ooking as blank as a cartridge.

"Ay," exclaimed Coates; "all owing to this worthless piece of carrion.
If it were not that I hope to see him dangling from those
walls"--pointing towards the Castle--"I should wish her master were by
her side now. To the dogs with her." And he was about to spurn the
breathless carcase of poor Bess, when a sudden blow, dealt by the
patrico's staff, felled him to the ground.

"I'll teach you to molest me," said Balthazar, about to attack Paterson.

"Come, come," said the discomfited chief constable, "no more of this.
It's plain we're in the wrong box. Every bone in my body aches
sufficiently without the aid of your cudgel, old fellow. Come, Mr.
Coates, take my arm, and let's be moving. We've had an infernal long
ride for nothing."

"Not so," replied Coates; "I've paid pretty dearly for it. However, let
us see if we can get any breakfast at the Bowling-green, yonder; though
I've already had my morning draught," added the facetious man of law,
looking at his dripping apparel.

"Poor Black Bess!" said Major Mowbray, wistfully regarding the body of
the mare, as it lay stretched at his feet. "Thou deservedst a better
fate, and a better master. In thee, Dick Turpin has lost his best
friend. His exploits will, henceforth, want the coloring of romance,
which thy unfailing energies threw over them. Light lie the ground over
thee, thou matchless mare!"

To the Bowling-green the party proceeded, leaving the patrico in
undisturbed possession of the lifeless body of Black Bess. Major Mowbray
ordered a substantial repast to be prepared with all possible
expedition.

A countryman, in a smock-frock, was busily engaged at his morning's
meal.

"To see that fellow bolt down his breakfast, one would think he had
fasted for a month," said Coates; "see the wholesome effects of an
honest, industrious life, Paterson. I envy him his appetite--I should
fall to with more zest were Dick Turpin in his place."

The countryman looked up. He was an odd-looking fellow, with a terrible
squint, and a strange, contorted countenance.

"An ugly dog!" exclaimed Paterson: "what a devil of a twist he has
got!"

"What's that you says about Dick Taarpin, measter?" asked the
countryman, with his mouth half full of bread.

"Have you seen aught of him?" asked Coates.

"Not I," mumbled the rustic; "but I hears aw the folks hereabouts talk
on him. They say as how he sets all the lawyers and constables at
defiance, and