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 direct intervention of Satan himself, could have effected such a catastrophe, had recourse to a powerful exorcism, but the Evil one would not budge an inch, nor could Creed or Paternoster be crammed into the prisoner’s dense skull.

Inexorable time held on his course; the hour arrived to which the tribunal had most reluctantly put off the execution, and not a minute longer would they give to save the criminal’s soul or their own. The wand was broken over the pro-tailor’s head, and the procession set out. The patient submitted with excellent grace to all the formalities usual on such occasions, up to the moment of being turned off. He then, however, indulged in the most extraordinary kicks and capers that were ever exhibited on that sort of tight-rope, twistimg and turning about, first on one side, then on the other, and he went on in this way, almost bursting with suppressed laughter, until the populace, thinking it was all the executioner’s fault, and that he was needlessly torturing the sufferer, got into a great rage and began throwing stones at the unfortunate official. Rubezahl, having no spite against the man, on observing this manifestation of feeling, stretched himself out as stiff as a board, and assumed all the appearance of death. The crowd then dispersed. Shortly afterwards, however, a few idlers, curious to see how the corpse of a criminal, who had been hanged, looked on closer in-