And here my lady dismounted and entered the one parlour the inn could boast of. But as for me, I was content to seat myself upon a bench against the wall without, where I could keep an eye upon her servants, for I thought it not unlikely that they might tamper with my horse, to which a youth was now attending. If they had any such intention in their minds, however, my resolute attitude and the sight of the pistols I had placed ostentatiously at my side must have deterred them from making the attempt, for they seated themselves at some little distance and fell to upon the food which the landlord presently placed before us, occasionally varying this performance by staring at me, the steward with menacing hate, and the big man with a lowering gaze that showed me how willingly they would have attempted to have rid themselves of me but for my lady’s presence.
It was to the latter of the two men that the landlord paid most attention, waiting upon him with a deference that his station seemed scarcely to warrant. Accordingly, when I had finished, I rose from my seat, and beckoning the landlord on one side, demanded who the man was.
He looked at me in undisguised astonishment.
“What?” he cried. “You do not know him? I thought that every one knew Sampson Dare!”
I knew the man then. It was a name to conjure with throughout all Devon. For this was the champion wrestler of the West, whose fame had reached even as far as London itself, where he had twice appeared to show his skill before the late king, and accounted generally to be the strongest man in England. I knew, also, that should ever I come to close quarters with such a man my strength would be of as little more value to me than that of a child.
Presently my lady came forth again, and the horses were led round to the door, and here it was that the incident I have mentioned occurred.
In mounting my steed I had the misfortune to loosen my hat, which fell off and rolled at the others’ feet.
“My hat, fellow,” I cried sharply to the youth whom I had taken to be a groom, and who was nearest to it.
He looked at me for a moment, but he did not offer to stoop.
“I am not your man,” he answered insolently. “Pick it up for yourself. You will need it to shield your face,” he added with a grin.