Instead of replying, I took his horse by the bridle, thrust its head aside, and passed disdainfully on, for I saw that he had been dining, and was flushed alike with wine and insolence. Anthony was four years older than I, and had seen much more of the world; yet, so far as education or accomplishments were concerned, this pet of my grandfather was nearly as ignorant as the grooms and stable-boys who were his constant companions and chosen friends, and who, in those capacities, fleeced him of large sums on the turf, in the tavern, and at the gaming-table. "Did you hear me speak, fellow?" he thundered out, with an oath, while urging his horse close behind me, as if to ride me down. Instead of turning, I quickened my pace; but he and his grooms put spur to their nags and followed me. "S'blood!" exclaimed Tony, "but this will make you _feel_ if you cannot hear me!" and he dealt me a heavy lash across the shoulders with his hunting-whip. With all the strength and fury that a long sense of unmerited wrong, hardship, neglect, and opprobrium could inspire, I rushed upon this usurper of my patrimony, and in a moment he was torn from his saddle and stretched upon the highway. I wrenched away his whip, and, twisting the lash round my wrist, beat him soundly with the handle. Being stronger than I, he scrambled up, with his green coat covered with dust and his features inflamed by rage; he closed with me, swearing frightfully, while his two mounted followers assailed me in the rear with their clubbed whips. "Lay on, Dick! lay on, Tom!" he cried repeatedly; "d--n him, beat the beggarly rascal's brains out!" I received several severe blows on the head and shoulders, while Tony actually strove to strangle me by twisting my necktie; and in a combat so unequal I must have been defeated and severely handled in the end, had not two men who were clad in long scarlet cloaks, and were mounted on grey horses, interposed, and one who had drawn his sword, exclaimed-- "Hold, fellows, hold! What the devil do you mean--is it murder? Back! on your lives, stand back! Why this cowardly attack of three upon one?" On this the valets precipitately withdrew a little way; but Tony still grasped my collar, and on perceiving by their dress and accoutrements that the interposers were two Horse Grenadiers or Dragoons, he swore at them roundly, and said-- "What value do you put upon your ears that you dare to accost me upon the highway?" "Dare?" repeated the soldier, contemptuously. "Yes, dare!" exclaimed my cousin, foaming with rage. "Be off with you. Do you imagine that a scurvy trooper can scare me? I am Anthony Gauntlet of Netherwood Hall, and in the commission of the peace for this county; so begone I say, or d--n me I'll put you both in the stocks at the nearest market cross." The dragoon laughed, and placed the bare blade of his sword so close to Tony's neck that he hastily released me and slunk back.