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"But there are none now?" I said, with so of

trepidation

"Didn't I tell you, no," said Ike, "unless that there's one coot, lad?"

"Two shillings and sixpence and soot five and two, lad Wouldn't pay to keep a blood-horse to

rob us, would it?"

"No," I said "Didn't they hang the highwaymen in chains, Ike?"

"To be sure they did I see oneabout on Hounslow

Heath"

"Wasn't it very horrible?"

"I dunno Dessay it was Just look how reg'lar old Bonyparty goes

along, don't he--just in the sa all the steps he takes, and checking of 'eh"

"I've been to Paris and I've been to Dover"

"I say, I wish that chap would pass us--it worries me," cried Ike

pettishly Then he went on: "Roads warn't at all safe in those days, my

lad There was footpads too--chaps as couldn't afford to have horses,

and they used to hang under the hedges, just like that there dark one

yonder, and run out and lay holt of the reins, and hold a pistol to a

man's head"