In a minute or two he heard the panting of the lad, who was quite weary with his load.  Vanslyperken compressed his lips, and held his breath.  The lad passed him; Vanslyperken now rose from behind, levelled the pistol at the lad’s head, and fired.  Smallbones uttered a yell, fell down on his face, and then rolled on his back without life or motion.

Vanslyperken looked at him for one second, then turned back, and fled with the wings of the wind.  Conscience now appeared to pursue him, and he ran on until he was so exhausted, that he fell; the pistol was still in his hand, and as he put out his arm mechanically to save himself, the lock of the pistol came in violent contact with his temple.

After a time he rose again, faint and bleeding, and continued his course at a more moderate pace, but as the wind blew, and whistled among the boughs of the trees, he thought every moment that he beheld the form of the murdered lad.  He quickened his pace, arrived at last within the fortifications, and putting the pistol in his coat-pocket, he somewhat, recovered himself.  He bound his silk handkerchief round his head, and proceeded to the boat, which he had ordered to wait till Smallbones’ return.  He had then a part to act, and told the men that he had been assailed by robbers, and ordered them to pull on board immediately.  As soon as he came on board he desired the men to assist him down into his cabin, and then he sent for Corporal Van Spitter to dress his wounds.  He communicated to the corporal, that as he was going out in the country as he had proposed, he had been attacked by robbers, that he had been severely wounded, and had, he thought, killed one of them, as the others ran away; what had become of Smallbones he knew not, but he had heard him crying out in the hands of the robbers.

The corporal, who had felt certain that the pistol had been intended for Smallbones, hardly knew what to make of the matter; the wound of Mr Vanslyperken was severe, and it was hardly to be supposed that it had been self-inflicted.  The corporal therefore held his tongue, heard all that Mr Vanslyperken had to say, and was very considerably puzzled.

“It was a fortunate thing that I thought of taking a pistol with me, corporal, I might have been murdered outright.”

“Yes, mynheer,” replied the corporal, and binding the handkerchief round Vanslyperken’s head, he then assisted him into bed.  “Mein Gott!  I make no head or tail of de business,” said the corporal, as he walked forward; “but I must know de truth soon; I not go to bed for two or three hours, and den I hear others.”

It is needless to say that Mr Vanslyperken passed a restless night, not only from the pain of his wound, but from the torments of conscience; for it is but by degrees that the greatest villain can drive away its stings, and then it is but for a short time, and when it does force itself back upon him, it is with redoubled power.  His occasional slumbers were broken by fitful starts, in which he again and again heard the yell of the poor lad, and saw the corpse rolling at his feet.  It was about an hour before daylight that Mr Vanslyperken again woke, and found that the light had burnt out.  He could not remain in the dark, it was too dreadful; he raised himself, and pulled the bell over his head.  Some one entered.  “Bring a light immediately,” cried Vanslyperken.