224 THE EXETER ROAD 



who looked very hard at him, and who, after passing 

 him about a hundred yards, turned round and 

 pursued him at a gallop. ' AVell,' thought Boulter, 

 ' this seems likely to prove a kind of adventure on 

 which I never calculated. I am about to be stopped 

 myself by a gentleman of the road. In what manner 

 will it be necessary to receive the attack.' 



The stranger came up rapidly, and whatever his 

 intentions were, merely observed, ' You ride a very 

 fine horse ; would you like to sell her ? ' 



' Oh yes,' replied Boulter ; ' but for nothing less 

 than fifty guineas.' 



' Can she trot and gallop well ? ' 



' She can trot sixteen miles an hour, and gallop 

 twenty, or she would not do for my business,' said 

 Boulter, with a significant look. 



By this time the stranger, becoming uneasy, 

 desired to see her paces, probably thinking thus to 

 rid himself of so mysterious a character. 



' With all my heart,' rejoined the highwayman, 

 ' you shall see how she goes, but I must first be 

 rewarded for it,' presenting his pistol with the 

 customary demand. That request having been com- 

 plied with, Boulter wished him good-morning, saying, 

 ' Now, sir, you have seen my performance, you shall 

 see the performance of my horse, which I doubt not 

 will perfectly satisfy you ' ; and putting spur to her, 

 was soon but a distant speck upon the Plain, leaving 

 the stranger to bewail his foolish curiosity. 



The winter of 1777 and the spring of 1778 were 

 employed by Boulter and Caldwell in scouring 

 Salisbury Plain and the neighbouring country. A 



