The Broad Highway

"True," said I, "and that of itself but proves my argument, for

men have been hanged and gibbeted all these years, yet robbery

and murder abide with us still, and are of daily occurrence."

"Why, as to that, sir," said the man, falling into step beside me

as I walked on down the hill, "I won't say yes and I won't say

no, but what I do say is--as many a man might think twice afore

running the chance of coming to that--look!" And he stopped to

turn, and point back at the gibbet with his stick. "Nick can't

last much longer, though I've know'd 'em hang a good time--but

they made a botch of Nick--not enough tar; you can see where the

sun catches him there!"

Once more, though my whole being revolted at the sight, I must

needs turn to look at the thing--the tall, black shaft of the

gibbet, and the grisly horror that dangled beneath with its

chains and iron bands; and from this, back again to my companion,

to find him regarding me with a curiously twisted smile, and a

long-barrelled pistol held within a foot of my head.

"Well?" said I, staring.

"Sir," said he, tapping his boot with his stick," I must trouble

you for the shiner I see a-winking at me from your cravat,

likewise your watch and any small change you may have."

For a moment I hesitated, glancing from his grinning mouth

swiftly over the deserted road, and back again.

"Likewise," said the fellow, "I must ask you to be sharp about

it." It was with singularly clumsy fingers that I drew the watch

from my fob and the pin from my cravat, and passed them to him.

"Now your pockets," he suggested, "turn 'em out."

This command I reluctantly obeyed, bringing to light my ten

guineas, which were as yet intact, and which he pocketed

forthwith, and two pennies--which he bade me keep.

"For," said he, "'t will buy you a draught of ale, sir, and there's

good stuff to be had at 'The White Hart' yonder, and there's

nothin' like a draught of good ale to comfort a man in any such

small adversity like this here. As to that knapsack now," he

pursued, eyeing it thoughtfully, "it looks heavy and might hold

valleybels, but then, on the other hand, it might not, and those

there straps takes time to unbuckle and--" He broke off suddenly,

for from somewhere on the hill below us came the unmistakable

sound of wheels. Hereupon the fellow very nimbly ran across the

road, turned, nodded, and vanished among the trees and underbrush

that clothed the steep slope down to the valley below.