Show two clock of a bright mild march day that I 1 cleared st leonard s forest and came out upon the roads at the baca of horsham I 1 was for london but chose that way by reason of a better security it promised which as it chancil was a significant piece ot iron horsham a mighty quiet pretty thawn lay in a blaze of the sun erd criag the sallies of a dusty w nd and feeing hot and athirst after m long ride I 1 up at an inn and host says I 1 when I 1 was come in a pint of your best burgundy or ca nary to wash this dust and rip me if I 1 will not have it laced in brandy why sir says he a cold bright dai for horseback and he shakes his head D me you re right says I 1 cold 1 the belly and hot in the groin here s luck to the house roan and I 1 tossed oft the though the brandy barely saved exceeding thin swipes that he had the impudence to pass tor wine why good man ye 11 make your fortune on this I 1 said v ath a laugh and flung open the door tc go but when all of a sudden I 1 ame to a silence and a pause the officers says the land lord who was at my ear Gad Us the sheriff men from lewes lewes sas I 1 slowly what be they here fora why says he in a flutter there was him that was taken tor a toby man by gulliford he was at Lewes and will hang if he be tool enough to be taken let him be hanged and be damned bays I 1 carelessly I 1 ya old score with tim othy the which I 1 had sworn to pay it that was not the time nor the opportunity and so I 1 pulled in and lowered my head lest by chance his evil eye might go my way As I 1 did eo something struck the mare s rump and looking back I 1 saw a young man that had emerged from a side street whoa there says I 1 cheerfully are you so blinded by march dust as not to see a gentleman ft hen he goes hi 7 he stared after the traps and says he in an interested voice who be Is it my lord oh says he gazing at me a friend of yours sira not as you might call him a friend said I 1 gravel but rather one that has put an affront upon me gad I 1 like that spirit says he fer ts it it constituted a boad betwixt us he began to amble eflowly at my side if there Is any mischief sir says he I 1 trust you will allow me to stand our friend you are for a journey says I 1 he nodded and his color rose but he frowned I 1 am tor effingham eald he so am I 1 said I 1 at least I 1 pass that way which was not so tor I 1 was tor heading and had meant to go to Gull tord yet I 1 was in no mind to risk p with grubbe and his iambs who were bound for gul j ford it what the innkeeper said was true and the wa jay effingham would serve me as well as another he looked pleased c nd says he why we will travel in company with all mv heart said I 1 you mind me said I 1 drinking to him tor I 1 liked the fellow ot a lad that I 1 knew that was in the wars was in the says he aag eil I 1 served in flanders said I 1 afy father fought for his gracious majesty charles I 1 says he quickly and took a deep wound at marston moor there was never a biagel man than squire masters of hock ham warrant his son is his spit said I 1 he bowed as if he were at court your servant sir says he smil ing well pleased and eyed me you have been much service sira he asked why as much as will serve mr masters said I 1 he looked at me shyly you have my name now said be and left his question in the air you may call me ryder said I 1 you have had your company sira he went on in a hesitating voice not always as good company as thlu 1 replied laughing I 1 knew it said he eagerly you are capt capt ryder said he abruptly you have traveled far and seen much taho might advise one junior to you on matter of worldly wisdom sink me thinks I 1 the boy after but says I 1 gravely from a mu tinous face you can hang your faith on me for an opinion or a blow mr masters thank you says he heartily and then thrusts a hand into his bosom and rapidly struck at me a document read that sir said he impulsively I 1 opened it and found writ in a woman s hand and subscribed anne virley and the moral of it was fond affection why t vas but a corn mon loe billet he had given me of the which I 1 have seen dozens and re ceilea very many some horn persons of quality that would astonish you but what was I 1 to do with this hon e t ninny and his mistress 7 I 1 had no nose for it and so said I 1 handing back bis letter it has a sweet smack and pret ty enough inviting indi ting ah bas he quickly her na ane captain her heart that epcar yet Is she denied by her par ants they will have none of me rhe moie to their shame I 1 said they aspire high says he as anne s beauty and virtues of them reives bould justify yet she does loe me and I 1 her and we are 0 one spirit and heart sea you how she loves me poor thing poor silly puss and they would persuade her to re anunciation nuncia tion but she shall not she shall not I 1 swear it he cried in ex cit ement she shall be free to choose whom she will spoken like a man of temper said I 1 approvingly you will go win her forthright I 1 am on my journey to that now says he she has wrote in this letter as you have seen that her father dissuades her and she signs her renunciation adding sweet words of comfort that her affection wl 1 not die no never never and that she will die virgin tor me say ou not sir that this Is beautiful con duct and say am I 1 not right to ride forth and seize her from her unnatural to make her minea young gentleman said I 1 being struck by his sincerity and his bubbling over were you brother to me or I 1 to miss anne ou have my blessing at that he glowed and his spirits having risen with this communication he babbled on the road of many things cheerfully but mostly of love and the virtues of miss anne of effingham manor we reached hills beyond jewhurst ewhurst and ibaan to climb the rugged way to the top the wind had gone down with the sun in a flurry of gold in the west to which the eastern breeze had beat all day and over the head cf pitch hill last year s heather stil blazed in its decay when we had got to the windmill lane that lie packed into the side of the hill and woods there we descended for re fresh ments and I 1 saw the horses stall ed below for baiting now that house little and quiet perches in a lonely way tn the pass of the hill and upon one side the ground falls so fast away that the eye carries over a precipitous descent towards the weald of surry and the dim hills by the sea and this view was fading swiftly in the window under a bleak sky as masters and I 1 ate of our dinner in the upstairs room that looked upon it lie had a natural grace of mind despite the rawness of his behavior and his sen emerge sometimes in gush as when says he looking at the darken ing beald I 1 love it captain mine my home is there god willing anne s too shall be amen sa d I 1 heartily for the bo had gone to my heart absurd though he was and just on that there was a noise without the door the clank of heavy feet rang on the boards and timothy grubbe s ugly mask disfigured the room he came orward a little with a grin on his distorted features and looking from one to the other of us said he my respects captain and to this young plover that no doubt oure plucking by the lord dick ryder but I 1 had given you up heaven sends us good fortune were least thinking of it masters at bis word had started up who are lou sir that intrudes on two 7 he demanded with spirit have you know this Is a private room get you gone softly man says grubbe in an in situating voice but maybe I 1 m wrong and you re two pt a color it is jin apprentice dick this brave lad that talks so bold and has such fine feathers 9 it you do not quit said I 1 shortly I 1 will spit your beauty fr you in two ticks dick ryder had always plenty heart said he in his jeering way dick had always a famous wit and was known as a hospitable host so I 1 will take the liberty to invite to his sociable board some good fellows that are below to make merry we shall prove an excellent company warrant masters took a step towards him biow who the devil you may be sou shall not use gentlemen so he said whipping out his blade but grubbe turned on him cally As for you you cockchafer said he it bodes no good to find you in his company but as you seem aim enough give you five min utes to take your leave of this gentle man of the road dick you re a fine and you have enjoyed a brave career but your hour Is struck I 1 rose but ere I 1 could get to him oung masters had fallen on him defend d n ye he said you that insult a gentleman that is my friend put up your blade curse you and he made at him with in credible energy uttering a curse grubbe thrust with his point and took the first on rush swerving it aside and ere I 1 could intervene they were at it my young friend was impetuous and as I 1 siw at once none too and grubbe kept his temper as he al ways did he stood with a thin ugly smile pushing aside the opponent s blade for a moment or two until of a sudden he drew himself up and let drive very low and under the others guard the sword rattled from mas ter s hand and he went down on the floor I 1 uttered an oath by god for this you shall die you swine said I 1 fiercely and I 1 ran at MY GOD FOR THIS YC J SHALL him but being by the door he swept it open with a movement and backed into the passage the boot is on t other leg dick says he maliciously you are doomed and closing the door sharp ly behind him he whistled shrilly I 1 knew what he intended and that his men were there but I 1 stooped over the boys body and held my fingers t his heart dead and still I 1 cursed grubbe and started up I 1 I 1 was not to be taken there was only the window looking on the deeps ol 01 the descending valley I 1 threw back the casement and leaped over the sill grubbe should per sh I 1 swore and doubled now mi oath I 1 could have wept for that poor youth that had died to avenge my honor but my first busi ness was my safety and I 1 crept down as far as I 1 m and dropped by that time the catchi were crowding into the room above I 1 str ick the slanting hill and fell backwards and getting to my feet were veo numb with the concussion of the fall I 1 sped briskly into the darkness mak ing for the woods I 1 lay in the shelter of the boods an hour and resolved on a circumspect circum spec alon it was not my intention to leave the mare behind if so she had escaped grubbe and his creatures and moreover I 1 had other designs in my head so I 1 made my way back devi bously to the inn an reconnoitered stillness hung about it and after a time I 1 marched up to the door mighty cautiously and knocked on it the innkeeper opened it and the lamp burning in my face stained as 1 I 1 were the devil H ish man said I 1 is the officer gone he looked at me dubiously and trembling come said I 1 tor I 1 knew the replication of parts I 1 am from shoreham Shore ham gap yonder and 1 was near taken tor an against the revenue you are a smuggler said he acx bously they said yo i were a toby man they will take away any decent man a name said I 1 come I 1 want my horse you have no fancy for pre men I 1 11 guess and this was true enough tor he had a mine of cellars under his inn and in the roadway but our friend said he still wa vering him that is dead As good a man as ever rolled a bar rel said I 1 he relaxed his grip on the door a sore bus ness tor me this night he complained nay said I 1 for I 1 will rid your premises of myself and friend by your leave or without it says I 1 he seemed relieved at that and I 1 en the horses were safe as I 1 discovered tor grubbe must have been too full of his own prime business to make search and getting them out I 1 made my preparations I 1 strapped the lad s body in the stirrup so that he lay forward on the horse with his head a wagging but god deliver him is soul at rest and presently we were on the road and threading the wilderness of the black pine woods for the vale below towards london from the inn streamed a clam or of laughter and without the door dav and well nigh blocking it wab drawn up a carriage with a coachman in his seat that struck my eyes dimly in the small light I 1 was not for calling eyes on me with the dead man astride his horse so I 1 moved into the yard thinking to drain a tankard of ale if no better before I 1 took the road over the downs to effingham but I 1 was scarce turned into the yard ere light flung through the window peered on a face that changed all the no eions in my skull grubbe shrewish to night ay says he in a grumbling surly voice I 1 would the country were in h 11 why so twill be in good time said I 1 cheerfully and then to the man that came fetch me two quarts well laced with gin said I 1 for to keep the chill the night and the fear of abath whence come you thena said I 1 delivering him the pot that was fetch ed out he threw an arm out lewes said he under charge with a that was for chilas yonder oh says I 1 he hangs therea at the top of the london road says he dipping his nose again there stand the gallows where the roads cross and near the gate gallows gate said I 1 laughing laig hing well a merry job enough ay says he but this we might have been far towards london town whither most of us are already gone it not his meaning he must come back with the lewes sheriff and drink him farewell leaving a poor likely young man as yourself to starve of cold and an here said I 1 well I 1 would learn such a one manners in oui place and you shall have adoth er tankard of dog s nose tor your pains says I 1 whereat I 1 called out ohp innkeeper again but took care tha he had mi share of the gin in addition to his own by that time he was garru lous and had lost his caution so keeping him in talk a little and drag ging his wits along from point to point I 1 presently called to him came down said I 1 and stamp your feet twill warm you without as the liquor within and he did as I 1 suggested without demur run round to the back says I 1 and get yourself a noggin and it so be you see a gentleman on horseback asleep why only a friend of mine that is weary of his long journey 1 till ca 1 you it there be oc caslo he hesitated a moment but I 1 set a crown on his palm and his scruples vanished he limpid into dark ness no more than two minutes later that I 1 heard voices in the door way and net famothy grubbe into the night in talk with some one at which it took me about 30 sec ends to whip me into the seat and pull the coachman s cloak about me so that I 1 bat stark and black in the star light grubbe left the man he talked with and came forward yo i shall drink when we reach cobham crossway says he look ing up at me and mind your ways d n ye and at that he made no more ado but humming an air he lurched into the carriage I 1 pulled out the nags and turned their heads so that chev were set for the north and then I 1 whistled low and short a whistle I 1 knew that the mare aoud heed and I 1 trusted she would bring her compan ion blui her then the wheels roll ed out upon the road and timothy grubbe and I 1 were bound for london all alone As I 1 turned up the london road that swept steeply up the downs I 1 looked back and behind the moon shone faintly on calypso and behind her came on the dead man wagging awk in his stirrups I 1 pushed the horses up the steeps of the london road as fast as might be but the ruts still deep in mud and the carriage jolted and rock ed and swayed as we went the wind came now with a little moaning sound from the bottom of the valley and the naked branches creaked above my head for that way was sunken and tangled with the thickets of nut and yew and presently I 1 was forced to go at a toot pace so abrupt was the height the moon struck through the trees and peered on us and grubbe put his head forth of the window aly go you no faster d n yea sas he being much in liquor the hill your honor said I 1 he glanced up and down what comes up gayb 1 e shouting there is a noise of borss that pounds upon the road the wind sas I 1 hat comes off the valley and makes play among the branches he sank |