"Then a prayer to St. Peter, a prayer to St. Paul,
A prayer to St. Jerome—a prayer to them all—
A prayer to each one of the saintly stock,
But devotion alone, devotion to Hock!"
"A right good burden!" said Essper. The very words had made him recover his temper, and ten thousand times more desirous of gaining admittance. He was off his horse in a moment, and scrambling up the wall with the aid of the iron staunchions, he clambered up to the window. The sudden appearance of his figure startled the inmates of the lodge;—and one of them soon staggered to the gate.
"What want you, ye noisy and disturbing varlets? what want you, ye most unhallowed rogues at such a place, and at such an hour? If you be thieves—look at our bars—(here a hiccup.) If you be poachers—our master is engaged, and ye may slay all the game in the forest—(another hiccup)—but if ye be good men and true"
"We are, we are!" hallooed Essper eagerly.
"You are, you are!" said the porter, in a tone of great surprise; "then you ought to be
