whole parish was in a pucker: some thought the French had landed;
others imagined the commodore's house was beset by thieves; for my
own part, I called up two dragoons that are quartered upon me, and
they swore, with deadly oaths, it was a gang of smugglers engaged
with a party of their regiment that lies in the next village; and
mounting their horses like lusty fellows, rode up into the country
as fast as their beasts could carry them. Ah, master! These are
hard times, when an industrious body cannot earn his bread without
fear of the gallows. Your worship's father (God rest his soul!)
was a good gentleman, and as well respected in this parish as e'er
a he that walks upon neat's leather; and if your honour should want
a small parcel of fine tea, or a few ankers of right Nantes, I'll
be bound you shall be furnished to your heart's content. But, as
I was saying, the hubbub continued till morning, when the parson
being sent for, conjured the spirits into the Red Sea; and the
house has been pretty quiet ever since. True it is, Mr. Hatchway
makes a mock of the whole affair; and told his commander, in this
very blessed spot, that the two goblins were no other than a couple
of jackdaws which had fallen down the chimney, and made a flapping
with their wings up and down the apartment. But the commodore, who
is very choleric, and does not like to be jeered, fell into a main
high passion, and stormed like a perfect hurricane, swearing that
he knew a devil from a jackdaw as well as e'er a man in the three
kingdoms. He owned, indeed, that the birds were found, but denied
that they were the occasion of the uproar. For my own part, master,
I believe much may be said on both sides of the question; though
to be sure, the devil is always going about, as the saying is."

This circumstantial account, extraordinary as it was, never altered
one feature in the countenance of Mr. Pickle, who, having heard