H. B. Marriott Watson

“ We fly at all game in this business."
"I know naught," said I, breaking silence at last. "If there be any treachery, and the rats' names be there, why, old Rowley is welcome to them. I have no taste for vermin. But as for myself——"
And here I came to a pause, for at the doorway, newly-entered, my eyes lighted on Miss of the inn. I stared at her in amazement, and her face was white as a lily.
"Father——!" she began, with a little rush forward, and drew her breath in a sob.
"This is no place for you, Cicely," said Sir Charles sharply. "This is business for men, not women and children. ”

“ He will keep his way. And he has despatches entrusted to him which would ruin him," she said, and then she wept, crying through her tears: "And now I have learned that he is suspected, and that there is a posse to pursue him—and, oh, why does he not come?" ”

“ I mounted and made for the back of the garden, taking the wall that fenced the park, and as the mare got into her stride I looked back at the lighted house settling into the night. Miss had saved me, though 'twas true I could have done it myself.
"Well," thinks I, "I'm glad I saved the cockerel for her, if she wants him, bless her!" ”

“ As I ate I was aware that she was watching me, eyeing me as if she wanted something but knew not how to get it.
"'Tis well enough for grown men who know all about such matters," she said next. "But not for youths who know little."
"You say truly," I answered. "Youth should keep its nose out of plots."
She came back and sat down, as if she had suddenly made up her mind. "I know one such," she said. "And he will mingle with such hazards, and oh, I fear he will endanger himself!"
I could spy through her as if she were glass, and I guessed 'twas the sour youth of whom she spoke. ”

“ Prime and load your pistol, and if so be you can hit the mark on yonder tree more accurately than I, I will take off my hat to you. But if you be beaten," says I, "you shall deliver what you have into my charge. 'Tis better than a man's heart," said I, "and 'tis plain he who gets nighest would have killed t'other in a duello."
He looked at me, puffing, and, "Will you swear it?" he said.
"That I will," said I, for there is none in the kingdom that goes closer to a mark than I.
"Very well," said he, after a pause; and he picked up his barker and began to charge it. ”

“ I could have pinked him in a score of places, and I had almost the mind to do so and end it, but I refrained with the picture of that pretty Miss in my eye, and her a-weeping over his blood and wounds. And so I made an appeal again.
"Give up, concede, my cockerel," I called. "You have fought well, but you can no longer. I would not stretch so handsome a youth as cold clay. Yield, my buck!"
He had not the breath for an oath, but his eyes were flaming red, and he made a last effort, getting home on my shoulder. ”

“ If it had been my own name he had given, I would have tried a bout with the posse, for there were one or two things against me that I knew of, and, besides, the repute of Dick Ryder was pretty well spread over the kingdom. But this was another business, as I saw. So I drew myself up.
"Hands off!" I cried. "Who be you to stop a peaceable man on the highway?" ”

“ He should be put in a prison."
"He can do no harm," says another.
"He might escape," says she, and turned to the cook. "Have you not a lock to your pantry?" she asked. "He would be safe there." The troopers looked at her. "And you would be freer," she added.
"To be sure, the pantry has walls like a prison," said the cook. "Put the ugly fellow there."
At first there was some demur, but Miss made as if 'twas settled, and bustled about, sending the cook to prepare for my reception. ”

“ All others are welcome in their bravery of lace and frill.
But there was naught of Miss Pussy about the girl I met at the "Grey Mare" by Highlow Marshes. 'Twas a mild day in September, of what year I cannot recall, but 'twas when there was a number of conspiracies and rebellions and plots and Heaven knows what, against His Gracious Majesty—that was old Rowley. The affair began, as one might say, the moment I entered the inn, pretty tired and hot; for 'twas fallen dark in the passage-way, and I joggled against someone at the foot of the stairway. ”

“ I began to see that if I were to accomplish anything, 'twas necessary to bestir myself; and so I thought to lure him on much as Miss had lured me, with talk of Flanders.
"A brave youth such as you would do well in the wars," says I. He glanced askew at me. "I have seen fighting myself," I went on. I am come from the Low Countries."
At that he got up, manifestly in agitation, and called for the innkeeper, who came post haste. The youth demanded his bill, but said no word to me. 'Twas clear he was in a taking, and I guessed he had some suspicion of me. ”

“ I HAD ever the name upon the road of one that would lend a civil ear to a fellow-creature in distress, and I did not belie my repute, as I challenge any man to prove. Add to that, I was ever agog to give my aid to a wench when she was in trouble. 'Tis the part of a man to stand by the weaker sex, if so be he sees the chance; and as for their tricks and their whimseys, and all the little devilments, why, it belongs to their armament, and there's an end of it. They go into battle in such array, and a man must abide his chances. ”

“ I said knowingly, "to drink good liquor and to eat good victuals—there's all a young man may desire, along of a pretty wench maybe. What wants he more? If I were a boy, I would snap my fingers at other concerns!" ”