man, armed, and in appearance the ablest of the whole band, remained inactive, as one thunderstruck, at our hero's unexpected resistance and daring intrepidity. The man, smarting from the blow of the horse's hoof, drew a short thick bludgeon which he held under his arm, and aimed a desperate stroke of the loaded end, which their armed leader parried with his hand, at our hero's breast, who, in his own defence, was compelled, as he galloped off, to let fly his pistol. The ball, penetrating the flesh, and passing near the bone through the fellow's uplifted arm, defeated his meditated purpose of aiming, in defiance of his captain, a second blow, and with excruciating pain so cooled for the present his high courage as to render him for a time useless. His companion sprung, in eager, though fruitless pursuit after Plunket; and the other bloody-minded villain, damning furiously his captain for suffering him to escape, swore a most tremendous oath, he would plunge C 4 plunge a knife, which he instantly drew from a pouch that hung suspended to his side, in his heart, if he did not give him the pistols. "Damn your blood-thirsty soul!" answered the captain, giving him a push, "learn to be content, when we've got énough for this bout, without doing the gentleman any injury." "If we had done his business at once," retorted the other, "he could never harm us; but as sure as you've life, you'll get the gallows at last for this womanish pity, and who then will pity yourself? I am resolved, at any rate, I'll have at him;" and so saying, he made an attempt, as he cut the air with his knife, to seize one of the pistols with which his captain was armed. While these hardy knights of the pad thus contended, our hero, without delaying for the result of their dispute, but happy in his own fortunate escape, galloped off at the top of his horse's speed, without without once drawing rein, in defiance of the darkness of the night, and the roughness of the road, to the village. At the first house where Plunket perceived light, he stopped and announced his situation, benighted and fatigued, and requiring for himself and his horse shelter during the night, with repose and refreshment. The owner, coming out, expressed his regret at his inability to accommodate the gentleman; but with the courteousness peculiar to his country, offered to conduct him to the village alehouse, the only place there where he might expect entertainment. Charles accepted this offered civility, and followed his guide, who led him through a range of thatched cabins on either hand to more than half the extent of the village, where he stopped at a house not distinguished above the rest but by a larger window, from whence the radiance of a bright fire and lighted candle within in copious stream issued, discovering to the pleased c 5 pleased eye of the wearied traveller the black board over the door, that in white letters promised good entertainment. Here, when Plunket had consigned his horse for the night to the care of the host, who promised the poor jaded animal, if not other provender, some good hay with his cow, and when, with a small piece of coin for drink he had poured out his thanks to the man who conducted him, he entered the kitchen to consult the hostess about dinner. Her fare presented no great variety for delicate appetite or fastidious choice to decide on; it consisted of rashers of bacon and eggs with potatoes; but he enjoyed at the time such a good stomach as would have given a high relish to worse food, whereas that this in its kind was excellent, and prepared under his immediate eye, for the kitchen, the best apartment of the house, was the only one rendered comfortable by a fire. The children were soon dismissed to bed bed out of the way, and adjoining the clean hearth, before a comfortable fire, a small table was spread for the gentleman's dinner, and some strong whiskey punch added to his meal for beverage; all of which he found so excellent, as to feel no other regret but that which sprung from his fears that he had not reserved sufficient money (some loose silver being all he now possessed) from the contribution he was compelled to render these keepers of the road, to reward as he would wish the civil attention of these kind people. Plunket, after having cheerfully regaled himself, and also treated his hostess (who was kindly officious) to some punch, began to recount the manner in which he had been attacked, and his fortunate escape from the robbers. This narrative produced innumerable details from the hostess and her husband, who soon after entered, of the various robberies committed in that neighbour c 6 |