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"Well, well," answered Wayland, "pease he ita' God's name, though bacon were the better: password." but bad vorT And, being by this time mounted on his own horse, he caught the rein of the palfrey from the uncertain hold of the hesitating young boor, flung him a small piece of money, and made amends for lost time by riding briskly off without farther parley. The lad was still visible from the hill up which they were riding, and Wayland, as he looked back, beheld him standing with his fingers in his hair as immoveable as a guide-post, and his head turned in the direction in which they were escaping from him. At length, just as they topped the hill, he saw the clown stoop to lift up the silver groat which his benevolence had impart ed." Now this is what I call a Godsend," said Wayland; "this is a bonny well-ridden bit of a going thing, and it will carry us so far till we get you as well mounted, and then we will send it back to satisfy the Hue and Cry."

But he was deceived in his expectations; and fate, which seemed at first to promise so fairly,

soon threatened to turn the incident, which he thus gloried in, into the cause of their utter ruin.

They had not ridden a short mile from the place where they left the lad, before they heard a man's voice shouting on the wind behind them "Robbery robbery!--Stop thief!" and similar exclamations, which Wayland's conscience readily assured him must arise out of the transaction to which he had been just accessary.

I had better have gone barefoot all my life," he said; "it is the Hue and Cry, and I am a lost man. Ah! Wayland, Wayland, many a time thy father said horse-flesh would be the death of thee. Were I once safe among the horse-coursers in Smithfield, or Turnball Street, they should have leave to hang me as high as St Paul's, if I e'er' meddled more with nobles, knights, or gentle women."

..Amidst these dismal reflections, he turned his head repeatedly to see by whom he was chased, and was much comforted when he could only disc cover a single rider, who was, however, well mounted, and came after them at a speed which left them no chance of escaping, even had the

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lady's strength permitted her to ride as fast as her palfrey might have been able to gallop.com

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There may be fair play betwixt us sure," thought Wayland, "where there is but one man on each side, and yonder fellow sits on his horse more like a monkey than a cavalier. Pshaw! if it come to the worst, it will be easy unhorsing him. Nay, 'snails! I think his horse will take the matter in his own hand, for he has the bridle betwixt his teeth. Oons, what care I for him?” said he, as the pursuer drew yet nearer; "it is but the little animat of a mercer from Abingdon, when all is over."

Even so it was, as the experienced eye of Wayland had descried at a distance. For the valiant mercer's horse, which was a beast of mettle, feeling himself put to his speed, and discerning' a couple of horses riding fast, at some hundred yards distance before him, betook himself to the road with such alacrity, as totally deranged the seat of his rider, who not only came up with, but *passed, at full gallop, those whom he had been

and

pursuing, pulling the reins with all his might, a ejaculating, "Stop! stop!" an interjection which seemed rather to regard his own palfrey, than

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what seamen call the chase." With the same involuntary speed, he shot a-head, (to use another nautical phrase) about a furlong, ere he was able to stop and turn his horse, and then rode back. towards our travellers, adjusting, as well as he could, his disordered dress, resettling himself in the saddle, and endeavouring to substitute a bold and martial frown, for the confusion and dismay which sate upon his visage during his involuntary career.

Wayland had just time to caution the lady not to be alarmed, adding, "this fellow is a gull, and I will use him as such."

When the mercer had recovered breath and audacity enough to confront them, he ordered Wayland, in a menacing tone, to deliver palfrey.

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How ?" said the smith, in King Cambyses vein," are we commanded to stand and deliver on the King's high-way? Then out, Excalibar, and tell this knight of prowess, that dire blows must decide between us."

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"Haro and help, and hue and cry, every

true man!" said the mercer, "I am withstood in 1. seeking to recover mine own.",j9bog tordɔ-da?" Thou swearest thy Gods in vain, foul pay nim," said Wayland, " for I will through with my purpose, were death at the end on't. Never a theless, know, thou false man of frail cambric and is ferrateen, that I am he, even the pedlar, whom thou didst boast to meet on Maiden-castle-moor, I and despoil of his pack; wherefore betake thee to thy weapons presently." I am bovoirí »

I spoke but in jest, man," said Goldthredzot "I am an honest shopkeeper and citizen, who scorn to leap forth on any man from behind saw hedge."

"Then, by my faith, most puissant mercer, I am sorry for my vow, which was, that wherever I met thee, I would despoil thee of thy palfrey, and bestow it upon my leman, unless thou couldst defend it by blows of force. But the vow is passed and registered and all I can do for thee, is to leave the horse at Donnington, in the nearest}. hostelrie." you to #3 buk”

"But I tell thee, friend," said the mercer, "it is the very horse on which I was this day to carry

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