Bill,’ as he quitted the cave.  His precautions with regard to Tom were unneeded.  The ruffian’s hatred had been aroused by Hunter’s suspicion, and confirmed by the blow.  Nor did he refuse to start to Erith for assistance to convey the prisoner and the wounded man there.  He had been assured by the agent that no harm should come to him, protected by the powerful influence of the nobleman; and to allow himself to be captured had been part of the plan from the first.  He had not sense enough to know that the heavier crime of murder, now laying upon the soul of the unfortunate man, did away with the necessity of his appearing as a witness, as it had been done in the presence of Mr. Lambert and the officer, and they were both too wise to undeceive him.  Indeed the wily agent had determined, now that the service was rendered, to sacrifice his ruffianly tool, as his presence might be troublesome.  Tom soon returned with a posse of police officers and a cart, to convey the prisoner and the wounded.  A surgeon was with them, who dressed Mr. Lambert’s wound temporarily, and pronounced it trifling, and the party departed—­Tom going with them as a voluntary prisoner.

Great were the encomiums bestowed upon the officer by his brother official, for his conduct and bravery, and the agent also came in for his share of praise—­and the whole party were in high glee at the result, which brought one poor hunted human being under the dread ban of the law, while he whose lust had driven him to crime revelled in luxury, and mingled with the fair and good, courted and caressed by those who would have shrunk from expressing any sympathy for the poor victims of his pride.  Weep, angels, weep! and devils, shout for joy!  Hell has no minister so powerful as the proud man’s lust.

It may be as well to mention here at once, that the agent, pursuing his plan of getting rid of Curly Tom, much to that worthy’s astonishment, pressed the charge of highway robbery against him, before the trial of Hunter, which was postponed through the influence of the Earl, which was indirectly exerted also to procure the condemnation of his base tool; and so it came to pass, that after a trial, which was a mere form—­for the seaman’s bare deposition, which Mr. Lambert had taken, was admitted as evidence—­the good citizens of Canterbury being in want of a little excitement, that interesting individual performed a dance upon nothing, in company with a sheep-stealer and a forger, for their especial behoof, one fine day in September, under the personal superintendence of that accomplished artist, Mr. John Ketch, in the presence of a highly respectable and numerous audience, who all retired to their homes in peace, much gratified with the exhibition, and duly impressed with a deep sense of the blessing of being permitted to vegetate under the protection of a government so wise in its councils, so strong in execution, and so paternal in its care for the morals of the people.  So said the newspapers next day; and thus ended the career of a heartless ruffian, it is true, but who had ever sought to make him otherwise?