leathern bag, the knot by which it was fastened, baffling all their endeavours to untie it, was at length cut asunder, and the amazement of the gaping multitude rose to the highest pitch, when their eyes beheld a great number of gold pieces.
At first the whole crew was struck dumb with astonishment, but their silence was soon interrupted by a voice, exclaiming, "we have entrapped the sacrilegious robber of our church!" which was the signal for the enraged multitude to break out in curses and terrible execrations against the old man; the air resounded with the universal cry, "church robber! church robber!" and some of them, hastening to the justice of peace, roared with a bellowing voice, "we have found him out! we have found him out! we have detected the sacrilegious robber of our church!"
The justice was astonished at the unexpected tidings, but his amazement increased still more, when he saw the large heaps ofgold
