’With the first alarm, I hollo’d, and ran in the direction shouting as I went; ’twas as I ran I heard the second blow; I saw no one, and heard no other sound; the noise I made myself in running might prevent it.  I can’t say how many seconds it took to run the distance—­not many; I ran fast; I was not long in finding the body; his white vest and small clothes showed under the shadow; he seemed quite dead.  I thought when first I took his hand, there was a kind of a quiver in his fingers; but that was over immediately.  His eyes and mouth were a bit open; the blood was coming very fast, and the wounds on his head looked very deep—­frightful—­as I conjectured they were done with a falchion (a name given to a heavy wooden sword resembling a New Zealand weapon); there was blood coming from one ear, and his mouth; there was no sign of life about him, and I thought him quite dead.  I would have lifted him against a tree, but his head looked all in a smash, and I daren’t move him.  I knew him for Dr. Sturk, of the Artillery; he wore his regimentals; I did not see his hat; his head was bare when I saw him.

’When I saw ’twas Doctor Sturk, I was frightened; he had treated me mighty ill, and I resented it, which I did not conceal; and I thought ’twould look very much against me if I were any way mixed up in this dreadful occurrence—­especially not knowing who did it—­and being alone with the body so soon after ’twas done.  I crossed the park wall therefore; but by the time I came near Barrack-street, I grew uneasy in my mind, lest Doctor Sturk should still have life in him, and perish for want of help.  I went down to the river-side, and washed my hands, for there was blood upon ’em, and while so employed, by mischance I lost my hat in the water and could not recover it.  I stood for a while by the river-bank; it was a lonely place; I was thinking of crossing there first, I was so frightened; I changed my mind, however, and went round by Bloody-bridge.

’The further I went the more fearful I grew, lest Sturk should die for want of help that I might send him; and although I thought him dead, I got such a dread of this over me as I can’t describe.  I saw two soldiers opposite the “Royal Oak” inn, and I told them I overheard a fellow speak of an officer that lay wounded in the Butcher’s Wood, not far from the park-wall, and gave them half-a-crown to have search made, which they promised, and took the money.

’I crossed Bloody-bridge, and got into a coach, and so to Luke Gamble’s.  I told him nothing of Sturk; I had talked foolishly to him, and did not know what even he might think.  I told him all about M. M.’s, that is Mary Duncan’s turning up; she went by that name in London, and kept a lodging-house.  I took his advice on the matter, and sailed next morning.  The man Archie Duncan had left Edinburgh, but I traced him to Carlisle and thence to York, where I found him.  He was in a very poor way, and glad to hear that Demirep was in Dublin, and making money.  When I came back I was in the Hue-and-Cry for the assault on Sturk.