k upon your
forehead, is especially hard to overlook.'

'Suppose I be the same? What then?' the man asked sullenly.

'There is no suppose in the matter. I could swear to you. But I would
not, lad--not if I caught you red-handed. You must know, Clarke, since
there is none to overhear us, that in the old days I was a Justice of
the Peace in Surrey, and that our friend here was brought up before me
on a charge of riding somewhat late o' night, and of being plaguey short
with travellers. You will understand me. He was referred to assizes, but
got away in the meanwhile, and so saved his neck. Right glad I am of
it, for you will agree with me that he is too proper a man to give a
tight-rope dance at Tyburn.'

'And I remember well now where I have heard your name,' said I. 'Were
you not a captive in the Duke of Beaufort's prison at Badminton, and did
you not succeed in escaping from the old Boteler dungeon?'

'Nay, gentlemen,' he replied, seating himself on the edge of the table,
and carelessly swinging his legs, 'since ye know so much it would be
folly for me to attempt to deceive ye. I am indeed the same Hector Marot
who hath made his name a terror on the great Western road, and who hath
seen the inside of more prisons than any man in the south. With truth,
however, I can say that though I have been ten years upon the roads, I
have never yet taken a groat from the poor, or injured any man who did
not wish to injure me. On the contrary, I have often risked life and
limb to save those who were in trouble.'

'We can bear you out in that,' I answered, 'for if these four red-coat
devils have paid the price of their crimes, it is your doing rather than
ours.'

'Nay, I can take little credit for that,' our new acquaintance answered.
'Indeed, I had other scores to settle with Colonel Kirke's horse, and
was but too glad to have this breather with them.'

Whilst we were talking the men whom we had left with the horses had come
up, together with some of the neighbouring farmers and cottagers, who
were aghast at the scene of slaughter, and much troubled in their minds
over the vengeance which might be exacted by the Royal troops next day.

'For Christ's zake, zur,' cried one of them, an old ruddy-faced
countryman, 'move the bodies o' these soldier rogues into the road, and
let it zeem as how they have perished in a chance fight wi' your own
troopers loike. Should it be known as they have met their end within
a varmhouse, there