And, by the Lord, I'll do it, if I am
interrupted any farther!'
Shouldering his heavy stick, and quickening his pace, he shot on to
pass the four ahead. The largest and strongest man of the number
changed swiftly to the side on which he came up, and dexterously
closed with him and went down with him; but not before the heavy
stick had descended smartly.
'Let him be!' said this man in a suppressed voice, as they
struggled together on the grass. 'Fair play! His is the build of
a girl to mine, and he's got a weight strapped to his back besides.
Let him alone. I'll manage him.'
After a little rolling about, in a close scuffle which caused the
faces of both to be besmeared with blood, the man took his knee
from Neville's chest, and rose, saying: 'There! Now take him arm-
in-arm, any two of you!'
It was immediately done.
'As to our being a pack of thieves, Mr. Landless,' said the man, as
he spat out some blood, and wiped more from his face; 'you know
better than that at midday. We wouldn't have touched you if you
hadn't forced us. We're going to take you round to the high road,
anyhow, and you'll find help enough against thieves there, if you
want it. - Wipe his face, somebody; see how it's a-trickling down
him!'
When his face was cleansed, Neville recognised in the speaker, Joe,
driver of the Cloisterham omnibus, whom he had seen but once, and
that on the day of his arrival.
'And what I recommend you for the present, is, don't talk, Mr.
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