two highwaymen on horseback, one
of whom advanced to reconnoitre and keep the coast clear, while the other
exacted contribution from the travellers in the coach. He who acted as
sentinel, no sooner saw our adventurer appearing from the lane, than he
rode up with a pistol in his hand, and ordered him to halt on pain of
immediate death.

To this peremptory mandate the knight made no other reply than charging
him with such impetuosity, that he was unhorsed in a twinkling, and lay
sprawling on the ground, seemingly sore bruised with his fall. Sir
Launcelot, commanding Timothy to alight and secure the prisoner, couched
his lance, and rode full speed at the other highwayman, who was not a
little disturbed at sight of such an apparition. Nevertheless, he fired
his pistol without effect; and, clapping spurs to his horse, fled away at
full gallop. The knight pursued him with all the speed that Bronzomarte
could exert; but the robber, being mounted on a swift hunter, kept him at
a distance; and, after a chase of several miles, escaped through a wood
so entangled with coppice, that Sir Launcelot thought proper to desist.
He then, for the first time, recollected the situation in which he had
left the other thief, and, remembering to have heard a female shriek, as
he passed by the coach window, resolved to return with all expedition,
that he might make a proffer of his service to the lady, according to the
obligation of knight-errantry. But he had lost his way; and after an
hour's ride, during which he traversed many a field, and circled divers
hedges, he found himself in the market-town aforementioned. Here the
first object that presented itself to his eyes was Crabshaw, on foot,
surrounded by a mob, tearing his hair, stamping with his feet, and
roaring out in manifest distraction, "Show me the mayor! for the love of
God, show me the mayor!--O Gilbert, Gilbert! a murrain take thee,
Gilbert! sure thou wast foaled for my destruction!"

From these exclamations, and the antique dress of the squire, the people,
not without reason, concluded that the poor soul had lost his wits; and
the beadle was just going to secure him, when the knight interposed, and
at once attracted the whole attention of the populace. Timothy seeing
his master fell down on his knees, crying, "The thief has run away with
Gilbert--you may pound me into a peast, as the saying is. But now I'se
as mad as your worship, I an't afeard of the divil and all his work