old Poodleberg's consent to your union with his daughter
in your present improved circumstances.

“Certainly not—certainly not. I shall marry her to-morrow.
I might probably have done so before now, if
I had chosen to demonstrate the certainty of my inheritance
to the satisfaction of the Professor; but Ida
was romantic, and I was obstinate, and so we determined
to elope instead. No matter, it is all over now, and I bid
you all to my wedding.”

It may easily be believed that the happy termination
of Trump and Pappenheim's amours enlivened the assembly.
We had a plentiful supply of wine, and we
devoted ourselves to merriment. The grey tints of morning
were already visible before any of the party sought
repose.