ar about the coach door in
altercation with the inside passenger. Close behind the near hind wheel
lay the corporal, huddled and motionless.

My head darted pain as though it had been opened with a saw, and as I
lifted myself and groped about for my pistols, I discovered that my
collar-bone was broken and my hip-muscles had taken a bad wrench.
Hurt as I was, though, I managed to find one of my pistols, and crawling
until I had the coach-door in view, sank into the ditch and began to
reload.

The men at the rear of the coach were inviting the inside fare to come
forth and hand over his money; which he very roundly refused to do, using
the oddest argument; for he declared himself so far gone in consumption
that the night air was as bad as death to him, the while that the noise he
made proclaimed his lungs as strong as a horse's. This inconsistency
struck the robbers, no doubt, for after a while a pistol was clapped in at
the window and he was bidden to step forth without more ado.

But for my misery I could have laughed aloud at the queer figure that at
length shuffled out and stood in the light of a lantern held to examine
his money. In height he could not have been more than five feet two; and
to say that he was as broad as he was long would be no lie, for never in
my life have I seen a man so wrapped up. He wore a travelling cap tightly
drawn about the ears, and round his neck a woollen comforter so voluminous
that his head, though large (as I afterwards discovered), seemed a button
set on top of it. I dare be sworn that he unbuttoned six overcoats before
he reached his fob and drew out watch and purse.

"There," he said, handing over the money, "take it--seven good guineas--
with my very hearty curse."

The robbers--they were masked to a man--pressed forward around the lantern
to count the coins.

"Give us your word," said one, "that you've no more stowed about you."

"I won't," answered the old gentleman. "All the word you'll get from me
is to see you hanged if I can. If you think it worth while, search me."

Just then they were summoned by a shout from the coach roof to help in
lowering my treasure. My pistol was reloaded by this time, and I lifted
myself to take aim and account for one of the scoundrels at least: but in
the effort my broken bone played me false; my hand shook, then dropped,
and I sank upon my face in a swoon of pain.

I came back to consciousness to find myself propped on the e