The Lighthouse

y the name of the Badger, had planned to commit a burglary in the town, and it chanced that the

gh they required his assistance much, they were afraid to ask him to join, lest he should not only refuse, but turn against them. In order to get over the difficulty, Swankie had arranged to suggest to him th

hing to do wi't," said he,

r, and a cross-grained hound besides.

hat way. Na, na, Swankie, ye may do't yersel, I'll hae nae hand in't. I'll no objec' to tak a bit keg o' Auchmithi

: Smuggle

with a sneer. "I wonder the thretty sovereigns I gied ye the other day, wh

ooked a litt

wer spilt milk, the thing's done and past noo

er was waiting impatiently for him near the appointed house, hurried away without another word, an

is. The two burglars found nothing to interfere with their deeds of darkness, except a few bolts and bars, whi

ving only one old servant and a little girl to attend upon her. The house stood on a piece of ground not far from the ruins of the stately abbey which originated and gave celebrity to the ancien

ave of absence, all unknown to the burglars, who, had they been aware of the f

two servants, they began their work between twelve and one that nig

ence with much satisfaction, believing in their innocence that no human creature could succeed in getting over it. Boys, however, were their only dread, and fruit their only care, when they looked co

ting on the wall; the former bent down, the latter stepped upon his back, and th

ore having recourse to their tools. Such a point was soon found, in the shape of a small window, opening into a sort of scullery at the back of the house. It had been left open by accident. An entrance was easily effected by the Badger, who was a small man, an

vered or concealed in a moment

'-room door," whi

muttered Swankie; "I k

tered and found the plate

he friends as they exchanged glances, and began to put silver forks an

the bag into the garden, and, climbing over the wall

retiring to rest at night. It chanced that the bottle containing the port wine had been left on the sideb

uired the Badger

g over the bottle, and wiping hi

his fist, looked at him in horror; and well he might, for the Badger became first red and then purple in the face, and seemed as if he were about to burst with his efforts to keep down the cough. It came, however, three

his bed, and listened intently on hearing the first cough. The second cough caused him to spring up and pull on his trousers; the third cough fo

stant, but the boot-jack sped on its way notwithstanding. The burglars were accustomed to fighting, however, and dipped their heads. The boot-jack whizzed past, and smashed the pier-glass on the mantelpiece to a thousand atoms. Major Stewart being expert in all the devices of warfare, knew what to exp

a long, fierce struggle, both being powerful men; at last Swankie was hurled completely through the glass door. In the fall he disengaged himself from the major, and, leaping up, made for the garden wall, over which he succeede

had got into the pantry, and was smashing the crockery, entered the lobby in her

ce of her. He relocked the door, and assuring his mother that it was only robbers, and that

aden with silver, made for the shore, w

e a dodge," s

at be?" enqu

linking down the market-gate,

ree more folk saw

ethin', an' put it in the auld wife's garde

said Swankie,

t's initials were accordingly selected for this purpose, and pl

least half-an-hour in a state of the utmost perplexity. While he was thus enga

ate," shouted

sponded th

forks an' sugar-tongs gr

hastily; "let me see. Oho! this may throw som

this ver

t away last ni

di

midnight?" enquir

ronometer ain't quite so reg'lar since we lef

You saw

more than or'nar i

undle?" interrupt

no do

arge

oodish b

it?" enquired the detec

," replied the captain

ing m

as I kn

afraid, old man, that your nephew has been up to mischief before he went away. A burglary was committed in the to

left the captain in the centre of the garden sta