“‘No matter,’ said I, ‘if she is rich in jewels and diamonds, as you say, leave the matter in our hands, and I warrant we will not only secure the girl, but create no noise or bother about it.’ “‘But how?’ “‘Leave that matter to me,’ I replied. “For some time she would not consent; but when I had pledged the honour of the crew that no harm should befall the wench she consented, and departed, after telling me the exact time at which the intended bride was expected to pass by that particular part of the road. “As soon as Hannah had departed I and my comrades started out to have a look at the road. “Now, not far from the forest wherein we were concealed, there were cross roads with finger posts. “I hit upon my plan immediately.” “And what was it?” Death-wing asked. “Why, to change the finger posts, and thus send them in the wrong direction.” “A capital plan,” said Death-wing. “And did it succeed?” asked several. “Yes, as I will explain shortly.” “Early in the morning we got spades and loosened the finger posts, so as to be able to change them in a few moments. “We waited for hours, but no carriages appeared. “At last, a long way off, we espied two vehicles approaching. “But one was about half a mile ahead of the other. “The first one contained the intended bride, the farmer’s beautiful daughter, and a female attendant. “In the second rode Lord Rochfort’s brother, and a few friends. “Now, I had sent up the road for two of my men whose business it was in some way to stop or retard the progress of the second coach. “This they managed to do, and very cleverly indeed.” “How?” asked many. “When the bride’s coach approached the cross roads we changed the finger boards. “The driver followed their painted directions, and instead of going by the main read turned short into the forest carriage way. “Before the mistake could be rectified, I had the gates closed after them, and thus they could not return. “Meanwhile, however, those whom I had posted up the road had suddenly thrown a lasso round the horses’ legs, and down they tumbled carriages and all. “My comrades then, before the nobleman inside could get out of the half-smashed carriage, jumped into the middle of the road, cut the traces, and vaulting on the backs of the horses galloped away, leaving the travellers in the mud, cursing and swearing most lustily. “They dashed down the road and soon joined me, for I was at that moment engaged with the hinder carriage. “When I ran up to the coachman and threatened to blow his brains out if he stirred, he began to tremble like an ass, much more so, indeed, than the fair one inside, who, all diamond decked, was fair and beautiful. “Her attendant fainted as I opened the carriage door, but the other one quickly gave up to me all her trinkets and things of value.