this account was not at
all satisfactory to her.

CHAPTER IX

We proceed on our Journey--are overtaken by a Highwayman who fires at
Strap--is prevented from shooting me by a Company of Horsemen, who ride
in pursuit of him--Strap is put to Bed at an Inn--Adventures at that Inn

After having paid our score and taken leave of our hostess, who embraced
me tenderly at parting, we proceeded on our journey, blessing ourselves
that we had come off so well. We had not walked above five miles, when
we observed a man on horseback galloping after us, whom we in a short
time recognised to be no other than this formidable hero who had already
given us so much vexation. He stopped hard by me, and asked if I knew
who he was? My astonishment had disconcerted me so much that I did not
hear his question, which he repeated with a volley of oaths and threats;
but I remained as mute as before.

Strap, seeing my discomposure, fell upon his knees in the mud, uttering,
with a lamentable voice, these words: "For Christ's sake, have mercy
upon us, Mr. Rifle! we know you very well." "Oho!" cried the thief, "you
do! But you never shall be evidence against me in this world, you dog!"
So saying, he drew a pistol, and fired it at the unfortunate shaver, who
fell flat upon the ground without speaking one word.

My comrade's fate and my own situation riveted me to the place where I
stood, deprived of all sense and reflection; so that I did not make
the least attempt either to run away or deprecate the wrath of this
barbarian, who snapped a second pistol at me; but, before he had time
to prime again, perceiving a company of horsemen coming up, he rode
off, and left me standing motionless as a statue, in which posture I
was found by those whose appearance had saved my life. This company
consisted of three men in livery, well armed, with an officer, who (as I
afterwards learned,) was the person from whom Rifle had taken the
pocket pistols the day before; and who, making known his misfortune to
a nobleman he met on the road, and assuring him his non-resistance
was altogether owing to his consideration for the ladies in the coach,
procured the assistance of his lordship's servants to go in quest of the
plunderer. This holiday captain scampered up to me with great address,
and asked who fired the pistol which he had heard.

As I had not yet recovered my reason, he, before I could answer,
observed a body lying on the ground, at which sight his c