d gloomily; "'tis two. The traveller
riding to the east before you dealt me a similar blow--may hell catch
the little black devil."

"Black!" cried I. "Forister, for my life!"

"He took no moment to tell me his name," responded the sullen and
wounded highwayman. "He beat me out of the saddle and rode away as
brisk as a bird. I know not what my mother will say. She be for ever
telling me of the danger in this trade, and here come two gentlemen in
one day and unhorse me without the profit of a sixpence to my store.
When I became a highwayman I thought me I had profited me from the low
estate of a sheep-stealer, but now I see that happiness in this life
does not altogether depend upon--"

"Enough," I shouted in my impatience. "Tell me of the black man! The
black man, worm!" I pricked his throat with my sword very carefully.

"He was black, and he rode like a demon, and he handled his weapons
finely," said Jem Bottles. "And since I have told you all I know,
please, good sir, move the point from my throat. This will be ill news
for my mother."

I took thought with myself. I must on to Bath; but the two horses had
long since scampered out of sight, and my pursuit of the papers would
make small way afoot.

"Come, Jem Bottles," I cried, "help me to a horse in a comrade's way
and for the sake of your mother. In another case I will leave you here
a bloody corse. Come; there's a good fellow!"

He seemed moved to help me. "Now, if there comes a well-mounted
traveller," he said, brightening, "I will gain his horse for you if I
die for it."

"And if there comes no well-mounted traveller?"

"I know not, sir. But--perhaps he will come."

"'Tis a cheap rogue who has but one horse," I observed contemptuously.
"You are only a footpad, a simple-minded marquis of the bludgeon."

Now, as I had hoped, this deeply cut his pride.

"Did I not speak of the ballads, sir?" he demanded with considerable
spirit. "Horses? Aye, and have I not three good nags hid behind my
mother's cottage, which is less than a mile from this spot?"

"Monsieur Jem Bottles," said I, not forgetting the French manners
which my father had taught me, "unless you instantly show me the way
to these horses I shall cut off your hands, your feet, and your head;
and, ripping out your bowels, shall sprinkle them on the road for the
first post-horses to mash and trample. Do you understand my intention,
Monsieur Jem Bottles?"

"Sir," he begged, "think of my mother!"