PREFACE.

In Part II, Vol. 2, of the Rhenish Antiquarius, I once came across a skull that is said—see page 612—to swing, enclosed in a metal casket, from an iron bar in the foundry of Ehrenbreitstein fortress. Distinction of this order does not fall to an ordinary mortal. Yon empty shell of human wisdom once bore the burden of no less than twenty-one mortal sins—the seven originalia trebled. Each crime is noted. The criminal confessed to the entire three-times-seven, and yet the death sentence was not passed upon him because of the twenty-one crimes. His fate was decided by the transgression of a military regulation.

What if this skull could speak? What if it could defend itself?—relate, with all the grim humor of one on the rack, the many pranks played—the mad follies committed, from the banks of the Weichsel to the delta of the Ganges!

If my highly esteemed readers will promise to give me their credulous attention, I will relate what was told to me by the death's head.

The Author.

PART I

I. The "Fire-Pot." 5

II. The Trial. 17

PART II

I. With the Robbers—The Prsjaka Caves. 25

II. The Berdiczov Monastery. 85

PART III IN THE SERVICE OF THE DUKE.

I. Malachi. 101

II. Persida. 114

PART IV WITH THE TEMPLARS.

I. In the Hollow Tree. 138

PART V THE HOMICIDE.

I. On Board Mynheer's Ship. 173

II. The Moo-Calf. 179

PART VI

I. The Forgery.—One Cipher. 204

II. The Legacy. 207

PART VII

I. Peaceful Repose. 215

PART VIII IN BENGAL.

I. Begum Sumro. 232

II. Idol Worship. 242

III. Maimuna, And Danesh. 249

PART IX ON THE HIGH SEAS.

I. The Pirates. 267

PART X UXORICIDE.

I. The Secundogenitur. 279

II. The Quicksands. 289

PART XI IN SATAN'S REALM.

I. The Satyrs. 300

II. Witch-Sabbath. 311

PART XII THE BREAD OF SHAME.

I. The Magic Thaler. 323

II. The Husband of the Wife of Another Man. 329

PART XIII THE EXCHANGE OF BODIES.

I. The Quack Doctor. 335

PART XIV

I. The White Dove. 347