her with. However,
use great caution and do not show signs of resistance too early in the
game."

"I'll watch thee for the signal."

When the first two men were within a few paces of us, they suddenly
wheeled their horses straight across the road, thus compelling us to
stop.

"And what might you want, sirs?" asked Harleston, in his sweetest tone.
The manner in which he spoke did seem to take their breath away; for
they did nothing but stare for a moment. Then the first to recover
himself answered:--

"All that thou hast, and be damned quick about the giving it." This in
a voice that told, in the plainest terms, the life these fellows lead.

My companion fumbled with his purse for a moment, which example I
followed. The two knaves eyed the bags as the wolf doth gaze in greedy
admiration at a lamb. Then, when the outlaws were off their guards,
our swords did leap from their scabbards, and we cleft their heads as
though they had been made of putty--which, mayhap, they were. We now
drove our spurs into the flanks of our horses and dashed at the other
two. They waited until we were within a score of yards of them, and
then they changed their minds, and did not seem to relish the idea of
meeting the same fate as their fellows; for they turned their horses
into the greenwood, and disappeared along one of those many narrow
paths, with which these forests are burrowed, and which they know as
well as I do the corridors of the palaces at Westminster or Windsor.
We did not attempt to follow them, but rode on at full speed for the
distance of a mile, and when we at length slackened our pace and looked
back, not one of the six was to be seen.

They had evidently thought to overawe us by a great show of numbers and
the copious use of bluster; but after two of their number had fallen
the courage of the rest did forsake them, and they lost their appetites
for our purses, for which they should have to pay such a price.

So we rode into York, nothing the worse for our little adventure which
had helped to make us forget the weariness of our long, hard ride.
When we had entered our inn, and were preparing us for our supper, a
great crowd gathered about the door; for the news had soon leaked out,
who we were and what our business was; for around inns every one doth
know one's business better than that person does himself; for what they
do not know they guess at. So we gave them the news of the great
victory our army had won,