The drawer was at the door, and about to close the house.
"You will be sorry to learn the fate of the poor piper," he said.
"Why, what has happened to him ?" cried Leonard.
"He is dead of the plague," was the reply.
"What, so suddenly!" exclaimed the apprentice.

"You are jesting with me." "Alas! it is no jest," rejoined the drawer, in a tone that convinced the apprentice of his sincerity.

"His entertainers quitted him about two hours ago, and in spite of my efforts to detain him, he left the house, and sat down on those steps.

Concluding he would fall asleep, I did not disturb him, and his dog kept careful watch over him.

I forgot all about him till a short time ago, when hearing the pest-cart pass, I went forth, and learnt that the drivers having found him dead, as they supposed, of the pestilence, had placed their forks under his belt, and thrown him upon the other dead bodies." "And where is the dog ?" cried Leonard.
"She would not quit her master," replied the drawer, "so the men threw her into the cart with him, saying, they would bury her in the plague-pit, as all dogs were ordered to be destroyed." "This must be prevented," cried Leonard.