his servant, each a
pistol in his hand. He quitted the chaise, when he came near the
suffering men; and Sir Charles desired him instantly to examine whether
the gentlemen were dangerously hurt, or not.

The most enraged of the assailants, having slipt by the two who were
earnest to restrain him, would again have attacked Mr. Merceda; offering
a stroke at him with his hanger: but Sir Charles (his drawn sword still
in his hand) caught hold of his bridle; and, turning his horse's head
aside, diverted a stroke, which, in all probability, would otherwise have
been a finishing one.

They all came about Sir Charles, bidding him, at his peril, use his sword
upon their friend: and Sir Charles's servants were coming up to their
master's support, had there been occasion. At that instant Mr. Lowther,
assisted by his own servant, was examining the wounds and bruises of the
two terrified men, who had yet no reason to think themselves safe from
further violence.

Sir Charles repeatedly commanded his servants not to fire, nor approach
nearer, without his orders. The persons, said he, to the assailants,
whom you have so cruelly used, are Englishmen of condition. I will
protect them. Be the provocation what it will, you must know that your
attempt upon them is a criminal one; and if my friend last come up, who
is a very skilful surgeon, shall pronounce them in danger, you shall find
it so.

Still he held the horse of the furious one; and three of them who seemed
to be principals, were beginning to express some resentment at his
cavalier treatment, when Mr. Lowther gave his opinion, that there was no
apparent danger of death: and then Sir Charles, quitting the man's
bridle, and putting himself between the assailants and sufferers, said,
That as they had not either offered to fly, or to be guilty of violence
to himself, his friend, or servants; he was afraid they had some reason
to think themselves ill used by the gentlemen. But, however, as they
could not suppose they were at liberty, in a civilized country, to take
their revenge on the persons of those who were entitled to the protection
of that country; he should expect, that they would hold themselves to be
personally answerable for their conduct at a proper tribunal.

The villains, one of the men said, knew who they were, and what the
provocation was; which had merited a worse treatment than they had
hitherto met with. You, sir, proceeded he, seem to be a man of honour,
and temp