asforthebeatit’sgone，isn’tmine-swornawaybymyownmouth。
　　Tellmewhat’smyname；ifyoucan’t，mayI-’
　　MYSELF。Don’tswear，it’sabadhabit，neitherpleasantnorprofitable。YournameisSlingsby-JackSlingsby。There，don’tstare，there’snothinginmytellingyouyourname：I’vebeeninthesepartsbefore，atleastnotveryfarfromhere。Tenyearsago，whenIwaslittlemorethanachild，Iwasabouttwentymilesfromhereinapost-chaise，atthedoorofaninn，andasIlookedfromthewindowofthechaise，Isawyoustandingbyagutter，withabigtinladleinyourhand，andsomebodycalledyouJackSlingsby。IneverforgetanythingIhearorsee；Ican’t，IwishI
　　could。Sothere’snothingstrangeinmyknowingyourname；indeed，there’snothingstrangeinanything，providedyouexamineittothebottom。NowwhatamItogiveyouforthethings？
　　IpaidSlingsbyfivepoundstenshillingsforhisstockintrade，cart，andpony-purchasedsundryprovisionsofthelandlady，alsoawagoner’sfrock，whichhadbelongedtoacertainsonofhers，deceased，gavemylittleanimalafeedofcorn，andpreparedtodepart。
　　’Godblessyou，youngman，’saidSlingsby，shakingmebythehand；
　　’youarethebestfriendI’vehadformanyaday：Ihavebutonethingtotellyou，Don’tcrossthatfellow’spathifyoucanhelpit；andstay-shouldtheponyrefusetogo，justtouchhimso，andhe’llflylikethewind。’
　　CHAPTERLXIX
　　Effectsofcorn-Onenightlonger-Thehoofs-Astumble-Areyouhurt？-Whatadifference-Drowsy-Mazeofbushes-
　　Housekeeping-Sticksandfurze-Thedriftway-Accountofstock-
　　Anvilandbellows-Twentyyears。
　　ITwastwoorthreehourspastnoonwhenItookmydeparturefromtheplaceofthelastadventure，walkingbythesideofmylittlecart；thepony，invigoratedbythecorn，towhichhewasprobablynotmuchaccustomed，proceededrightgallantly；sofarfromhavingtohastenhimforwardbytheparticularapplicationwhichthetinkerhadpointedouttome，Ihadrathertorepresshiseagerness，being，thoughanexcellentpedestrian，notunfrequentlyleftbehind。ThecountrythroughwhichIpassedwasbeautifulandinteresting，butsolitary；fewhabitationsappeared。AsitwasquiteamatterofindifferencetomeinwhatdirectionIwent，thewholeworldbeingbeforeme，Iallowedtheponytodecideuponthematter；itwasnotlongbeforeheleftthehigh-road，beingprobablynofriendtopublicplaces。IfollowedhimIknewnotwhither，but，fromsubsequentobservation，havereasontosupposethatourcoursewasinanorth-westdirection。Atlengthnightcameuponus，andacoldwindsprangup，whichwassucceededbyadrizzlingrain。
　　Ihadoriginallyintendedtopassthenightinthecart，ortopitchmylittletentonsomeconvenientspotbytheroad’sside；
　　but，owingtothealterationintheweather，IthoughtthatitwouldbeadvisabletotakeupmyquartersinanyhedgealehouseatwhichImightarrive。Totellthetruth，Iwasnotverysorrytohaveanexcusetopassthenightoncemorebeneatharoof。Ihaddeterminedtolivequiteindependent，butIhadneverbeforepassedanightbymyselfabroad，andfeltalittleapprehensiveattheidea；Ihoped，however，onthemorrow，tobealittlemorepreparedforthestep，soIdeterminedforonenight-onlyforonenightlonger-tosleeplikeaChristian；buthumandeterminationsarenotalwaysputintoeffect，suchathingasopportunityisfrequentlywanting，suchwasthecasehere。Iwentonforaconsiderabletime，inexpectationofcomingtosomerustichostelry，butnothingofthekindpresenteditselftomyeyes；thecountryinwhichInowwasseemedalmostuninhabited，notahouseofanykindwastobeseen-atleastIsawnone-thoughitistruehousesmightbenearwithoutmyseeingthem，owingtothedarknessofthenight，forneithermoonnorstarwasabroad。I
　　heard，occasionally，thebarkofdogs；butthesoundappearedtocomefromanimmensedistance。Therainstillfell，andthegroundbeneathmyfeetwaswetandmiry；inshort，itwasanightinwhichevenatramperbyprofessionwouldfeelmorecomfortableinbeinghousedthanabroad。Ifollowedintherearofthecart，theponystillproceedingatasturdypace，tillmethoughtIheardotherhoofsthanthoseofmyownnag；Ilistenedforamoment，anddistinctlyheardthesoundofhoofsapproachingatagreatrate，andevidentlyfromthequartertowardswhichIandmylittlecaravanweremoving。Wewereinadarklane-sodarkthatitwasimpossibleformetoseemyownhand。Apprehensivethatsomeaccidentmightoccur，Iranforward，and，seizingtheponybythebridle，drewhimasnearasIcouldtothehedge。Oncamethehoofs-trot，trot，trot；andevidentlymorethanthoseofonehorse；theirspeedastheyadvancedappearedtoslacken-itwasonly，however，foramoment。Iheardavoicecry，’Pushon，-thisisadesperaterobbingplace，-nevermindthedark’；andthehoofscameonquickerthanbefore。’Stop!’saidI，atthetopofmyvoice；’stop!or-’BeforeIcouldfinishwhatIwasabouttosaytherewasastumble，aheavyfall，acry，andagroan，andputtingoutmyfootIfeltwhatIconjecturedtobetheheadofahorsestretchedupontheroad。’Lordhavemercyuponus!what’sthematter？’exclaimedavoice。’Sparemylife，’criedanothervoice，apparentlyfromtheground；’onlysparemylife，andtakeallI
　　have。’’Whereareyou，MasterWise？’criedtheothervoice。
　　’Help!here，MasterBat，’criedthevoicefromtheground；’helpmeuporIshallbemurdered。’’Why，what’sthematter？’saidBat。
　　’Someonehasknockedmedown，andisrobbingme，’saidthevoicefromtheground。’Help!murder!’criedBat；and，regardlessoftheentreatiesofthemanonthegroundthathewouldstayandhelphimup，heurgedhishorseforwardandgallopedawayasfastashecould。Iremainedforsometimequiet，listeningtovariousgroansandexclamationsutteredbythepersonontheground；atlengthI
　　said，’Holloa!areyouhurt？’’Sparemylife，andtakeallI
　　have!’saidthevoicefromtheground。’Havetheynotdonerobbingyouyet？’saidI；’whentheyhavefinishedletmeknow，andIwillcomeandhelpyou。’’Whoisthat？’saidthevoice；’praycomeandhelpme，anddomenomischief。’’Youweresayingthatsomeonewasrobbingyou，’saidI；’don’tthinkIshallcometillheisgoneaway。’’Thenyouben’the？’saidthevoice。’Aren’tyourobbed？’
　　saidI。’Can’tsayIbe，’saidthevoice；’notyetatanyrate；
　　butwhoareyou？Idon’tknowyou。’’Atravellerwhomyouandyourpartnerweregoingtorunoverinthisdarklane；youalmostfrightenedmeoutofmysenses。’’Frightened!’saidthevoice，inaloudertone；’frightened!oh!’andthereuponIheardsomebodygettinguponhislegs。Thisaccomplished，theindividualproceededtoattendtohishorse，andwithalittledifficultyraisedhimuponhislegsalso。’Aren’tyouhurt？’saidI。’Hurt!’saidthevoice；’notI；don’tthinkit，whateverthehorsemaybe。Itellyouwhat，myfellow，Ithoughtyouwerearobber，andnowIfindyouarenot；Ihaveagoodmind-’’Todowhat？’’Toserveyouout；aren’tyouashamed-？’’Atwhat？’saidI；’nottohaverobbedyou？ShallIsetaboutitnow？’’Ha，ha!’saidtheman，droppingthebullyingtonewhichhehadassumed；’youarejoking-
　　robbing!whotalksofrobbing？Iwonderhowmyhorse’skneesare；
　　notmuchhurt，Ithink-onlymired。’Theman，whoeverhewas，thengotuponhishorse；and，aftermovinghimaboutalittle，said，’Goodnight，friend；whereareyou？’’HereIam，’saidI，’justbehindyou。’’Youare，areyou？Takethat。’Iknownotwhathedid，butprobablyprickinghishorsewiththespurtheanimalkickedoutviolently；oneofhisheelsstruckmeontheshoulder，butluckilymissedmyface；Ifellbackwiththeviolenceoftheblow，whilstthefellowscamperedoffatagreatrate。
　　Stoppingatsomedistance，heloadedmewithabuse，andthen，continuinghiswayatarapidtrot，Iheardnomoreofhim。
　　’Whatadifference!’saidI，gettingup；’lastnightIwasfetedinthehallofarichgenius，andto-nightIamknockeddownandmiredinadarklanebytheheelofMasterWise’shorse-Iwonderwhogavehimthatname？Andyethewaswiseenoughtowreakhisrevengeuponme，andIwasnotwiseenoughtokeepoutofhisway。
　　Well，Iamnotmuchhurt，soitisoflittleconsequence。’
　　Inowbethoughtmethat，asIhadacarriageofmyown，Imightaswellmakeuseofit；Ithereforegotintothecart，and，takingthereinsinmyhand，gaveanencouragingcrytothepony，whereuponthesturdylittleanimalstartedagainatasbriskapaceasifhehadnotalreadycomemanyalongmile。Ilayhalfreclininginthecart，holdingthereinslazily，andallowingtheanimaltogojustwherehepleased，oftenwonderingwherehewouldconductme。AtlengthIfeltdrowsy，andmyheadsankuponmybreast；Isoonarousedmyself，butitwasonlytodozeagain；thisoccurredseveraltimes。Openingmyeyesafteradozesomewhatlongerthantheothers，Ifoundthatthedrizzlingrainhadceased，acornerofthemoonwasapparentintheheavens，castingafaintlight；I
　　lookedaroundforamomentortwo，butmyeyesandbrainwereheavywithslumber，andIcouldscarcelydistinguishwherewewere。I
　　hadakindofdimconsciousnessthatweweretraversinganuninclosedcountry-perhapsaheath；Ithought，however，thatI
　　sawcertainlargeblackobjectsloominginthedistance，whichI
　　hadaconfusedideamightbewoodsorplantations；theponystillmovedathisusualpace。Ididnotfindthejoltingofthecartatalldisagreeable，onthecontrary，ithadquiteasomniferouseffectuponme。Againmyeyesclosed；Iopenedthemoncemore，butwithlessperceptioninthemthanbefore，lookedforward，and，mutteringsomethingaboutwoodlands，IplacedmyselfinaneasierposturethanIhadhithertodone，andfairlyfellasleep。
　　HowlongIcontinuedinthatstateIamunabletosay，butI