Page:Little Daffydowndilly-1887.djvu/74

68 His companion thrust aside his waistcoat, pointed to the handle of a dirk, and nodded.

&ldquo;So be it!&rdquo; muttered the second villain.

They approached the unconscious David, and, while one pointed the dagger towards his heart, the other began to search the bundle beneath his head. Their two faces, grim, wrinkled, and ghastly with guilt and fear, bent over their victim, looking horrible enough to be mistaken for fiends, should he suddenly awake Nay, had the villains glanced aside into the spring, even they would hardly have known themselves as reflected there. But David Swan had never worn a more tranquil aspect, even when asleep on his mother&rsquo;s breast.

&ldquo;I must take away the bundle,&rdquo; whispered one.

&ldquo;If he stirs, I&rsquo; strike,&rdquo; muttered the other.

But, at this moment, a dog, scenting along the ground, came in beneath the maple-trees, and gazed alternately at each of these wicked men, and then at the quiet sleeper. He then lapped out of the fountain.

&ldquo;Pshaw!&rdquo; said one villain. &ldquo;We can do nothing now. The dog&rsquo;s master must be close behind.&rdquo; &ldquo;Let&rsquo;s take a drink and be off,&rdquo; said the other.

The man with the dagger thrust back the weapon into his bosom, and drew forth a pocket pistol, but not of that kind which kills by a single discharge. It was a flask of liquor, with a block-tin tumbler screwed upon the mouth. Each drank a comfortable dram, and left the spot, with so many jests, and such laughter at their unaccomplished wickedness, that they might be said to have gone on their way rejoicing. In a few hours they had forgotten the whole affair, nor once imagined that the recording angel had