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"Sir, I trust you are not hurt?" said I

"Thank you," he answered, his glance still wandering, "not in the

least--assure you--merely tap on the nose, sir--unpleasant--da out the battered hat, "I think this is

yours?"

His eye encountering it in due tily, and took it froht ht have been a bow

"Thank you--yes--should know it a a thousand," said he

dreamily, "an old friend and a tried--a very much tried one--many

thanks" With which words he clapped the much-tried friend upon

his head, and with another ht have been a bow,

turned short round and strode away And as he went, despite the

careless swing of his shoulder, his legs seeht he staggered; yet, as I watched,

half minded to follow after hiht tap upon the crown and, thrusting his hands into the

pockets of his threadbare coat, fell to whistling lustily, and so,

turning a bend in the road, vanished fro tothree steps entered its cool shade Here I found