"And now we must get on. Dickory, you coward, help these two friends of ours to remove that tree. The villains laid their ambush well; you see they felled this larch at an awkward part of the road." "And I thowt ’twas Simon forester a-choppen," said Sherebiah, as he walked towards the tree. "What shall we do with this ruffian on the road?" said Frank Godolphin. "He appears to be stone dead. ’Twas a good shot, sir." "Leave the villain. You’ll lay an information before Sir Godfrey or another of your magistrates, young master parson. Did you recognize any of the gang?" "No, my lord. I only saw the masked man. Perhaps Sherry was more fortunate." "Not me neither," said Sherebiah hastily. He had gone to the fallen man, looked in his face, and turned him over. "’Twas all too quick and sudden, and my eyes was nigh dazed wi’ shouten." "Well, well, Sir Godfrey’s is near at hand; go and inform him, and he will scour the country. We must push on." The tree was removed; the bedraggled and crestfallen postilions resumed their saddles, and with a parting salutation my lord drove off. Harry stood looking thoughtfully after the departing carriage. "Master Harry," said Sherebiah, coming up to him, "this be a bad business. The man bean’t dead." "He’s saved for the hangman, then." "Ay, and who med ’ee think he be?" "You do know him, then! What does this mean, Sherry?" "Well, I be a man o’ peace, and there’s mischief to come o’ this day’s piece o’ work, sure as I’m Sherebiah Stand-up-and-bless. ’Tis black John Simmons, Cap’n Aglionby’s man." "A scoundrel his master may well be rid of." "Ay, if the man were dead! But he be alive; the lord didn’t shoot’n at all; ’a fell off his horse and bashed his nob; an’ he’s got a tongue, Master Harry." "Well, what then? If he rounds on his fellows, so much the better. What are you afraid of, Sherry?" "I bean’t afeard, not I; but the Cap’n——" He paused, and Harry looked at him enquiringly. Sherebiah turned away. "Ah! little sticks kindle fires, little sticks kindle fires, they do." *CHAPTER III* *Master and Man* A Midnight Summons—A Warm Reception—Righteous Indignation—Aglionby Retorts—The Berkeley Arms—A Village Sensation—The Constable’s Story—Aspersions—Unimpeachable References—Waylaid—Squaring Accounts—The Captain Rides Away