d. "Have they not done robbing you yet?" said I;
"when they have finished let me know, and I will come and help you." "Who
is that?" said the voice; "pray come and help me, and do me no mischief."
"You were saying that some one was robbing you," said I; "don't think I
shall come till he is gone away." "Then you ben't he?" said the voice.
"Ar'n't you robbed?" said I. "Can't say I be," said the voice; "not yet
at any rate; but who are you? I don't know you." "A traveller whom you
and your partner were going to run over in this dark lane; you almost
frightened me out of my senses." "Frightened!" said the voice, in a
louder tone; "frightened! oh!" and thereupon I heard somebody getting
upon his legs. This accomplished, the individual proceeded to attend to
his horse, and with a little difficulty raised him upon his legs also.
"Ar'n't you hurt?" said I. "Hurt!" said the voice; "not I; don't think
it, whatever the horse may be. I tell you what, my fellow, I thought you
were a robber, and now I find you are not; I have a good mind--" "To do
what?" "To serve you out; ar'n't you ashamed--?" "At what?" said I;
"not to have robbed you? Shall I set about it now?" "Ha, ha!" said the
man, dropping the bullying tone which he had assumed; "you are
joking--robbing! who talks of robbing? I wonder how my horse's knees
are; not much hurt, I think--only mired." The man, whoever he was, then
got upon his horse; and, after moving him about a little, said, "Good-
night, friend; where are you?" "Here I am," said I, "just behind you."
"You are, are you? Take that." I know not what he did, but probably
pricking his horse with the spur the animal kicked out violently; one of
his heels struck me on the shoulder, but luckily missed my face; I fell
back with the violence of the blow, whilst the fellow scampered off at a
great rate. Stopping at some distance, he loaded me with abuse, and
then, continuing his way at a rapid trot, I heard no more of him.

"What a difference!" said I, getting up; "last night I was _feted_ in the
hall of a rich genius, and to-night I am knocked down and mired in a dark
lane by the heel of Master Wise's horse--I wonder who gave him that name?
And yet he was wise enough to wreak his revenge upon me, and I was not
wise enough to keep out of his way. Well, I am not much hurt, so it is
of little consequence."

I now bethought me that, as I had a carriage of my own, I might as well
make use of it; I theref