ly concluding that he
had stolen it, and was making off with his prize for sale to the
neighboring town, he rode forward and put himself right in the way,
determined to stop him.

"Ay, ay! Here is my man!" cried Tom Cutter, as soon as he saw him. "I
will settle with him first, and then for you, my friend."

"No, no, to an old proverb, first come must be first served," replied
the traveller, pushing his horse forward a few steps.

"Keep the peace, in the King's name!" exclaimed Sir Philip Hastings. "I,
as a magistrate, charge you, sir, to assist me in apprehending this
man!--Thomas Cutter, get off that horse!"

The only reply was a coarse and violent expletive, and a blow with a
thick heavy stick, aimed right at Sir Philip's head. The magistrate put
up his arm, which received the blow, and was nearly fractured by it; but
at the same moment, the younger traveller spurred forward his horse upon
the ruffian, and with one sweep of his arm struck him to the ground.

Tom Cutter was upon his feet again in a moment. He was accustomed to
hard blows, and like the immortal hero of Butler, could almost tell the
quality of the stick he was beat withal. He was not long in discovering,
therefore, that the fist which struck him was of no ordinary weight, and
was directed with skill as well as with vigor; but he was accustomed to
make it his boast, that he had never taken a licking "from any man,"
which vanity caused him at once to risk such another blow, in the hope
of having his revenge.

Rushing upon the young stranger then, stick in hand, he prepared to
knock him from his horse; for the other appeared to have no defensive
arms, but a slight hazel twig, pulled from a hedge.

"He will jump off the other side of his horse," thought Tom Cutter; "and
then, if he do, I'll contrive to knock the nag over upon him. I know
that trick, well enough."

But the stranger disappointed him. Instead of opposing the horse between
him and his assailant, he sprung with one bound out of the saddle, on
the side next to the ruffian himself, caught the uplifted stick with one
hand, and seized the collar of the bruiser's coat with the other.

Tom Cutter began to suspect he had made a mistake; but, knowing that at
such close quarters the stick would avail him little, and that strength
of thews and sinews would avail him much, he dropped the cudgel, and
grappled with the stranger in return.

It was all the work of a moment. Sir Philip Hastings had no