The northern tribune. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1847-1855, 1847-12-11
TIL z L A w 7 e r
Who Cost his Client Nothing.
A TALE.
by SIR EDWARD BULwER LyTToN, BART.
(CoNTINUED.)

Mating certain plans which the contents OF the
soldiers boot would enable him to adopt
Mine host swore suddenly great oaths when he
heard that his guest was waiting tor break fast
in the kitchen. What was to be done: The
boots, at all events, must be returned. Be-
tween the two they cobbled up the rent they
had made i'll the inner leather OF the right
boot, sponged off the dust from both, and sent
them down to the soldier by the maid, with
orders to accompany them by the comestbles
requested. BY this time the kitchen had be-
come pretty full of laborers and idlers in the
habit OF taking their morning draught at the
inn and all turned with curiosity as The man
chet, the flask, and an immense pair OF boots
were placed on the table before the grim, pale
soldier. Kaspar Karnerach (for such was his
name) was too much gnawed by his hunger to
examine the boots until he had hni she'd the
flask and the manchet; but then, lifting the
right boot, it's astonishing lghtness struck him
with terror and suspicion. He passed his
hand into the interior, and the unsatisfactory
touch left no doubt that his strange valise had
been rifed. Kaspar Karnerach was not pa
tient man. But even the most patient seldom
submit to be robbed without murmur.-
"Ah, sow that would devour thine own far
rowan, miserable woman, thief and traitress
signed to thee? My gold crowns-my gold
crowns! Where art thou, traitress =
While bursting forth into such like, and
much worse vollies of yitupelation. the sol
dier strobe to and fro like one distracted and
finding that no hostess came to his call, he
disappeared from the light of the startled Gus
toners in search of the Enthusiastically bank
eress he had SO lucklessly selected.
In few minutes more, loud cries, yells, and
oaths, were heard ON the stairs above, and
presently Kaspar re-appeared, toaming With
rage, belaborng the host, whom he pushed
before him, with the violated boot, while with
the left hand he dragged the hostess by the
arm, careless Of the kicks and pinches with
which she returned his attentions.
The customers rose, and gathered, somewhat
menacingly, round the soldier, the host all the
time roaring for help. But kaspar, whose
blood was up, dashing the host on the ground,
set his foot on his chest, and then, releasing
the hostess, drew his sword, and one circle i'll
the air cleared the space before him. He then,
not without violent interruptions from the
hostess, told his tale, and e-demanded his
treasure. But the audience he appealed to
was not favorable. The host was man of
note in the town, his brother was chief mag.s-
trate; he himself burgomaster; most of
those present were in his debt. The soldier
was a stranger, and unsupported; his tale
seemed improbable-a boot was an odd place
wherein to deposit money. Besides, he had
been very ill-he was probably still out OF his
mind; in short, whether or not, his tale was
disbelieved, the audience saw sufficient excuse
to disbelieve it. Meanwhile, at a whisper
from the hostess, one of the guests had disap-
peared at the commencement OF the harangue.
I Il IL.
general clamor of incredulity and Indignation,
in the midst of which, by violent effort, the
host wrenched himself from his unpleasing
position, gained his legs, ran to the fire place,
seized on the spit, and encouraged by the
sympathy he met with, and the number on his
side, he ran tilt at his aceuser, calling him
all the liars and vagabonds he could lay his
tongue to. The soldier parted the spit, and
with back handed stroke cut of the hosts
ear.
Amidst the hubbub that ensued in marched
the hosts brother, the magistrate, with a score
of halberders in his suite. They found poor
Kaspar fourishing his sword, the host bleed
ing and believing the guests screaming and
yelling and shaking their fists. kaspar was
soon disarme and handcutfed, yet not before
he had wounded one of the halberdiers, and
hattened the chief magistrates hat over his
eyes by a stroke with the fat of his sword
1t was evening ere peace and quiet were re-
stored to the inn and the town. The soldier
was cast into prison, and his trial appointed
for the next day.
Prisons at that day were not the comtorta-
bile asylums for prosecuted merit which they
are in this. Formerly innocent persons were
the prisoners, and nothing could be worse than
the Recommendations present prisoner Is
generally guilty, and he is treated with every
possible consideration.
1t was literally a dungeon into which kas-
par Karneraeh was thrown, under ground, III
the old keep of the town. The stone walls
steamed with damp, a litter OF foul straw
formed the bed, and broken pitcher OF ditch
water, with a parallelogram OF black bread
formed the fare. III lodging and worse table