LETTER XIV. 153 



wayraan at another time. He was returning home on 

 horseback from a friend's house, where he had been 

 dining; and on passing over an open down, through which 

 the turnpike road led, he heard some one on horseback 

 following him. Guessing this boded no good, and being 

 unprovided that night with pistols, he mended his pace — 

 so did his pursuer. Being on a thorough-bred horse, he 

 knew he could scarcely be caught, and so put him into 

 a gallop. The highwayman galloped after him. This 

 won't do, thought my father, I must race a bit. His 

 follower raced too ; but, not being able to get up with 

 my father, he hallooed out, " Stop — or V\] blow your 

 brains out." *' Blow away, you fool," cried the gover- 

 nor, " I have none to spare." The fellow fired — the 

 ball passed through the flap of his coat, as it flew open 

 in the race, but fortunately without injury. Some short 

 time afterwards the highwayman. was caught, convicted, 

 and ordered for execution. He got the governor of the 

 gaol to write to my father, saying a prisoner under con- 

 demnation wished particularly to see him, and hoped he 

 would come without delay. He immediately set off to 

 the prison, and when the culprit was produced, requested 

 to know what he wanted with him. " You don't know 

 me, then," said the man. " No," replied my father, " I 

 do not." " But T know you, squire, and I cannot die 

 without begging your forgiveness for shooting at you one 

 night coming over the downs. . I did not know until the 

 trigger was pulled that it was you ; but your voice struck 

 me afterwards, and I hope you will forgive me, for it 

 has dwelt on my mind ever since." His forgiveness was 

 soon obtained ; endeavours were not wanting either to 

 procure a reprieve of his sentence ; but without effect., 



