most
uninhabited, not a house of any kind was to be seen--at least I saw
none--though it is true houses might be near without my seeing them,
owing to the darkness of the night, for neither moon nor star was abroad.
I heard, occasionally, the bark of dogs; but the sound appeared to come
from an immense distance. The rain still fell, and the ground beneath my
feet was wet and miry; in short, it was a night in which even a tramper
by profession would feel more comfortable in being housed than abroad. I
followed in the rear of the cart, the pony still proceeding at a sturdy
pace, till methought I heard other hoofs than those of my own nag; I
listened for a moment, and distinctly heard the sound of hoofs
approaching at a great rate, and evidently from the quarter towards which
I and my little caravan were moving. We were in a dark lane--so dark
that it was impossible for me to see my own hand. Apprehensive that some
accident might occur, I ran forward, and, seizing the pony by the bridle,
drew him as near as I could to the hedge. On came the hoofs--trot, trot,
trot; and evidently more than those of one horse; their speed as they
advanced appeared to slacken--it was only, however, for a moment. I
heard a voice cry, "Push on, this is a desperate robbing place, never
mind the dark"; and the hoofs came on quicker than before. "Stop!" said
I, at the top of my voice; "stop! or--" Before I could finish what I was
about to say there was a stumble, a heavy fall, a cry, and a groan, and
putting out my foot I felt what I conjectured to be the head of a horse
stretched upon the road. "Lord have mercy upon us! what's the matter?"
exclaimed a voice. "Spare my life," cried another voice, apparently from
the ground; "only spare my life, and take all I have." "Where are you,
Master Wise?" cried the other voice. "Help! here, Master Bat," cried the
voice from the ground, "help me up or I shall be murdered." "Why, what's
the matter?" said Bat. "Some one has knocked me down, and is robbing
me," said the voice from the ground. "Help! murder!" cried Bat; and,
regardless of the entreaties of the man on the ground that he would stay
and help him up, he urged his horse forward and galloped away as fast as
he could. I remained for some time quiet, listening to various groans
and exclamations uttered by the person on the ground; at length I said,
"Holloa! are you hurt?" "Spare my life, and take all I have!" said the
voice from the groun