The body-snatchers had now shovelled all the earth away that covered me, and they began to lift the coffin out of the grave. Had it been my friend's coffin instead of my own, I should have stigmatised the men who attempted to disinter his body as thieves, robbers, a set of midnight marauders; but in the present instance I blessed them as my deliverers, as my brothers. My heart yearned towards them, for my hopes began to revive. It would be discovered that I was not dead, at least, I hoped so, and when my trance should pass off I should be able to find some way of seeing Molly again. The next moment the outer coffin was wrenched open; then they proceeded to force the leaden one. This was soon done, and I now felt the chill night air. To lift me out, thrust me headfirst into a sack, and shovel the earth into the grave again, was the work of a moment, and I now felt myself laid across the shoulder of one of the men, and carried off. "Where was I bound for?" I asked myself. The men began talking together, so I resolved to listen--to learn, if possible, what they were going to do with me. "A fine corpse, Bill," said one body-snatcher to the other. "Aye, my word," replied Bill, "but what a weight he be!" "Ah! I dare say; these youngsters are so full of blood and muscle," said the other. "Tell you what it is, Tom," said my bearer, "you must lend me a hand or I shall never bring him safely to the doctor's to-night. Here, just take him on your shoulders a bit!" I then felt myself transferred from the shoulders of Bill to those of Tom. "Begad! you're right," said the latter. "He be a load, sure_ly_." "Well," said Bill, "the doctor has got the full worth of his money, and no mistake. For less than ten guineas I wouldn't have undertaken the task on such a night as this. Hark! how the wind howls. My teeth chatter in spite of myself. Poor Jack! Many's the good draught of malt he has drawn for me in his father's tap-room!" "Peace, you fool!" cried Tom; "don't talk so loud, or the thing will get wind in the village, and we shall get torn to pieces. Hush! there is someone behind the hedge." Then they walked on in silence for some time, and on the way I was once more hoisted on to the shoulders of Bill. "Oh, you beggar, what a weight you be!" said Bill, addressing me. "Well, we're paid for it, so I suppose I must carry you," and off we trudged again. "This is the way to Dr. Slasher's house," said Tom. "I see a light in the windows; he is awaiting us." "Well," said Bill, "we've been pretty punctual. It is not much past twelve o'clock. Here we are at last." The two men stopped, and one threw some earth against the doctor's window. The next moment I heard footsteps within, and the door was opened noiselessly. "Hush!" said the doctor's voice. The two men entered the house, when I was taken out of my sack and deposited upon a table in the doctor's study. It was the same doctor who had attended me during my illness.