broken up the gang; for both these fellows seem
dead, or nearly so."

"What shall we do with them?"

"Leave them where they are," replied the stranger. "I am in a hurry to
get on. I have important business at the city of York, and cannot waste
my time in depositions, and such nonsense. It is only two scoundrels
less in the world, and there's an end of the matter."

As Edward was equally anxious to proceed, he agreed with the stranger
that it was best to do as he proposed.

"I am also going north," replied Edward, "and am anxious to get there as
soon as I can."

"With your permission we will ride together," said the stranger. "I
shall be the gainer, as I shall feel that I have one with me who is to
be trusted to in case of any further attacks during our journey."

There was such a gentlemanlike, frank, and courteous air about the
stranger, that Edward immediately assented to his proposal of their
riding in company for mutual protection. He was a powerful, well-made
man, of apparently about one or two and twenty, remarkably handsome in
person, dressed richly, but not gaudily, in the cavalier fashion, and
wore a hat with a feather. As they proceeded, they entered into
conversation on indifferent matters for some time, neither party
attempting by any question to discover who his companion might be.
Edward had more than once, when the conversation flagged for a minute,
considered what reply he should give in case his companion should ask
him the cause of his journey, and at last had made up his mind what to
say.

A little before noon they pulled up to bait their horses at a small
village,--the stranger observing that he avoided Saint Alban's, and all
other large towns, as he did not wish to satisfy the curiosity of
people, or to have his motions watched; and therefore, if Edward had no
objection, he knew the country so well that he could save time by
allowing him to direct their path. Edward was, as may be supposed, very
agreeable to this, and during their whole journey they never entered a
town, except they rode through it after dark; and put up at humble inns
on the roadside, where, if not quite so well attended to, at all events
they were free from observation.

It was, however, impossible that this reserve could continue long, as
they became more and more intimate every day. At last the stranger
said--"Master Armitage, we have travelled together for some time,
interchanging thoughts and feelings, but wi