THE OLD EX GLAND OF COACHLNG DAYS 329 



scarce sit his horse, and liad to be helped into the 

 saddle by an ostler. Once up, his eves only with 

 difficulty peered over this mountainous weight, 

 but in this manner he set forth. He had not s^one 

 far before he thought he had lost his way, Avhen 

 fortunately he perceived another horseman, and 

 hailed him. The stranger took no notice ; and so 

 our traveller ranged up alongside him with the 

 question. Instead of replying, the stranger thrust 

 his hand into his breast-pocket and withdrew what 

 the traveller imagined to be a pistol. Recollec- 

 tions of the evil repute of the place suddenly 

 rushed into the traveller's mind, and, putting 

 spurs to his horse, he dashed away from the 

 supposed highwayman, and did not draAV rein 

 until in the neighbourhood of Huntingdon. 



There he met a party of horsemen, who deter- 

 mined to hunt the highwayman down, and so, 

 Avitli the traveller, hurried on to Stonegate. 

 " There he is ! " cried the traveller, as they came 

 in view of a peaceful-looking equestrian, amljling 

 o:entlv along. 



"You are mistaken, sir," said one of the party: 

 " that is our Mayor, the Mayor of Huntingdon." 



But the bagman asserted he Avas right, and so, 

 to end the dispute, the whole party rode up, and 

 one wished "Mr. Mayor" good morning. It was 

 indeed that worthy man, and although he again, 

 instead of making answer, drew something from 

 his pocket, it })rodiiced no alarm among his fellow- 

 l)urgesses, for thcii at least knew him for a very 

 deaf man, and had often seen him reach for that 



