"There!" said I triumphantly. "I guessed it. And, believe me, any man might be proud to submit to Dick Ryder from all I hear."
"Ay, I have heard of him, too," says the old gentleman. "But they say he is better than would appear, and merciful."
"Oh, never fear," said I. "This gentleman will prove merciful ere we are finished with him."
"I warn you to expect nothing from me," said he in a more complacent voice.
Just at that moment the coach began to roll along more smoothly and at a faster pace, and I judged that we were upon the road again, and that the coachman was whipping up. This same thought seems to occur to the fellow, for he opened the window and shouted out to the man to stop, with a lot of horrid threats. So that presently the coach came to and the coachman appeared at the door, seeing his manœuvre had failed.
"What is it?" he said innocently.
"You must keep your bargain," says the man in black. "We are on the road?"
"Such road as there is," he grumbled.
"Well, cut me one of the horses out, or I will make a hole in you," cries the fellow.
"Come," says I, "we were getting on quite famously till now. 'Tis a pity to end this pleasant party."