The Splendid Spur

nd South Hincksey, with a shrewd northeast wind at my back, could I spare time for a second backward look. By this, the city lay spread at my feet, very delicate and bea

of his blood was plain to see,

oved Sir Ralph Hopton, at o

e king's red seal, quicken'd my step as I set off again. An

nly in the uncertain light I must have taken a wrong turn to the left (I think near Besselsleigh) that led me round to the south: for, coming about daybreak to a considerable town, I found it to be, not Faringdon, but Wantage. There was no help for it, so I set about enquiring for a bed. The town was full, and already astir with prepa

f voices, and beheld the

king," s

afflicted thus-and he

, who stood close, her hand

?" I asked, r

three of th

up, as soon a

o wake thee this hour pas

t up, I

ed and right through to the floor," sai

nd go, I'll step o

calling out that the very thought m

felt the better for it: and thereupon paid my scot, resisting the landlady

awled after me; "nor flourish thy attainm

an eating tent, whence issued a thick reek of cooking and loud rattle of plates. Over the entrance, I remember, was set a notice: "Dame Alloway from Bartholomew Fair. Here are the best geese, and she does them as well as ever she did." I jostled my way along, keeping tight hold on my pockets, for fear of cut-purses; when presently, about halfw

ter the crowd soon learn'd

ern about ten feet square, and five in depth, over which hung a ducking stool for scolding wives. And since the townspeople draw their water from this cistern, 'tis to be supposed they do not fear the infection. A

oking and dripping: then-just as he

him under for a full half minute. But as the beam

ar! the

lumbering down the street behind, and

et at the far end. As well for my own skin's sake as out of pity to see him drowning, I jumped into the water. In two strokes I reach'd him, gained footing, and with Anthony's sw

pit wherein, for the best part of the day, they had baited him; yet seemed to bear little malice. For he saunter'd about the town for an hour or two, hurting no m

y the further bank and wrung our clothes. He seeme

s a good worl

e the chambermaid led me upstairs, and took away my clothes to dry by the fire. I determin'd to buy a hor

the dealers and drovers laid down knife and fork to stare as I enter'd. After a while one or two lounged o

sturbed: but lost patience at last

for a show, yo

came near to putting me in a passion, but his face was serious. "'

I said, "could

en of nags in England, and finally bought from the red-haired man, for five pounds, bridle, saddle, and a flea-bitten grey that seem'd more honestly raw-boned than the rest. And the owner w

my horse's feet rang cheerfully on the frozen road. His pace was of the soberest: but, as I was no skilful ride

m the road. His scanty hair, stiff as a badger's, now stood upright around his batter'd cap,

-good day! 'Tis a good w

'd up

; "you had a nigh chance to compa

a turn. 'Tis a good world, and the better that no man can count on it. Last night my dripping duds helped me to a cant tale, and got me a silver penny

blew at the embers, wherein lay a good-sized ball of clay, baking. After a while he look'd up with red cheeks. "They were

ivided the flesh with his knife, and upon a slice of bread from his wallet it made very delicate eating: tho' I doubt if I enjoyed it as much as did my comr

y uncertainty of things I'd

eels, and a coach with two post

curls seated beside it, behind the glass. After the coach came a heavy broad-shoulder'd servant riding on

ravesend man, in a small open boat. Well, we sail'd three days and nights, and all the time there was a small sea bird following, flying round and round us, and calling two notes that sounded for all the world like 'Wind'ard! Wind'ard!' So at last says Eli, ''Tis heaven's voice bidding us ply to wind'ard.' And so we did, and on the fourth day made Marseil

patches of blue, orange-tawny and flame-color quite overlaid the parent black: but closed with him upon his promise to teach me the horsemanship that I so sadly lacked. And by time we enter'd Hungerford

ade was decently array'd at the first slopshop we came to, 'twas high time to seek an inn. W

entrance. They were playing at a game, which was no other than to race

said my comra

l lay you a crown it clears

e other; and with that the

the window over which they were crawling. 'Twas a set of verses scribbled there, that must have been scratch'd with a diamond: an

ying councell to wayfardinger

necks of pri

oman's fin

om the deri

d that we

the

lendi

secure on

navies weep

hat, the la

not the spri

s lap, as

notions mix

other

ly to

this loud wo

ong the whi

hyself,-the

harybdis w

laugh, the

to her shri

rb-thi

ht and

lists that

hearts to

er Tucker's

r gentlemen that pass their aft

foreign voice we all started round: a

t she was the prettiest creature on God's earth (which, I hope, will satisfy her); that she had chestnut curls and a mouth made for laughing; that she wore a k

I ask you not to brave Charybdis or Aetna, but to step out into the rainy yard a

ed the door. But I ran after; and out into the yard we stepp'd together, where I pump'd while he held the glass to the spou

at gain'd the tha

w, for his edification-for he is bound on a long journey westward, where, they tell me, t

woman laughed, s

this place to the south, for the road between Marlboro' and Bristol is, they tell me, all held by the rebels; next, let him avoid all women,

e hastily, but laughing all the same. "That's a cl

I found my friend (who had shar'd a room with me) already up and gone

sidue, and the letter thou bearest, I leave. 'Tis a good world, and experience should be bought early. This golden lesson I leave in return fo

, The

n to thy breast: 'tis a sur

y in the low price at which one of them offer'd me his horse. 'Twas a tall black brute, very strong in the loins, and I bought him at once out of my shrunken stock of gu

lamoring to see the man that sold me the horse,

r and a half. But they are coming again within the fortnight; and I'

rudged, dragging the horse after me by the bridle, till my arms felt as if coming from their sockets. I would have

a sorrel mare leap'd easily as a swallow, and alighted some ten paces or less in front of me; where he dis

me start. For by his voice and figure in the dusk I knew him for Captain Settle: and in the sorrel with the high

seen me for an instant at "The Crown

few poor coins

and 'em

n; and pulling out a handful from my

h my right fist, and down he went staggering. His pistol dropped out of his hand and exploded between my feet. I rush'd to Molly, caught her bridle, and leap'd on her back

ain's curse mingle with the report: and then w