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people MUST keep my promise； or else what chance is there for me？ You
would be down upon me in a moment with a posse of constables； and have
me swinging before Warwick gaol。 Pooh； my dear！ you never would
sacrifice a darling boy like John Hayes； let alone his lady； for the sake of
my long carcass。 One or two of our gentlemen have been taken that way
already； because parents and guardians would not believe them。〃
〃AND WHAT BECAME OF THE POOR CHILDREN？〃 said Mrs。
Hayes； who began to perceive the gist of the argument； and to grow
dreadfully frightened。
〃Don't let's talk of them； ma'am： humanity shudthers at the thought！〃
And herewith Mr。 Macshane drew his finger across his throat in such a
dreadful way as to make the two parents tremble。 〃It's the way of war；
madam； look you。 The service I have the honour to belong to is not paid
by the Queen； and so we're obliged to make our prisoners pay； according
to established military practice。〃
No lawyer could have argued his case better than Mr。 Macshane so far；
and he completely succeeded in convincing Mr。 and Mrs。 Hayes of the
necessity of ransoming their son。 Promising that the young man should be
restored to them next morning； along with his beautiful lady； he
courteously took leave of the old couple； and made the best of his way
back to Worcester again。 The elder Hayes wondered who the lady could be
of whom the ambassador had spoken； for their son's elopement was
altogether unknown to them； but anger or doubt about this subject was
overwhelmed by their fears for their darling John's safety。 Away rode the
gallant Macshane with the money necessary to effect this； and it must be
mentioned； as highly to his credit； that he never once thought of
appropriating the sum to himself； or of deserting his comrades in any way。
His ride from Worcester had been a long one。 He had left that city at
noon； but before his return thither the sun had gone down； and the
landscape； which had been dressed like a prodigal； in purple and gold；
now appeared like a Quaker； in dusky grey； and the trees by the road…side
grew black as undertakers or physicians； and； bending their solemn heads
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to each other； whispered ominously among themselves； and the mists hung
on the common； and the cottage lights went out one by one； and the earth
and heaven grew black； but for some twinkling useless stars； which
freckled the ebon countenance of the latter； and the air grew colder； and
about two o'clock the moon appeared； a dismal pale…faced rake； walking
solitary through the deserted sky； and about four； mayhap； the Dawn
（wretched 'prentice…boy！） opened in the east the shutters of the Day：in
other words； more than a dozen hours had passed。 Corporal Brock had
been relieved by Mr。 Redcap； the latter by Mr。 Sicklop； the one…eyed
gentleman； Mrs。 John Hayes； in spite of her sorrows and bashfulness； had
followed the example of her husband； and fallen asleep by his sideslept
for many hoursand awakened still under the guardianship of Mr。 Brock's
troop； and all parties began anxiously to expect the return of the
ambassador； Mr。 Macshane。
That officer； who had performed the first part of his journey with such
distinguished prudence and success； found the night； on his journey
homewards； was growing mighty cold and dark； and as he was thirsty and
hungry； had money in his purse； and saw no cause to hurry； he determined
to take refuge at an alehouse for the night； and to make for Worcester by
dawn the next morning。 He accordingly alighted at the first inn on his road；
consigned his horse to the stable； and； entering the kitchen； called for the
best liquor in the house。
A small company was assembled at the inn； among whom Mr。
Macshane took his place with a great deal of dignity； and； having a
considerable sum of money in his pocket； felt a mighty contempt for his
society； and soon let them know the contempt he felt for them。 After a
third flagon of ale； he discovered that the liquor was sour； and emptied；
with much spluttering and grimaces； the remainder of the beer into the fire。
This process so offended the parson of the parish （who in those good old
times did not disdain to take the post of honour in the chimney…nook）； that
he left his corner； looking wrathfully at the offender； who without any
more ado instantly occupied it。 It was a fine thing to hear the jingling of
the twenty pieces in his pocket； the oaths which he distributed between the
landlord； the guests； and the liquorto remark the sprawl of his mighty
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jack…boots； before the sweep of which the timid guests edged farther and
farther away； and the languishing leers which he cast on the landlady； as
with wide…spread arms he attempted to seize upon her。
When the ostler had done his duties in the stable； he entered the inn；
and whispered the landlord that 〃the stranger was riding John Hayes's
horse：〃 of which fact the host soon convinced himself； and did not fail to
have some suspicions of his guest。 Had he not thought that times were
unquiet； horses might be sold； and one man's money was as good as
another's； he probably would have arrested the Ensign immediately； and so
lost all the profit of the score which the latter was causing every moment
to be enlarged。
In a couple of hours； with that happy facility which one may have
often remarked in men of the gallant Ensign's nation； he had managed to
disgust every one of the landlord's other guests； and scare them from the
kitchen。 Frightened by his addresses； the landlady too had taken flight； and
the host was the only person left in the apartment； who there stayed for
interest's sake merely； and listened moodily to his tipsy guest's
conversation。 In an hour more； the whole house was awakened by a
violent noise of howling； curses； and pots clattering to and fro。 Forth
issued Mrs。 Landlady in her night…gear； out came John Ostler with his
pitchfork； downstairs tumbled Mrs。 Cook and one or two guests； and
found the landlord and ensign on the kitchen…floorthe wig of the latter
lying； much singed and emitting strange odours； in the fireplace； his face
hideously distorted； and a great quantity of his natural hair in the partial
occupation of the landlord； who had drawn it and the head down towards
him； in order that he might have the benefit of pummelling the latter more
at his ease。 In revenge； the landlord was undermost； and the Ensign's arms
were working up and down his face and body like the flaps of a paddle…
wheel： the man of war had clearly the best of it。
The combatants were separated as soon as possible； but； as soon as the
excitement of the fight was over； Ensign Macshane was found to have no
further powers of speech； sense； or locomotion； and was carried by his late
antagonist to bed。 His sword and pistols； which had been placed at his side
at the commencement of the evening； were carefully put by； and his pocket
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visited。 Twenty guineas in gold； a large knifeused； probably； for the
cutting of bread…and…cheesesome crumbs of those delicacies and a paper
of tobacco found in the breeches…pockets； and in the bosom of the sky…
blue coat； the leg of a cold fowl and half of a raw onion； constituted his
whole property。
These articles were not very suspicious； but the beating which the
landlord had received tended greatly to confirm his own and his wife's
doubts about their guest； and it was determined to send off in the early
morning to Mr。 Hayes； informing him how a person had lain at their in