HORSES AND HOUNDS. 175 



our gim, and a couple of terriers to follow liim, should the man 

 run away from us. Carefully and stealthily we crept along, 

 until we reached the road near the wood, where we expected to 

 find him — neither were we far out in our conjectures. He had 

 evidently been there, but had heard us approaching, and he 

 sought the shelter of the wood again, as the dogs immediately 

 dashed off ; but it was so dark we could not follow them, and 

 were obliged to call them back. We searched the wood on the 

 following day, and for two or three nights tried to meet him, 

 but without success ; our hero had decamped. A man, liowever, 

 answering his description, was captured a short time afterwards 

 in a neighbouring county, by attempting to rob a farmer on 

 horseback in the open day, who roused the neighbourhood in 

 pursuit ; and, although the fellow topped the stone walls, as the 

 farmer said, like a greyhound, at first, he was finally run into 

 and taken at last. His fate I never heard. 



My father had also a very narrow escape from a highwayman 

 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 wliich 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 wont 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 I'll blow your brains out." " Blow away, you fool," 

 cried the governor, " 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 after- 

 wards 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 condemnation wished particu- 

 larly to see him, and hoped he would come without delay. He 

 immediately set off to the prison, and when the culprit was pro- 

 duced, 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 I know you, squire, and I cannot die with- 

 out begging your forgiveness for shooting at you oue 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 ; 



