It was now quite dark, and though of course that made no difference to Metcalfe, his companion had much ado to see his way. However, he followed his guide carefully and at length they found themselves in the streets of Knaresborough. 'Let us stop and have a bottle of wine,' said the stranger, for he was tired from being so many hours in the saddle; but Jack told him that the horses were too hot to think of halting, and they pressed on. By and bye as they were passing under an oil lamp hung by a chain across the road, a boy cried out: 'That's Blind Jack!' 'Not he,' answered another; 'that fellow is much too dark.' Jack chuckled to himself as he listened to them, but never turned his head. Over the bridge they went and into the forest. 'What is that light I see?' asked the gentleman when they had gone a little distance. His guide guessed that it must be a will-o'-the-wisp from some swampy ground that lay there, but was careful not to betray himself by saying so lest he should be mistaken. 'Do you not see two lights?' he inquired by way of making some answer; 'one on the right and the other on the left.' 'No; I can only distinguish one--one on the right,' replied the stranger. 'Then that is Harrogate,' said Jack. 'We shall soon be there now,' and in a quarter of an hour they drew rein in the courtyard of the Granby inn. Early hours were kept in those days and the ostler had gone to bed, so Jack, who knew the place well, stabled the horses himself after rubbing them down. He then went into the inn where his companion was seated by the fire, with a pewter pot of hot spiced wine beside him. 'You must be as cold and tired as I am,' observed the gentleman; 'it is your turn to have a drink.' To his surprise, Metcalfe, who happened to be thinking of something else, stretched out his hand at first very wide of the mark, a fact which did not escape the stranger's eye, though Jack at once recollected himself, and, noting from what direction the voice proceeded, picked up the tankard, took a good draught and left the room. 'My guide must have drunk a good deal, landlord, since we arrived,' then said the gentleman. 'And what makes you think so, sir?' asked the landlord. 'Well, his eyes look so odd, and he fumbled about so after the tankard.' 'Yes, sir? Why, don't you know he is blind?' 'Blind!' echoed the stranger; 'impossible!' 'Yes, sir, as blind as a bat.' 'Blind!' repeated the gentleman again. 'Call him back. I should like to speak to him,' and as Jack entered he exclaimed: 'My friend, is it really true that you are blind?' 'It is indeed, sir. I lost my sight when I was six years old.' 'Had I known that, I would not have ventured with you for a hundred pounds.' 'And I, sir, would not have lost my way for a thousand,' answered Jack with a laugh, as he pocketed the two guineas held out to him. * * * * *