ein that both our travellers now
continued their journey. On the left side of the road was a thick and
lofty hedge; to the right, a wild, bare, savage heath, sloped downward,
and just afforded a glimpse of the spires and chimneys of the town,
at which the Corporal was already supping in idea! That incomparable
personage was, however, abruptly recalled to the present instant, by a
most violent stumble on the part of his hard-mouthed, Romannosed horse.
The horse was all but down, and the Corporal all but over.

"Damn it," said the Corporal, slowly recovering his perpendicularity,
"and the way to Lunnon was as smooth as a bowling-green!"

Ere this rueful exclamation was well out of the Corporal's mouth, a
bullet whizzed past him from the hedge; it went so close to his ear,
that but for that lucky stumble, Jacob Bunting had been as the grass of
the field, which flourisheth one moment and is cut down the next!

Startled by the sound, the Corporal's horse made off full tear down the
hill, and carried him several paces beyond his master, ere he had power
to stop its career. But Walter reining up his better managed steed,
looked round for the enemy, nor looked in vain.

Three men started from the hedge with a simultaneous shout. Walter
fired, but without effect; ere he could lay hand on the second pistol,
his bridle was seized, and a violent blow from a long double-handed
bludgeon, brought him to the ground.

BOOK III.

CHAPTER I.

FRAUD AND VIOLENCE ENTER EVEN GRASSDALE.--PETER'S NEWS.
--THE LOVERS' WALK.--THE REAPPEARANCE.

AUF.--"Whence comest thou--what wouldst thou?"
--Coriolanus.

One evening Aram and Madeline were passing through the village in their
accustomed walk, when Peter Dealtry sallied forth from The Spotted Dog,
and hurried up to the lovers with a countenance full of importance, and
a little ruffled by fear.

"Oh, Sir, Sir,--(Miss, your servant!)--have you heard the news? Two
houses at Checkington, (a small town some miles distant from Grassdale,)
were forcibly entered last night,--robbed, your honour, robbed. Squire
Tibson was tied to his bed, his bureau rifled, himself shockingly
confused on the head; and the maidservant Sally--her sister lived with
me, a very good girl she was,--was locked up in the--the--the--I beg
pardon, Miss--was locked up in the cupboard. As to the other house, they
carried off all the plate. There were no less than four men, all