r's son, and by punishing him, keep in awe others of less degree."

"I am sure you mean me well," said Jack, whose disposition made him
unsuspicious of others. "But we shall pass within a short distance of
Nottingham, and I should like to go and pay them a visit during the
evening, when the darkness will prevent me being recognised, just to
tell them where I am going, and what I propose doing."

"Oh, Master Brinsmead will do that in a few days!" answered the northern
drover; "depend upon it there are some on the watch for you, and you
would run a considerable risk in returning home, even for a short time."

Jack thought this very likely, and did not press the point, but suddenly
another idea occurred to him.

"I might surely visit Harwood Grange?" he observed; "no one would be
looking for me there, and I should like to see Mr Harwood and gain some
information respecting the persons to whom I am to deliver these
letters."

"I will think about that, my lad, as we ride on," answered Pearson.
"Our direct road will take us a good deal to the east of Sherwood
Forest, and your visit to the Grange would cause considerable delay. I
do not at present see that this is necessary, though, to be sure, you
may have some attraction there with which I am not acquainted."

He gave a peculiar glance as he spoke, which drew the colour into his
companion's cheeks.

Jack was mounted on a strong, active nag, but he soon found that it was
very inferior in speed to the one Pearson bestrode, and frequently he
had to use whip and spur to keep up with him.

"We must get you another beast," observed the latter; "it will make the
difference of two or three days to us in our journey, and I always like
to know that my friend is mounted on as good a steed as I am when we
ride together. We know not the moment when we may have to try the metal
of them both."

"If that's the animal you were riding when I met you between Nottingham
and Cambridge, it's a good one," observed Jack, remembering the leap he
had seen Pearson take, and the speed with which he had afterwards gone
over the ground.

"Ay, the very same," answered Pearson; "Black Bess and I seldom part
company. I would have no other person bestride her; and I doubt whether
she would allow it, if any one were to make the attempt."

"But this horse belongs to Mr Strelley," said Jack; "I have no business
to change it for another."

"Oh, I will settle that matter," answered Pearson; "you