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himself for having given her cause of alarm； strode on with
affected alacrity； now talking to the horse as one expert in the
language of the stable； now whistling to himself low and
interrupted snatches of tunes； and now assuring the lady there
was no danger； while at the same time he looked sharply around to
see that there was nothing in sight which might give the lie to
his words while they were issuing from his mouth。 Thus did they
journey on； until an unexpected incident gave them the means of
continuing their pilgrimage with more speed and convenience。
CHAPTER XXIV。
RICHARD。 A horse！A horse！my kingdom for a horse！
CATESBY。 。。。。。My lord； I'll help you to a horse。 RICHARD III。
Our travellers were in the act of passing a small thicket of
trees close by the roadside； when the first living being
presented himself whom they had seen since their departure from
Cumnor Place。 This was a stupid lout； seemingly a farmer's boy；
in a grey jerkin； with his head bare； his hose about his heels；
and huge startups upon his feet。 He held by the bridle what of
all things they most wanteda palfrey； namely； with a side…
saddle； and all other garniture for a woman's mounting； and he
hailed Wayland Smith with； 〃Zur； be ye zure the party？〃
〃Ay； that I be； my lad；〃 answered Wayland； without an instant's
hesitation； and it must be owned that consciences trained in a
stricter school of morality might have given way to an occasion
so tempting。 While he spoke； he caught the rein out of the boy's
hand； and almost at the same time helped down the Countess from
his own horse； and aided her to mount on that which chance had
thus presented for her acceptance。 Indeed； so naturally did the
whole take place； that the Countess； as it afterwards appeared；
never suspected but that the horse had been placed there to meet
them by the precaution of the guide or some of his friends。
The lad； however； who was thus hastily dispossessed of his
charge； began to stare hard； and scratch his head； as if seized
with some qualms of conscience for delivering up the animal on
such brief explanation。 〃I be right zure thou be'st the party；〃
said he； muttering to himself； 〃but thou shouldst ha zaid BEANS；
thou knawest。〃
〃Ay； ay；〃 said Wayland； speaking at a venture； 〃and thou BACON；
thou knowest。〃
〃Noa； noa；〃 said the lad； 〃bide yebide yeit was PEAS a should
ha said。〃
〃Well； well；〃 answered Wayland； 〃Peas be it； a God's name！
though Bacon were the better password。〃
And being by this time mounted on his own horse； he caught the
rein of the palfrey from the uncertain hold of the hesitating
young boor； flung him a small piece of money； and made amends for
lost time by riding briskly off without further parley。 The lad
was still visible from the hill up which they were riding； and
Wayland； as he looked back； beheld him standing with his fingers
in his hair as immovable as a guide…post； and his head turned in
the direction in which they were escaping from him。 At length；
just as they topped the hill； he saw the clown stoop to lift up
the silver groat which his benevolence had imparted。 〃Now this
is what I call a Godsend；〃 said Wayland； 〃this is a bonny； well…
ridden bit of a going thing； and it will carry us so far till we
get you as well mounted； and then we will send it back time
enough to satisfy the Hue and Cry。〃
But he was deceived in his expectations； and fate； which seemed
at first to promise so fairly； soon threatened to turn the
incident which he thus gloried in into the cause of their utter
ruin。
They had not ridden a short mile from the place where they left
the lad before they heard a man's voice shouting on the wind
behind them； 〃Robbery！ robbery！Stop thief！〃 and similar
exclamations； which Wayland's conscience readily assured him must
arise out of the transaction to which he had been just accessory。
〃I had better have gone barefoot all my life；〃 he said； 〃it is
the Hue and Cry； and I am a lost man。 Ah！ Wayland； Wayland；
many a time thy father said horse…flesh would be the death of
thee。 Were I once safe among the horse…coursers in Smithfield； or
Turnbull Street； they should have leave to hang me as high as St。
Paul's if I e'er meddled more with nobles； knights； or
gentlewomen。〃
Amidst these dismal reflections； he turned his head repeatedly to
see by whom he was chased； and was much comforted when he could
only discover a single rider； who was； however； well mounted； and
came after them at a speed which left them no chance of escaping；
even had the lady's strength permitted her to ride as fast as her
palfrey might have been able to gallop。
〃There may be fair play betwixt us； sure；〃 thought Wayland；
〃where there is but one man on each side； and yonder fellow sits
on his horse more like a monkey than a cavalier。 Pshaw！ if it
come to the worse； it will be easy unhorsing him。 Nay； 'snails！
I think his horse will take the matter in his own hand； for he
has the bridle betwixt his teeth。 Oons； what care I for him？〃
said he； as the pursuer drew yet nearer； 〃it is but the little
animal of a mercer from Abingdon； when all is over。〃
Even so it was； as the experienced eye of Wayland had descried at
a distance。 For the valiant mercer's horse； which was a beast of
mettle； feeling himself put to his speed； and discerning a couple
of horses riding fast at some hundred yards' distance before him；
betook himself to the road with such alacrity as totally deranged
the seat of his rider； who not only came up with； but passed at
full gallop； those whom he had been pursuing； pulling the reins
with all his might； and ejaculating； 〃Stop！ stop！〃 an
interjection which seemed rather to regard his own palfrey than
what seamen call 〃the chase。〃 With the same involuntary speed；
he shot ahead （to use another nautical phrase） about a furlong
ere he was able to stop and turn his horse； and then rode back
towards our travellers； adjusting； as well as he could； his
disordered dress； resettling himself in the saddle； and
endeavouring to substitute a bold and martial frown for the
confusion and dismay which sat upon his visage during his
involuntary career。
Wayland had just time to caution the lady not to be alarmed；
adding； 〃This fellow is a gull； and I will use him as such。〃
When the mercer had recovered breath and audacity enough to
confront them； he ordered Wayland； in a menacing tone； to deliver
up his palfrey。
〃How？〃 said the smith； in King Cambyses' vein； 〃are we commanded
to stand and deliver on the king's highway？ Then out； Excalibur；
and tell this knight of prowess that dire blows must decide
between us！〃
〃Haro and help； and hue and cry； every true man！〃 said the
mercer。 〃I am withstood in seeking to recover mine own。〃
〃Thou swearest thy gods in vain； foul paynim；〃 said Wayland； 〃for
I will through with mine purpose were death at the end on't。
Nevertheless； know； thou false man of frail cambric and
ferrateen； that I am he； even the pedlar； whom thou didst boast
to meet on Maiden Castle moor； and despoil of his pack；
wherefore betake thee to thy weapons presently。〃
〃I spoke but in jest； man；〃 said Goldthred；