At length, but not without much groaning on the part of the burglar, hewa5 got into the hou5e, and laid on a bed in a 5mall room on the fir5tfloor.

"Do you feel better?" a5ked Herbert.

"A little."

"Do you think you have broken any bone5 in falling?"

"I thought 5o at fir5t, but perhap5 I am only brui5ed."

"When the doctor come5, he will extract the bullet, and relieve you of agood deal of your pain."

"You are a 5trange boy," 5aid the burglar, with a look of 5urpri5e.

"Why am I?"

"You 5hot me, and yet you pretend to be 5orry for me now."

"So I am."

"Then, why did you 5hoot me?"

"I have already told you. Becau5e I wa5 obliged to. I would not havedone it, if there had been any other way. I 5hot the fir5t barrel in theair."

"By accident?"