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followed Barney through the window of a secluded house upon the York
Road； he might already have felt the noose tightening at his neck。 The
immediate reward of this bungled attack was thirty pounds； but two days
later he was committed with Barney to the Durham Assizes； where he
exchanged the obscurity of the perfect craftsman for the notoriety of the
dangerous gaol…bird。
For the moment； however； he recovered his freedom： breaking prison；
he straightway conveyed a fiddlestick to his comrade； and in a twinkling
was at Newcastle again； picking up purses well lined with gold； and
robbing the bumpkins of their scouts and chats。 But the time of security
was overpast。 Marked and suspicious； he began to fear the solitude of
the country； he left the horse…fair for the city； and sought in the budging…
kens of Edinburgh the secrecy impossible on the hill…side。 A clumsy
experiment in shop…lifting doubled his danger； and more than once he saw
the inside of the police…office。 Henceforth； he was free of the family； he
loafed in the Shirra…Brae； he knew the flash houses of Leith and the
Grassmarket。 With Jean Johnston； the blowen of his choice； he smeared
his hands with the squalor of petty theft； and the drunken recklessness
wherewith he swaggered it abroad hastened his approaching downfall。
With a perpetual anxiety to avoid the nippers his artistry dwindled。
The left hand； invincible on the Cheviots； seemed no better than a bunch
of thumbs in the narrow ways of Edinburgh； and after innumerable
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misadventures Haggart was safely lodged in Dumfries gaol。 No sooner
was he locked within his cell than his restless brain planned a generous
escape。 He would win liberty for his fellows as well as for himself； and
after a brief council a murderous plot was framed and executed。 A stone
slung in a handkerchief sent Morrin； the gaoler； to sleep； the keys found on
him opened the massy doors； and Haggart was free with a reward set upon
his head。 The shock of the enterprise restored his magnanimity。 Never
did he display a finer bravery than in this spirited race for his life； and
though three counties were aroused he doubled and ducked to such
purpose that he outstripped John Richardson himself with all his
bloodhounds； and two days later marched into Carlisle disguised in the
stolen rags of a potato…bogle。
During the few months that remained to him of life he embarked upon
a veritable Odyssey： he scoured Scotland from the Border to St。 Andrews；
and finally contrived a journey oversea to Ireland； where he made the
name of Daniel O'Brien a terror to well…doers。 Insolent and careless； he
lurched from prison to prison； now it was Armagh that held him； now
Downpatrick； until at last he was thrust on a general charge of
vagabondage and ill…company into Kilmainham； which has since
harboured many a less valiant adventurer than David Haggart。 Here the
culminating disgrace overtook him： he was detected in the prison yard by
his ancient enemy； John Richardson； of Dumfries； who dragged him back
to Scotland heavily shackled and charged with murder。 So nimble had he
proved himself in extrication； that his captors secured him with pitiless
severity； round his waist he carried an iron belt； whereto were padlocked
the chains； clanking at his wrists and ankles。 Thus tortured and helpless；
he was fed ‘like a sucking turkey in Bedlam'； but his sorrows vanished；
and his dying courage revived at sight of the torchlight procession； which
set forth from Dumfries to greet his return。
His coach was hustled by a mob； thousands strong； eager to catch sight
of Haggart the Murderer； and though the spot where he slew Morrin was
like fire beneath his passing feet； he carried to his cell a heart and a brain
aflame with gratified vanity。 His guilt being patent； reprieve was as
hopeless as acquittal； and after the assured condemnation he spent his last
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few days with what profit he might in religious and literary exercises。 He
composed a memoir； which is a model of its kind； so diligently did he
make his soul； that he could appear on the scaffold in a chastened spirit of
prayerful gratitude； and； being an eminent scoundrel； he seemed a proper
subject for the ministrations of Mr。 George Combe。 ‘That is the one
thing I did not know before；' he confessed with an engaging modesty；
when his bumps were squeezed； and yet he was more than a match for the
amiable phrenologist； whose ignorance of mankind persuaded him to
believe that an illiterate felon could know himself and analyse his
character。
His character escaped his critics as it escaped himself。 Time was
when George Borrow； that other picaroon； surprised the youthful David；
thinking of Willie Wallace upon the Castle Rock； and Lavengro's romantic
memory transformed the raw…boned pickpocket into a monumental hero；
who lacked nothing save a vast theatre to produce a vast effect。 He was a
Tamerlane； robbed of his opportunity； a valiant warrior； who looked in
vain for a battlefield； a marauder who climbed the scaffold not for the
magnitude； but for the littleness of his sins。 Thus Borrow； in complete
misunderstanding of the rascal's qualities。
Now； Haggart's ambition was as circumscribed as his ability。 He died；
as he was born； an expert cly…faker； whose achievements in sleight of hand
are as yet unparalleled。 Had the world been one vast breast pocket his
fish…hook fingers would have turned it inside out。 But it was not his to
mount a throne； or overthrow a dynasty。 ‘My forks；' he boasted； ‘are
equally long； and they never fail me。' That is at once the reason and the
justification of his triumph。 Born with a consummate artistry tingling at
his finger…tips； how should he escape the compulsion of a glorious destiny？
Without fumbling or failure he discovered the single craft for which
fortune had framed him； and he pursued it with a courage and an industry
which gave him not a kingdom； but fame and booty； exceeding even his
greedy aspiration。 No Tamerlane he； questing for a continent； but David
Haggart； the man with the long forks； happy if he snatched his neighbour's
purse。
Before all things he respected the profession which his left hand made
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inevitable； and which he pursued with unconquerable pride。 Nor in his
inspired youth was plunder his sole ambition： he cultivated the garden of
his style with the natural zeal of the artist； he frowned upon the bungler
with a lofty contempt。 His materials were simplicity itself： his forks；
which were always with him； and another's well…filled pocket； since；
sensible of danger；