contents to the thirsty crowds. Then commenced the dancing, whilst the
huzzaing, shouting, jingling of bells, squeaking of fifes, blowing of
horns, and all the other component parts of this wild melody, were once
more resumed with still greater vigor. The great feat of the night,
however, so far as the people were concerned, was now to take place.
This was to ascertain, by superior activity, who among the young men
could leap over the bonfire, when burnt down to what was considered
such a state as might make the attempt a safe one. The circles about the
different fires were consequently widened to leave room for the run,
and then commenced those hazardous but comic performances. As may be
supposed, they proceeded with various success, and occasioned the most
uproarious mirth whenever any unfortunate devil who had overtasked his
powers in the attempt, happened to fail, and was forced to scamper
out of the subsiding flames with scorched limbs that set him a dancing
without music. In fact, those possessed of activity enough to clear them
were loudly cheered, and rewarded with a glass of whiskey, a temptation
which had induced so many to try, and so many to fail. When these
had been concluded about the minor fires, the victors and spectators
repaired to the great one, to try their fortune upon a larger and more
hazardous scale. It was now nearly half burned down, but was still a
large, glowing mass, at least five feet high, and not less than eighteen
in diameter at the base. On arriving there they all looked on in
silence, appalled by its great size, and altogether deterred from so
formidable an attempt.

It would be death to try it, they exclaimed; no living man could do it;
an opinion which was universally acceded to, with one single exception.
A thin man, rather above the middle size, dressed in a long, black coat,
black breeches, and black stockings, constituted that exception. There
was something peculiar, and even strikingly mysterious, in his whole