“Well, I’ve a notion that he is done for, anyhow,” said Smallbones, “at last.”

“Mein Gott, yes!” replied the corporal.  “He never get on his legs again, be he tog or be he tyfel.”

“Now for to come for to go for to bury him,” said Smallbones, swinging the dog by the tail, and dragging him towards the ditch.  “I wonder if we could get a spade anywhere, corporal.”

“Mein Gott! if we ask for a spade they will ask what for, and Vanslyperken may find it all out.”

“Then I’ll bury him and cover him up, anyhow; he’ll not come to life again, if he does may I be knocked on the head like him, that’s all.”  Smallbones dragged the body into the ditch, and collecting out of the other parts of the ditch a great quantity of wet leaves, covered the body a foot deep.  “There, they won’t find him now, because they won’t know where to look for him.  I say, corporal, I’ve a notion we had better not be seen here too long.”

“No,” said the corporal, wiping his forehead, putting his handkerchief in his cap, and his cap on his head; “we must go now.”

They went to the washerwoman’s, delivered the bundle, and then returned on board, when the whole crew were informed of the success of the expedition, and appeared quite satisfied that there was an end of the detested cur; all but Coble, who shook his head.

“We shall see,” says he; “but I’m blessed if I don’t expect the cur back to-morrow morning.”

We must now return to Vanslyperken, who left the public-house in a state of consternation.  “How could she possibly know anything about it?” exclaimed he.  “My life in the power of that she-devil” And Vanslyperken walked on, turning over the affair in his mind.  “I have gone too far to retreat now.  I must either go on, or fly the country.  Fly, where?  What a fool have I been!” but then Vanslyperken thought of the money.  “No, no, not a fool, but I am very unfortunate.”  Vanslyperken continued his route, until it at last occurred to him that he would go to the Jew Lazarus, and speak with him; for, thought Vanslyperken, if all is discovered, they may think that I have informed, and then my life will be sought by both parties.  Vanslyperken arrived at the Jew’s abode, knocked softly, but received no answer:  he knocked again, louder; a bustle and confusion was heard inside, and at last the door, with the chain fixed, was opened a couple of inches, and the Jew stammered out, “Wot vash there at this late hour of the night?”

“It is me, the lieutenant of the cutter,” replied Vanslyperken.  “I must speak with you directly.”

The door was opened, several figures, and the clatter of arms, were heard in the dark passage, and as soon as Vanslyperken had entered it was relocked, and he was left in the dark.

In a minute the Jew, in a woollen wrapper, made his appearance with a light, and led Vanslyperken into the room where he had been shown before.