Thus filled with notions that appeared to please him, the doctor
shouldered the picture, and walked slowly along until he reached the
dead wall that ran up to the entrance, or nearly so, of the gardens. There was a plantation of young trees that overhung the path, and cast a
deep shadow below--a pleasant spot in hot weather. The doctor had been carrying the picture, resting the side of it on the
small of his arm, and against his shoulder; but this was an inconvenient
posture, because the weight of the picture cut his arm so much, that he
was compelled to pause, and shift it more on his shoulder. "There," he muttered, "that will do for the present, and last until I
reach the cottage garden." He was proceeding along at a slow and steady pace, bestowing all his
care and attention to the manner of holding the picture, when he was
suddenly paralysed by the sound of a great shout of such a peculiar
character, that he involuntarily stopped, and the next moment, something
heavy came against him with great force, just as if a man had jumped
from the wall on to him. This was the truth, for, in another moment, and before he could recover
himself, he found that there was an attempt to deprive him of the
picture. This at once aroused him, and he made an instant and a vigorous defence;
but he was compelled to let go his hold of the picture, and turn to
resist the infuriated attack that was now commenced upon himself. For some moments it was doubtful who would be the victor; but the wind
and strength of the doctor were not enough to resist the powerful
adversary against whom he had to contend, and the heavy blows that were
showered down upon him. At first he was enabled to bear up against this attack; and then he
returned many of the blows with interest; but the stunning effect of the
blows he received himself, was such that he could not help himself, and
felt his senses gradually failing, his strength becoming less and less. In a short time, he received such a blow, that he was laid senseless on
the earth in an instant. How long he remained thus he could not say; but it could not have been
long, for all around him seemed just as it was before he was attacked. The moon had scarcely moved, and the shadows, such as they were, were
falling in the same direction as before. "I have not been long here," he muttered, after a few moments'
reflection; "but--but--"

He stopped short; for, on looking around him, he saw the object of his
solicitude was gone. The picture was nowhere to be seen. It had been
carried off the instant he had been vanquished. "Gone!" he said, in a low, disconsolate tone; "and after all I have
done!" He wiped his hand across his brow, and finding it cut, he looked at the
back of his hand, and saw by the deep colour that it was blood, indeed,
he could now feel it trickle down his face. What to do he hardly knew; he could stand, and after having got upon his
feet, he staggered back against the wall, against which he leaned for
support, and afterwards he crept along with the aid of its support,
until he came to the door. He was observed from the window, where Henry and Charles Holland, seeing
him come up with such an unsteady gait, rushed to the door to ascertain
what was the matter. "What, doctor!" exclaimed Henry Bannerworth; "what is the matter?" "I am almost dead, I think," said Chillingworth. "Lend me your arm,
Henry." Henry and Charles Holland immediately stepped out, and took him between
them into the parlour, and placed him upon a couch. "What on earth has happened, doctor?--have you got into disgrace with
the populace?" "No, no; give me some drink--some water, I am very faint--very faint." "Give him some wine, or, what's better, some grog," said the admiral. "Why, he's been yard-arm with some pirate or other, and he's damaged
about the figure-head. You ain't hurt in your lower works, are you,
doctor?" said the admiral. But the doctor took no notice of the inquiry; but eagerly sipped the
contents of a glass that Charles Holland had poured out of a bottle
containing some strong Hollands, and which appeared to nerve him much. "There!" said the admiral, "that will do you good. How did all this
damage to your upper works come about, eh?" "Let him wash his face and hands first; he will be better able to talk
afterwards." "Oh, thank you," said Chillingworth. "I am much better; but I have had
some hard bruises." "How did it happen?" "I went by myself to watch in the room where the picture was in
Bannerworth Hall." "Where the picture was!" said Henry; "where it is, you mean, do you not,
doctor?" "No; where it was, and where it is not now." "Gone!" "Yes, gone away; I'll tell you all about it. I went there to watch, but
found nobody or nothing there; but suddenly a man stepped out from
behind the picture, and we had a fight over it; after which, just as I
was getting the worst of it, Jack Pringle came in." "The dog!" muttered the admiral. "Yes, he came in just in time, I believe, to save my life; for the man,
whoever he was, would not have hesitated about it." "Well, Jack is a good man," said the admiral; "there may be worse, at
least." "Well, we had a desperate encounter for some minutes, during which this
fellow wanted to carry off the picture." "Carry off the picture?" "Yes; we had a struggle for that; but we could not capture him; he was
so violent that he broke away and got clear off." "With the picture?" "No, he left the picture behind. Well, we were very tired and bruised,
and we sat down to recover ourselves from our fatigue, and to consider
what was best to be done; but we were some time before we could leave,
and then we determined that we would take the picture away with us, as
it seemed to be coveted by the robber, for what object we cannot tell." "Well, well--where is the picture?" "You shall hear all about it in a minute, if you'll let me take my time. I am tired and sore. Well, we brought the picture out, and Jack helped
me carry it till he came within a couple of hundred yards of the
cottage, and there left me." "The lubber!" said the admiral, interjectionally. "Well, I rested awhile, and then taking the picture on my shoulders, I
proceeded along with it until I came to the wall, when suddenly I heard
a great shout, and then down came something heavy upon me, just as if a
man had jumped down upon me." "And--and--"

"Yes," said the doctor, "it was--"

"Was what?" inquired the admiral. "Just what you all seemed to anticipate; you are all before me, but that
was it." "A man?" "Yes; I had a struggle with him, and got nearly killed, for I am not
equal to him in strength. I was sadly knocked about, and finally all the
senses were knocked out of me, and I was, I suppose, left for dead." "And what became of the picture?" "I don't know; but I suppose it was taken away, as, when I came to
myself, it was gone; indeed, I have some faint recollection of seeing
him seize the portrait as I was falling."