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horses。 The tired animals； who could scarce put the one foot
before the other； paid no attention to his cruelty； and I continued
without effort to maintain my position alongside； smiling to myself
at the futility of his attempts； and at the same time pricked with
curiosity as to why he made them。 I made no such formidable a
figure as that a man should flee when I accosted him； and my
conscience not being entirely clear； I was more accustomed to be
uneasy myself than to see others timid。 Presently he desisted； and
put back his whip in the holster with the air of a man vanquished。
'So you would run away from me？' said I。 'Come； come； that's not
English。'
'Beg pardon； master： no offence meant；' he said； touching his hat。
'And none taken！' cried I。 'All I desire is a little gaiety by the
way。'
I understood him to say he didn't 'take with gaiety。'
'Then I will try you with something else；' said I。 'Oh； I can be
all things to all men； like the apostle！ I dare to say I have
travelled with heavier fellows than you in my time； and done
famously well with them。 Are you going home？'
'Yes； I'm a goin' home； I am；' he said。
'A very fortunate circumstance for me！' said I。 'At this rate we
shall see a good deal of each other； going the same way； and； now I
come to think of it； why should you not give me a cast？ There is
room beside you on the bench。'
With a sudden snatch； he carried the cart two yards into the
roadway。 The horses plunged and came to a stop。 'No； you don't！'
he said； menacing me with the whip。 'None o' that with me。'
'None of what？' said I。 'I asked you for a lift； but I have no
idea of taking one by force。'
'Well； I've got to take care of the cart and 'orses； I have；' says
he。 'I don't take up with no runagate vagabones； you see； else。'
'I ought to thank you for your touching confidence；' said I；
approaching carelessly nearer as I spoke。 'But I admit the road is
solitary hereabouts； and no doubt an accident soon happens。 Little
fear of anything of the kind with you！ I like you for it； like
your prudence； like that pastoral shyness of disposition。 But why
not put it out of my power to hurt？ Why not open the door and
bestow me here in the box； or whatever you please to call it？' And
I laid my hand demonstratively on the body of the cart。
He had been timorous before； but at this； he seemed to lose the
power of speech a moment； and stared at me in a perfect enthusiasm
of fear。
'Why not？' I continued。 'The idea is good。 I should be safe in
there if I were the monster Williams himself。 The great thing is
to have me under lock and key。 For it does lock； it is locked
now；' said I； trying the door。 'A PROPOS； what have you for a
cargo？ It must be precious。'
He found not a word to answer。
Rat…tat…tat； I went upon the door like a well…drilled footman。
'Any one at home？' I said； and stooped to listen。
There came out of the interior a stifled sneeze； the first of an
uncontrollable paroxysm； another followed immediately on the heels
of it； and then the driver turned with an oath； laid the lash upon
the horses with so much energy that they found their heels again；
and the whole equipage fled down the road at a gallop。
At the first sound of the sneeze； I had started back like a man
shot。 The next moment； a great light broke on my mind； and I
understood。 Here was the secret of Fenn's trade： this was how he
forwarded the escape of prisoners； hawking them by night about the
country in his covered cart。 There had been Frenchmen close to me；
he who had just sneezed was my countryman； my comrade； perhaps
already my friend！ I took to my heels in pursuit。 'Hold hard！' I
shouted。 'Stop！ It's all right！ Stop！' But the driver only
turned a white face on me for a moment； and redoubled his efforts；
bending forward； plying his whip and crying to his horses； these
lay themselves down to the gallop and beat the highway with flying
hoofs； and the cart bounded after them among the ruts and fled in a
halo of rain and spattering mud。 But a minute since； and it had
been trundling along like a lame cow； and now it was off as though
drawn by Apollo's coursers。 There is no telling what a man can do；
until you frighten him！
It was as much as I could do myself； though I ran valiantly； to
maintain my distance； and that （since I knew my countrymen so near）
was become a chief point with me。 A hundred yards farther on the
cart whipped out of the high…road into a lane embowered with
leafless trees； and became lost to view。 When I saw it next； the
driver had increased his advantage considerably； but all danger was
at an end； and the horses had again declined into a hobbling walk。
Persuaded that they could not escape me； I took my time； and
recovered my breath as I followed them。
Presently the lane twisted at right angles； and showed me a gate
and the beginning of a gravel sweep； and a little after； as I
continued to advance； a red brick house about seventy years old； in
a fine style of architecture； and presenting a front of many
windows to a lawn and garden。 Behind； I could see outhouses and
the peaked roofs of stacks； and I judged that a manor…house had in
some way declined to be the residence of a tenant…farmer； careless
alike of appearances and substantial comfort。 The marks of neglect
were visible on every side； in flower…bushes straggling beyond the
borders； in the ill…kept turf； and in the broken windows that were
incongruously patched with paper or stuffed with rags。 A thicket
of trees； mostly evergreen； fenced the place round and secluded it
from the eyes of prying neighbours。 As I came in view of it； on
that melancholy winter's morning； in the deluge of the falling
rain； and with the wind that now rose in occasional gusts and
hooted over the old chimneys； the cart had already drawn up at the
front…door steps； and the driver was already in earnest discourse
with Mr。 Burchell Fenn。 He was standing with his hands behind his
back … a man of a gross； misbegotten face and body； dewlapped like
a bull and red as a harvest moon； and in his jockey cap； blue coat
and top boots； he had much the air of a good； solid tenant…farmer。
The pair continued to speak as I came up the approach； but received
me at last in a sort of goggling silence。 I had my hat in my hand。
'I have the pleasure of addressing Mr。 Burchell Fenn？' said I。
'The same； sir；' replied Mr。 Fenn； taking off his jockey cap in
answer to my civility； but with the distant look and the tardy
movements of one who continues to think of something else。 'And
who may you be？' he asked。
'I shall tell you afterwards；' said I。 'Suffice it； in the
meantime； that I come on business。'
He seemed to digest my answer laboriously； his mouth gaping； his
little eyes never strayin