"/ MERELY BORROW." 285 



it will be hard work with eleven children to provide 

 for, and with such a hard landlord as I have ; there's 

 sixty-seven pounds, gentleman, savings, scrapings, 

 and borrowings, and I'm as good as turned out of my 

 farm if 'tain't paid to-day." 



" My friend," said Turpin, " I must borrow that bag 

 from you." (The poor farmer's heart fell below his 

 waistband.) " Observe, I say borrow." 



The word conveyed no comfort to the farmer, for 

 who would dream of a highwayman repaying what he 

 had stolen ? To the poor soul it was the wildest fiction 

 that was ever imao^ined. 



" Dost hear?" said Turpin, snatching the bag from 

 the farmer's grasp. " Nay, don't drop your jaw as if you 

 never meant to shut your mouth again. Harkee! 'tis 

 only bo7'rozued, I tell ye — that is, if your story's true ; if 

 a lie, then bid good-bye to every farthing. And, hark 

 ye, friend, if you pursue me with a view of recovering 

 your cash, you shall never see a shilling of it again." 



The money was delivered up, and the farmer 

 returned home a poorer but a wiser man. Although 

 urged by his wife to do so, he declined to give infor- 

 mation against the highwayman, and three weeks after^ 

 received back every farthing of his money. 



This was somewhat different to the character given 

 to highwaymen in a popular ballad of that day, which 

 was as follows : 



Over Hounslow, and Finchley, and Bagshot we're told, 

 Through the night one might travel in safety of old ; 

 But so thick now are robbers that 'tis my belief, 

 For each lord of the manor you now find a thief. 



Robin Hood he was famous enough in his day. 

 But his hand it was open to scatter his prey ; 

 But the thieves of our times are such covetous elves, 

 That whatever they get they keep all to themselves. 



