“Now, if I had only been friends with that—­that—­hell-fire Moggy Salisbury,” thought Vanslyperken, speaking aloud to himself.

“Mein Gott, yes, mynheer,” replied the corporal.

Vanslyperken took another glass—­spilling a great deal on the table as he poured it out; he then covered his eyes with his hand, as if in thought.  Thereupon the corporal filled without being asked, and, as he perceived that his superior remained in the same position, and did not observe him, he helped himself to a second glass, and then waited till Vanslyperken should speak again; but the liquor had overpowered him, and he spoke no more.

The corporal, after a few minutes, went up to his superior; he touched him on the shoulder, saying, “Mynheer,” but he obtained no reply.  On the contrary, the slight touch made Mr Vanslyperken fall forward on the table.  He was quite insensible.

So the corporal took him up in his arms, laid him in his bed, then taking possession of the lieutenant’s chair, for he was tired of standing so long, he set to work to empty the bottle, which, being large and full at the time that it was produced from the cupboard, took some time, and before it was accomplished, the Corporal Van Spitter had fallen fast asleep in the chair.  Shortly afterwards the candle burnt out, and the cabin was in darkness.

It was about three o’clock in the morning when Mr Vanslyperken began to recover his senses, and as his recollection returned, so were his ears met with a stupendous roaring and unusual noise.  It was, to his imagination, unearthly, for he had been troubled with wild dreams about Smallbones, and his appearance to the corporal.  It sounded like thunder, and Mr Vanslyperken thought that he could plainly make out, “Mortal man! mortal man!” and, at times, the other words of the supernatural intimation to the corporal.  The mortal man was drawn out in lengthened cadence, and in a manner truly horrible.  Vanslyperken called out, “Mor—­tal—­man,” was the reply.

Again Vanslyperken almost shrieked in a perspiration of fear.  The sound now ceased; but it was followed up by a noise like the rattling of glasses, tumbling about of the chairs and table, and Vanslyperken buried his face under the clothes.  Then the door, which had been shut, was heard by him to slam like thunder; and then Snarleyyow barked loud and deep.  “Oh!  God forgive me!” cried the terrified lieutenant.  “Our Father—­which art in heaven—­save me—­save me!”

Shortly afterwards the corporal made his appearance with a light, and inquired if Mr Vanslyperken had called.  He found him reeking with perspiration, and half dead with fear.  In broken words he stated how he had been visited, and how the same intimation that no mortal man could hurt Smallbones had been rung into his ears.

“It was only one dream, Mynheer Vanslyperken,” observed the corporal.

“No—­it was no dream,” replied Vanslyperken.  “Stay in the cabin, good corporal.”