Page:Sylvester Sound the Somnambulist (1844).djvu/180

 "Hollo!" shouted Tom, who had been aroused from his slumber by the rattling of the bones; "What are you up to?—Who's there?"

"Come up, Tom, come up!" cried the doctor; and Tom, without stopping to put on a thing, rushed up stairs.

"What's the batter—what's the batter—what the devil's the batter?"

Ninety-nine trembled, and the serjeant looked pale, as the doctor replied, "There are thieves in the house."

"Thieves!" cried Tom. "Well, but I say, what's all this?—where's by wobad?"

"I shot it by mistake," said the serjeant.

"Shot it by bistake, you fool! What do you bead by shootidg it by bistake? you've dud a huddred poudds worth of dabage."

"I can't help it," said the serjeant; "you should keep such things as these covered over."

"Well, they were covered over. What did you pull the bags off for?—what the devil right had you to beddle with 'eb at all?"

"I didn't meddle with them!—I pulled no bags off."

"Who did, thed? Sobebody bust have pulled theb off."

"They were not covered up," said Ninety-nine, "when I entered. That there one stood as it stands now, and that t'other one was pointing at me—so."

"No, no, Tom," said the doctor, "they were not covered up."

"I tell you, I covered theb up byself, just before I wedt to bed!—I'll take by oath of it."

"Then those fellows must have uncovered them," said the serjeant.

"Where are they?" cried Tom. "If I catch 'eb, I'll break their blessed decks!—where are they?"

They looked round the room, but no soul could be seen. The serjeant went to the window and called to Ninety-six, but Ninety-six had seen no one get out.

"Then," said the serjeant, "that one at least must be in the house still."

They now commenced a diligent search, with the view of going from the top of the house to the bottom, prying into every conceivable corner, and holding themselves in readiness for an attack.

"Archibald! Archibald! What is the matter?" cried Mrs. Delolme, as they passed her room.

"Nothing, dear—nothing—don't be alarmed," said the doctor, on opening the door.

"But why are these men here?—pray tell me," she exclaimed, coming forward in a wrapper—"pray tell me what it is."

They fancied they saw some one enter the house."

"Good gracious! what, this house?—And were they mistaken?"

A thought struck Ninety-nine!

"Have you, ma'am," said he, "any maid which is any way unsteady?"

Mrs. Delolme was shocked at the thought.