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"Here's no road for the likes o' you!" said he while I was yet at so I still advanced he clapped to the gate, and letting fall the bar, cursed rille

"I would see Sir Richard Brandon!" says I

"Then ye can't--nowise So be off and be danged!"

"Open the gate!" says I

"Be hanged for a dog knave!" says he all in a breath

"All true enough!" says I "And now, open the gate!"

"Be danged for a prigging gipsy--'A Gad! I'll have ye clapped i' the pillory for a black-visaged clapper-claw!"

"Unbar!" says I, "Or it shall go plaguy ill wi' you when I come in"

At this he spat uponabout, I espied a stone hard by about the bigness of abyit aloft, hove it with all ate crashed open so suddenly as to catch the fellow a buffet that laid hi on his back, and as he strove to rise I pinned him doith my staff and kicked hi roan and rub his hurts, I heard the sound of approaching hoof-strokes and, turning, beheld a lady bravely alloped furiously towards us down the avenue When al hi down at me from the shade of her plumed hat

"What is this?" she derey and wide and fearless "Who--who are you?"

Now at the sound of her voice so rich and wonder-sweet, I felt strangely abashed and, finding no word, turned from her to scon at the man I had pinned beneath ain "Speak!"

"A rogue!" says I, keeping es!"

"Ah--is't you?" said she in softer tone "I saw you for a ibbet You are my man o' the woods, and, sir, I owe you much--very much--indeed, sir, if--"

"I a down on the fellow 'neath ory," says I, "stir not!"

"Sir, would you hurther slender black brows

"I' faith!" I nodded "The uncivil rogue forced ate"