s a d--able cheat, and can shift a
card with such address that it is impossible to discover him."

Here he was interrupted by one of the farmers, who asked, why he had
not justice enough to acquaint them with these particulars before they
engaged in play. The exciseman replied, without any hesitation, that it
was none of his business to intermeddle between man and man; besides,
he did not know they were ignorant of Shuffle's character, which was
notorious to the whole country. This did not satisfy the other, who
taxed him with abetting and assisting the curate's knavery, and insisted
on having his share of the winnings returned; this demand the exciseman
as positively refused affirming that, whatever sleights Shuffle might
practise on other occasions, he was very certain that he had played
on the square with them, and would answer it before any bench in
Christendom; so saying, he got up and, having paid his reckoning,
sneaked off.

The Landlord, thrusting his neck into the passage to see if he was gone,
shook his head, saying, "Ah! Lord help us! if every sinner was to have
his deserts. Well, we victuallers must not disoblige the excisemen. But
I know what; if parson Shuffle and he were weighed together, a straw
thrown into either scale would make the balance kick the beam. But,
masters, this is under the rose," continued Boniface with a whisper.

CHAPTER X

The Highwayman is taken--we are detained as Evidence against
him--proceed to the next village--he escapes--we arrive at another
inn, where we go to Bed--in the Night we are awaked by a dreadful
Adventure--next night we lodge at the house of a Schoolmaster--our
Treatment there

Strap and I were about to depart on our journey, when we perceived a
crowd on the road coming towards us, shouting and hallooing all the way.
As it approached, we could discern a man on horseback in the middle,
with his hands tied behind him, whom we soon knew to be Rifle. The
highwayman, not being so well mounted as the two servants who went in
pursuit of him, was soon overtaken, and, after having discharged
his pistols, made prisoner without any further opposition. They were
carrying him in triumph, amidst the acclamations of the country people,
to a justice of peace in a neighbouring village, but stopped at our inn
to join their companions and take refreshment.

When Rifle was dismounted and placed in the yard, within a circle of
peasants, armed with pitchforks, I was amazed t