"Hem!" cried the Corporal, again coming alongside of his master. "Beg pardon, Sir--served in the 42nd--nothing like regular line--stragglers always cut off--had rather not straggle just now--enemy behind!" Walter looked back, and saw two men approaching them at a hand-gallop. "We are a match at least for them, Sir," said he, to his new acquaintance. "I am devilish glad I met you," was Sir Peter's rather selfish reply. " 'Tis he! 'tis the devil!" grunted the Corporal, as the two men now gained their side and pulled up; and Walter recognised the faces he had marked in the ale-house. "Your servant, gentlemen," quoth the uglier of the two; "you ride fast--" "And ready;--bother--baugh!" chimed in the Corporal, plucking a gigantic pistol from his holster, without any farther ceremony. "Glad to hear it, Sir!" said the hard-featured Stranger, nothing dashed. "But I can tell you a secret!" "What's that--augh?" said the Corporal, cocking his pistol. "Whoever hurts you, friend, cheats the gallows!" replied the stranger, laughing, and spurring on his horse, to be out of reach of any practical answer with which the Corporal might favour him. But Bunting was a prudent man, and not apt to be choleric. "Bother!" said he, and dropped his pistol, as the other stranger followed his ill-favoured comrade. "You see we are too strong for them!" cried Sir Peter, gaily; "evidently highwaymen! How very fortunate that I should have fallen in with you!" A shower of rain now began to fall. Sir Peter looked serious--he halted abruptly--unbuckled his cloak, which had been strapped before his saddle- -wrapped himself up in it--buried his face in the collar--muffled his chin with a red handkerchief, which he took out of his pocket, and then turning to Walter, he said to him, "What! no cloak, Sir? no wrapper even? Upon my soul I am very sorry I have not another handkerchief to lend you!" "Man of the world--baugh!" grunted the Corporal, and his heart quite warmed to the stranger he had at first taken for a robber. "And now, Sir," said Sir Peter, patting his nag, and pulling up his cloak-collar still higher, "let us go gently; there is no occasion for hurry. Why distress our horses?--" "Really, Sir," said Walter, smiling, "though I have a great regard for my horse, I have some for myself; and I should rather like to be out of this rain as soon as possible."