The Broad Highway

eeds conjure up tantalizing visions of ale-of ale that foamed gloriously in tankards, that sparkled in glasses, and gurgled deliciously from the spouts of earthen

miling meadow, by hill and dale and sloping upland, while ever the sun gr

ge tavern that stood back from the glare of the road, seeming to ne

it, I saw that it was a very ill-used hat, frayed and worn, dented of crown and broken of brim, yet beneath its sordid shabbiness there lurked the dim semblance of what it had once been, for, in the scratc

tly up at the sky. Before I could reach him, however, he got upon his legs and, crossing unsteadily to the tree I have mentioned, leaned there, and I saw there was much blood upon his face which he essayed to wipe away wi

tree, and noting the extreme pallor of his face and the bla

you are not

g, "not in the least-assure you-merely tap on the n

ng out the battered hat,

d somewhat fumblingly, and took it from me with a slight mo

have been a bow, turned short round and strode away. And as he went, despite the careless swing of his shoulder, his legs seemed to falter somewhat in their stride and once I thought he staggered; yet, as I watched, half minded to f

entered its cool shade. Here I found four men, each with his pipe and tankard, to whom a la

a-comin' to when thievin' robbers can come a-walkin' in on you a-stealin' a pint o' you

thers solemnly, "t

ng his big fist down with a bang, "it's a-comi

ith a face half-hidden in sandy whisker, "wot

ule, Tom, my lad!" reto

r in the fa

must!" chorus

xed 'wot

ye?" repeated

the other,

a-axin', you are,"

lowing into his tankard, "w'ich I notice

ain't,

t," repeated

coughing, all together, and shuffling their feet and giving divers ot

e floor with my stick, whereupon the red-faced man, removing his eyes sl

g you are so very obliging as

o' your money?" he growled, "come, mon

the money, he filled and thrust a foaming tankard towards me

s your

a sixpence to him, "and

it be precious 'ard to know who's a gentleman, an'

w s

at, but very 'aughty for all that-comes a-walkin in 'ere 'e do an' calls for a pint o' ale-you 'ear

rd 'im," t

o' ale-drinks it off, an'-'ands me 'is 'at; you all seen 'im

e four chimed in with

t,' says 'e. 'Wot for?' says I? 'Why,' says 'e, 'it's only fair seein' I've got your ale-it's a case of exchange,' says 'e. 'Oh! is it?' says I, an' pitch

were perhaps a tri

e do,

" I n

for

ly remember that the h

ore away i

the band wa

ched an' rusty

rnished buckle

ed the man, hi

you were, upon the whole, rather hasty." Saying which, I finishe