--made it their haunt, and were suffered by the authorities of the
neighborhood to remain unmolested--a lenient piece of policy, which, in
our infinite regard for the weal of the tawny tribe, we recommend to the
adoption of all other justices and knights of the shire.

Bidding his grandsire have regard to his seat, Luke leaped a high bank;
and, followed by Turpin, began to descend the hill. Peter, however, took
care to provide for himself. The descent was so perilous, and the
footing so insecure, that he chose rather to trust to such conveyance as
nature had furnished him with, than to hazard his neck by any false step
of the horse. He contrived, therefore, to slide off from behind, shaping
his own course in a more secure direction.

He who has wandered amidst the Alps must have often had occasion to
witness the wonderful surefootedness of that mountain pilot, the mule.
He must have remarked how, with tenacious hoof, he will claw the rock,
and drag himself from one impending fragment to another, with perfect
security to his rider; how he will breast the roaring currents of air,
and stand unshrinking at the verge of almost unfathomable ravines. But
it is not so with the horse: fleet on the plain, careful over rugged
ground, he is timid and uncertain on the hill-side, and the risk
incurred by Luke and Turpin, in their descent of the almost
perpendicular sides of the cliff, was tremendous. Peter watched them in
their descent with some admiration, and with much contempt.

"He will break his neck, of a surety," said he; "but what matters it? As
well now as hereafter."

So saying, he approached the verge of the precipice, where he could see
them more distinctly.

The passage along which Luke rode had never before been traversed by
horse's hoof. Cut in the rock, it presented a steep zigzag path amongst
the cliffs, without any defence for the foot traveller, except such as
was afforded by a casual clinging shrub, and no protection whatever
existed for a horseman; the possibility of any one attempting the
passage not having, in all probability, entered into the calculation of
those who framed it. Added to this, the steps were of such unequal
heights, and withal so narrow, that the danger was proportionately
increased.

"Ten thousand devils!" cried Turpin, staring downwards, "is this the
best road you have got?"

"You will find one more easy," replied Luke, "if you ride for a quarter
of a mile down the wood, and then retu