re that these poor creatures, when excited and at
liberty, often exhibited great strength of limb, and made use of it
without scruple to the detriment of any they might fall in with; so he
took no heed of the outcry, and hastened his pace onwards. But this had
only the effect of exasperating his pursuer, who bawled out to him to
stop, and then began to make after him with a shuffling sort of run. So
when Horace looked back, and saw the presumed lunatic thus quickening
his speed, and also wildly flourishing his whip, he fairly broke into a
run himself, considering that, under the circumstances, "discretion
was," undoubtedly, "the better part of valour." He was, however,
arrested in his flight by a roaring burst of laughter from the supposed
madman, which made him pause for a moment and turn full round; and then
he became convinced that the cause of his anxiety, who was now leaning
his back against a bank, and still laughing vociferously, was none other
than the old caravan hawker, Ruby Grigg.

As soon as he could recover himself, the old man began to walk quietly
forward, motioning to the other to come and meet him. Horace did this,
though with some little reluctance, not feeling sure that the old man's
excitement might not be caused by either insanity or drink. But he was
soon satisfied that all was right on that score, as the two drew nearer
together.

"So you took me for a highwayman or a madman, Mr Horace!" said the old
man, still laughing. "Eh! I don't wonder; you must have thought it
very strange. But I never thought how it'd look when I hollered arter
you; I were only afeard you'd get out of hearing, and I've something to
tell you as'll make your heart right glad, I know."

"What is it, my friend?"

"Well, can you spare me a few minutes, and I'll tell you? My van's just
a few yards down the lane you crossed a minute ago. You didn't look
that way as you passed, and I didn't take it in at first that it was
yourself; and when my wife said, `There's Mr Horace Jackson just gone
by,' I ran to the top of the lane just as I was, whip and all, and
shouted arter you. Can you come with me for a minute?"

"With all my heart," replied the other.

So they turned back, and soon reached the van, which was drawn up by the
hedge-side, Grip and the old horse strolling about at leisure, and Mrs
Gregson being engaged in cooking something savoury in an iron pot which
was suspended over an open-air fire, gipsy fashion.