. What saith old Butler?

"Never did trusty squire with knight,
Or knight with squire ere jump more right."

I have scarce dared to quote "Hudibras" for these weeks past, lest I
should set the Covenant fermenting in the old man's veins.'

'If we are indeed to be comrades,' said I sternly, 'you must learn to
speak with more reverence and less flippancy of my father, who would
assuredly never have harboured you had he heard the tale which you have
told me even now.'

'Belike not,' the adventurer answered, chuckling to himself. 'It is a
long stride from a mosque to a conventicle. But be not so hot-headed,
my friend. You lack that repose of character which will come to you,
no doubt, in your more mature years. What, man! within five minutes of
seeing me you would have smitten me on the head with an oar, and ever
since you have been like a bandog at my heels, ready to hark if I do but
set my foot over what you regard as the straight line. Remember that you
go now among men who fight on small occasion of quarrel. A word awry may
mean a rapier thrust.'

'Do you bear the same in mind,' I answered hotly; 'my temper is
peaceful, but covert threats and veiled menace I shall not abide.'

'Odd's mercy!' he cried. 'I see that you will start carving me anon, and
take me to Monmouth's camp in sections. Nay, nay, we shall have fighting
enow without falling out among ourselves. What houses are those on the
left?'

'The village of Swathling,' I replied. 'The lights of Bishopstoke lie to
the right, in the hollow.'

'Then we are fifteen miles on our way, and methinks there is already
some faint flush of dawn in the east. Hullo, what have we here? Beds
must be scarce if folks sleep on the highways.'

A dark blur which I had remarked upon the roadway in front of us had
resolved itself as we approached into the figure of a man, stretched
at full length, with his face downwards, and his head resting upon his
crossed arms.

'Some reveler, mayhap, from the village inn,' I remarked.

'There's blood in the air,' said Saxon, raising up his beak-like nose
like a vulture which scents carrion. 'Methinks he sleeps the sleep which
knows no waking.'

He sprang down from his saddle, and turned the figure over upon his
back. The cold pale light of the early dawn shimmering upon his staring
eyes and colourless face showed that the old soldier's instinct was
correct, and that he had indeed drawn his last breath.

'Here's