FEATS OF HORSEMANSHIP 21 1 



prove an alihi in case of danger. He rode off 

 straight to Gravesend; there, detained an hour 

 waiting for a boat, he prudently baited his horse ; 

 then, crossing the water, he dashed across Essex, 

 full tilt to Chelmsford, rested half-an-hour and gave 

 his horse some balls. Then he mounted, and flashed 

 on to Bramborough, Booking, and Wetherfield, fast 

 across the downs to Cambridge, quick, by by-roads 

 and across country, he slipped past Godmanchester 

 and Huntingdon to Fenny Stratford, where he baited 

 the good mare and took a quick half-hour's sleep. 

 Then once more along the north road till the cathe- 

 dral grew up over the horizon, larger — larger, and 

 whiz — he darted through York Gate. In an instant 

 he had led the jaded mare into an inn stable, 

 snapped up some food, tossed off some generous life- 

 giving wine, and in a fresh dress — say, green velvet 

 and gold lace — strolled out gay and calm to the 

 Bowling-green, then full of company. The lord 

 mayor of the city happening to be there, Nicks 

 sauntered up to him and asked him the hour. " A 

 quarter to eight." " Your most obedient." When 

 Nicks was apprehended and tried for the Gadsliill 

 robbery, the prosecutor swore to the man, the place, 

 and the hour ; but Nicks brought the Lord Mayor 

 of York to prove an alihi, and the jury, disbelieving 

 in Sir Boyle Eoche's bird anywhere out of Ireland, 

 acquitted the resolute and sagacious thief.' 



But our object in this chapter is to present the 



p 2 



