She said that she
hoped that his misfortunes would be a warning to him to turn more to his
God than he had hitherto done, and to give up cock-fighting and other
low-life practices. To which the landlord replied, that with respect to
cock-fighting he intended to give it up entirely, being determined no
longer to risk his capital upon birds, and with respect to his religious
duties he should attend the church of which he was churchwarden at least
once a quarter, adding, however, that he did not intend to become either
canter or driveller, neither of which characters would befit a publican
surrounded by such customers as he was, and that to the last day of his
life he hoped to be able to make use of his fists. After a stay of about
two hours I settled accounts; and having bridled and saddled my horse,
and strapped on the valise, I mounted, shook hands with the landlord and
his niece, and departed, notwithstanding that they both entreated me to
tarry until the evening, it being then the heat of the day.

CHAPTER XXI

AN ADVENTURE ON THE ROADS--THE SIX FLINT STONES--A RURAL SCENE--MEAD--THE
OLD MAN AND HIS BEES

I bent my course in the direction of the north, more induced by chance
than any particular motive; all quarters of the world having about equal
attractions for me. I was in high spirits at finding myself once more on
horseback, and trotted gaily on, until the heat of the weather induced me
to slacken my pace, more out of pity for my horse than because I felt any
particular inconvenience from it--heat and cold being then, and still,
matters of great indifference to me. What I thought of I scarcely know,
save and except that I have a glimmering recollection that I felt some
desire to meet with one of those adventures, which upon the roads of
England are generally as plentiful as blackberries in autumn; and
Fortune, who has generally been ready to gratify my inclinations,
provided it cost her very little by so doing, was not slow in furnishing
me with an adventure, perhaps as characteristic of the English roads as
anything which could have happened.

I might have travelled about six miles, amongst cross-roads and lanes,
when suddenly I found myself upon a broad and very dusty road, which
seemed to lead due north. As I wended along this, I saw a man upon a
donkey, riding towards me. The man was commonly dressed, with a broad
felt hat on his head, and a kind of satchel on his back; he seemed to be
in a m