he ever have broken his word, he must have kept faith in such a case. So feeling, as became him, that whatever might happen must be for the best, he heroically concluded his mental soliloquy with "I care not what man can do unto me!" Nevertheless, it was not without a sense of alarm that he presently beheld two horsemen a few paces before him, proceeding at almost a walk, apparently in earnest conversation. What was to be done? Returning were as tedious as going o'er; besides, he had resolved to brave all danger and push on. Therefore, jerking the rein to stimulate the exertion of his trusty nag, he was shortly a step a head of the equestrians, who saluted him with a "Good night," in such hearty, honest tones, as well nigh disarmed suspicion. In return for their courtesy, he echoed "Good night !" adding, "and a pleasant journey to ye, gentlemen." "We are not going far," "answered one; "for we hear the road is unsafe, and have no taste for losing watch, money-perhaps more." "I wonder," put in the other, "to see you, Sir, alone at this time and place; but perhaps we are misled, and ought to be ashamed of ourselves for having owned our fears to a gentleman who seems to care little for the ill name of the neighbourhood." "Gentlemen," resumed the Doctor, with as nonchalant an air as he could assume, "I often travel this road, and believe that I have discovered the secret of how to escape robbery." Indeed, what is it ?" asked one of the horsemen quickly. Why, in the first place, I never carry anything about me worth taking; and, in the second, I should never offer any resistance—so I don't think there's a gentleman on the road, from Blackheath to Barham Downs, who would disgrace himself by maltreating a poor fellow, old enough to be his father; for they are mostly young men, and must be brave ones, who follow the calling, you know." "True," replied the shortest rider; and turning to his companion concluded, "Well then, I say, Captain, as the gentleman's prad is none of the quickest, and we've business on hand, let's be jogging." "With all my heart," quoth his friend; "once again good night t'ye, Sir." And off they rode at a smart pace. The Doctor doted on their absence; his charitable opinion, founded on their first addresses, was banished by those ominous words "captain" and "business," either dropped inadvertently, or spoken with a candour at once defying his power, and claiming his gratitude for their confiding forbearance. Reaching Deptford, he perceived that the people of the public house had not yet retired to bed; he felt tempted to prevail on one of the inn's militia to escort him home; but remembering that a league frequently existed between that class of persons and those he dreaded to encounter, he refrained from asking protection so equivocal. To shake off" thick coming fancies," often more intimidating than bodily assailants, on he drove. From the Broadway to midway up Blackheath hill the security afforded by houses thickly scattered, if I may be allowed such a phrase, served to tranquillize his nerves for the time; but still his spirit felt the consciousness that he had before him yet the very worst part of Jim's "baddish bit." Leisurely did the old horse wend his way up the pre cipitous hill, crowned by the Green Man, famed for its spacious ballroom, and long, low, and narrow tea-room, where bad hyson, worse coffee, and discourse as slip-slop, regaled, in those days, the half-gentry of the vicinity. We live in an age of improvement-not too often meeting with (even) half-gentry now. Small thought had the Doctor on matters like these. Leaving behind him the dense atmosphere which London spreads around itself so far, he found the air clear as he approached L'Homme Vert, and the sky enlightened by "the poetry of heaven," as Byron called the stars, though he did not prove them so. The Doctor's admiration of their beams was more prosaic; he felt grateful for any means of descrying the objects near him, and so gaining time, that he might screw his courage to the sticking place, whatever place that may be : for, veracious as he had ever been till this perilous night, he did intend sticking, or rather whipping, if forced to defend his money with his life. Gaining the hill's top, before him lay the long straight road that led to his own house. Shooter's hill was dimly visible, and the light colour of the soil, contrasted with the dark sward on either side, enabled him to perceive two men on horseback, their faces towards London, stationed one on either side of his path. "I have fallen among the Philistines!" inwardly ejaculated the Doctor, casting a wistful look at the inn; not a solitary candle denoted that any one was still awake there. His heart beat violently as he passed between the horsemen, who, instantly turning their steeds, sidled up to the carriage. In a moment he recognised the pair he had previously overtaken. "Arcades ambo, id est, blackguards, both," he would have quoted, had the line then been written; yet, although cold perspiration ran down his ample forehead, and excitement nearly choked his utterance, he lost not his self-commanding, ready-witted presence of mind. "Well met again, Sirs," he began; "you have not made up your minds to proceed, I see-wish you had, for I should have been happy in your company." "How far do you go to-night?" asked the one called captain. 'Why, whether I get so far as Rochester, or not, must depend upon circumstances." "I see by your hat," said the other," that you belong to the clergy. Is your living in Kent?" "Yes, I get my living in Kent," laughed the Doctor; "I belong to St. Nicholas, who, I presume, is your patron saint, gentlemen." This innocent ruse was unintelligible to its hearers. W-- found that he must suit his conversation to his company, with so heavy a stake depending on the chance of the party coming to an agreeable understanding-that is, a misunderstanding on one side, agreeably safe for the other. Accordingly he said, with much significance, "This hat of mine stands me in good stead; it covers more than you think; and this old-fashioned chaise holds more than a new-fangled gig could. A man might manage to stow away a good many pieces of bandanas under the seat, when going to leave cards from Mechlin or Valenciennes, on ladies in town. D'ye happen to know a woman at Chatham who goes by the name of Mother Moonshine, gentlemen ?" "I believe I've heard of such a person," said the captain. "Ah-well, if ever you should want anything, either in the shape of dry goods, or a tub or two of white Nantz, I could introduce you to her." 66 Thank you kindly," said one. "You know the road thoroughly, it seems?" added the other. Every bush on it, my masters; but it isn't what it used to be, when Slim Billy took his airings late. They wern't good for his health in the end, though." "What, did you know poor Bill?" asked the captain. Nay, Sir, that's as ugly a word for me to hear, as for you to use," took up the Doctor, his heart set on conciliating his fellow travellers; aye, even in my quiet smug way, those who don't live slaves to the rules laid down by the twelve, can't remember poor Bill's end without queer feelings; but I was given leave to be with him at the very tree, we shall pass it presently, not far from the castle. 'Doctor,' says he to me "Doctor!" shouted the henchman. "To be sure, he knew my travelling name, as well as I knew he was called the Pride of the Green. Doctor,' says he, 'if ever you meet any of my old cronies, tell 'em I died like a man; and as for the parson, you shall have it to swear that all I said here, from first to last, was to you; so, if any of the chaps are ever going to treat you uncivilly, you just cry, Onion sauce!' they'll know my pass-word." " "None of your sauce, my fair trader," said the captain, " that word won't pass now, if ever it did; 'tis my belief, Slim Billy was game to the end, and humbugged you." Lord, Sir," said the Doctor, "did you never hear why he chose that pass?" "No; but if you can tell us, out with it." "You see, as our friend-my friend-William, I should say, gentlemen, drew the principal part of his revenue, collected in his rents, on Shoulder of Mutton Green,* he thought onion sauce the fittest garnish for his favourite dish." "The wag! that's just like him," laughed his former associates, and the Doctor, per force, laughed with them. Brown George, with home in perspective, had stepped out manfully, or rather horsefully, so that our trio had made considerable way across the uninclosed portion of the heath, during their "colloquy divine." An isolated public-house, denominated "the Sun in the Sands," stood on the left side of the road, about midway from the commencement of Blackheath to the bottom of Shooter's Hill. This house, like the Bell at Hounslow, was, in those days, a chosen resort of "the Trojans who took purses, either singly or running in couples. The inhabitants of this hostel were seldom "objective" to the garish eye of day; but from gloaming till dawn, at the service of all accredited customers. The belated wayfarer might have applied for meat or drink in vain, while knights of the post found jugs of smoking spicy wine, glasses of curious Cognac, and divers other comforts fit to drown the qualms of conscience, with all other ills which the breathers of night air" are heirs to." * This green lies at the bottom of Shooter's Hill on the Dover side. "Ned," said the captain, who rode on the Doctor's left," can't you and I persuade our friend to stop and wet his whistle at the baiting crib ?" "In course; he won't part company when he knows he's got gentlemen of the right sort going down the road with him,-eh, Doctor?" To enter this house, where his person was known, not only as a clergyman but as a justice of peace, would have been fatal to my revered friend's ""Cognito." Almost within sight of his home to be detected as an impostor by perhaps a host of desperadoes at another sacrifice of truth he must, if possible, evade such a catastrophe. "You're very kind, my good friends," said he, "but you know as well as I do, there are secrets in all trades. Sharp, the landlord, is a straight up, right down honest fellow in his way, but we had a bit of a tiff lately about a small parcel of Hollands, and I swore that I'd never set foot in his house again. However, don't let that hinder you. I shan't have got to the top of the hill before you have taken your swig, and come up with me." "No, deuce take it!" said the captain; "we're not so unsociable as to drink without you,-why, you're one of us, I may say.” “ Proud of the compliment, Sir; but, if it's all one to you, instead of my drinking your brandy there, let me stand treat. I can promise ye as fine a bowl of bishop as ever wetted lips; fit drink for me, eh? Come on to the Bull." "They'll all be snoozing by this time," demurred Ned. "Not all," said the Doctor, with an insinuating air; "for, between friends, and it goes no farther, I'm expected to-night. Old Dame Dudgeon is rather particular in her laces. I carried her a piece of black t'other day, which don't hit her fancy; she wants me to take it back, for Mother Moonshine to change it, so Dame's sitting up for me; and any friends of mine will be right welcome, therefore let Sharp go to bed, or to any other place you like, gentlemen; but we're for the Bull." They were now abreast of the Sun, yet, to his inexpressible relief, the others did not pull bridle. A heavily laden waggon was seen advancing: drowning men catch at straws; my nearly exhausted hero derived consolation from the idea that no violence could be offered him while this machine was near, guarded by one man if not more. The old horse put his best foot foremost. The strangers interchanged some words in a patois or slang, of which their auditor was ignorant, and the foot of the hill was gained! The Doctor's brain reeled, his unwelcome companions had hitherto preserved the positions they had originally assumed. His aim was now to get rid at least of the man at his right, the side on which his own house stood. Accordingly, when within a hundred yards of it, he said to him, "Now, Sir, if you will ride forward, and knock lustily at the Bull door, it will be open long before this sluggard of a horse of mine can drag me there.” "A bright notion," said Ned, and trotted off to obey the instructions. This was a great point gained, but, scarcely was it achieved, when, to his unutterable satisfaction, our Doctor beheld a lantern at his wished for gate, borne by his sturdy male factotum, followed by the powerful yard-dog, Neptune. Their master could scarcely breathe for agitation; every moment seemed an age till he arrived at the opened gate, when suddenly turning to his companion, he said— 66 Thank you for your company, Sir; but, as I am at home now, I can wish you a good night, with pleasure!" The fellow, completely taken aback by these words, and the sight of the servant, and the dog, and the lantern, galloped furiously after his second, who was, sure enough, thundering away at the Bull door. 'Ride, Ned, ride on, you fool!" yelled the captain. -bit,-floored." "We're done, A moment, and he was joined by his brother in arms. The Doctor's servant, by his master's directions, followed their course to the top of the hill, and saw them rushing down its steep declivity, as if pursued by Justice herself mounted on Eclipse. My excellent preceptor used to narrate this adventure most powerfully, dwelling with gratitude on his preservation; with modesty,--nay, with some half-comic penitence-on the conduct and courage to which, as his elêves were not training for the church, they naturally and justly yielded their unqualified admiration. BENSON E. HILL. TAKE YOUR POLITICS HENCE. BY T. HAYNES BAYLY, ESQ. TAKE your politics hence, for one evening at least, Little orator Puffs in a snug coterie; If you name your vile house you will give me offence, These politics now are become quite a pest; But then-do you think he'd chime in with Lord G. ?" The ladies are now a political race; They think of their canvass much more than their lace, And I'll call myself a Conservative Whig; And we'll tell the fair creatures to talk common sense, Aug.-VOL. I. NO. CC. 2 N |