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"And that's true, o' conscience!" smiled the buxom Cicely

"And ye'll find no better brew than our own!" quoth Roger

"And that I'll swear to!" laughed the peddler "Craht and Godby, lifting his tankard, s colic to every catchpoll, harmon-beck and the like vermin 'twixt this and London town!" says he, and lifted the ale to his lips; but suddenly he sat it down untasted and rose: "Friends, I'm took!" quoth he "See yonder!" As he spake the narrow dooras darkened and two rough fellows entered, and each bore a for, surly-voiced fellow, "here be us, peddler, and there be you, so best come easy--an' no tricks, mind!"

"Then easy does it, lads!" says Godby, no whit abashed "No lamb could co lions coers?"

"Fower hours i' the pillory, three i' the stocks, and a h too!" growled Roger the landlord, clenching hairy fist and glancing furtively towards a rusty sword suspended above the hearth

"Let be, Roger--I'hed the peddler "And I wouldn't ha' you in trouble by , ain't fit for struggling nor striving! So, friends--good-bye!" Then he turned away between his two captors, but as he did so, his bright eyes for one moment met one when I got er, did the like: "What's to do?" he questioned, glancing yearningly fro out ood wife's sake"

"Aye, do now, Roger!" she pleaded "'Twould be ruination to us!"

"Moreover," says I, reaching for el, "they are but two, so bide you here" Then I stepped forth of the tavern and very soon ca betwixt theh But, as I approached, they halted all three

"And what be you after?" demanded the surly fellow

"You!"

"And what d'ye want of us--hey?"

"Your prisoner!"

"Ha! And what for him?"

"I've a et hiue"

"That's no answer!"

"'Tis all you'll get o' we, save 'ard knocks!" says the eon