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that of a female； 'you are stopping up the way； and we shall be all
down upon one another'； and I saw the head of another horse
overtopping the back of the cart。
'Why don't you move forward； Jack？' said another voice； also a
female； yet higher up the path。
The man stirred not； but remained staring at me in the posture
which he had assumed on first perceiving me； his body very much
drawn back； his left foot far in advance of his right； and with his
right hand still grasping the halter of the horse； which gave way
more and more； till it was clean down on its haunches。
'What's the matter？' said the voice which I had last heard。
'Get back with you； Belle； Moll；' said the man； still staring at
me； 'here's something not over canny or comfortable。'
'What is it？' said the same voice； 'let me pass； Moll； and I'll
soon clear the way'； and I heard a kind of rushing down the path。
'You need not be afraid；' said I； addressing myself to the man； 'I
mean you no harm； I am a wanderer like yourself … come here to seek
for shelter … you need not be afraid； I am a Roman chabo by
matriculation … one of the right sort； and no mistake … Good…day to
ye； brother； I bid ye welcome。'
The man eyed me suspiciously for a moment … then； turning to his
horse with a loud curse； he pulled him up from his haunches； and
led him and the cart farther down to one side of the dingle；
muttering； as he passed me； 'Afraid！ Hm！'
I do not remember ever to have seen a more ruffianly…looking
fellow； he was about six feet high； with an immensely athletic
frame； his face was black and bluff； and sported an immense pair of
whiskers； but with here and there a gray hair； for his age could
not be much under fifty。 He wore a faded blue frock…coat；
corduroys； and highlows； on his black head was a kind of red
nightcap； round his bull neck a Barcelona handkerchief … I did not
like the look of the man at all。
'Afraid！' growled the fellow； proceeding to unharness his horse；
'that was the word； I think。'
But other figures were now already upon the scene。 Dashing past
the other horse and cart； which by this time had reached the bottom
of the pass； appeared an exceedingly tall woman； or rather girl；
for she could scarcely have been above eighteen； she was dressed in
a tight bodice and a blue stuff gown； hat； bonnet； or cap she had
none； and her hair； which was flaxen； hung down on her shoulders
unconfined； her complexion was fair； and her features handsome；
with a determined but open expression … she was followed by another
female； about forty； stout and vulgar…looking； at whom I scarcely
glanced； my whole attention being absorbed by the tall girl。
'What's the matter； Jack？' said the latter； looking at the man。
'Only afraid； that's all；' said the man； still proceeding with his
work。
'Afraid at what … at that lad？ why； he looks like a ghost … I would
engage to thrash him with one hand。'
'You might beat me with no hands at all；' said I； 'fair damsel；
only by looking at me … I never saw such a face and figure； both
regal … why； you look like Ingeborg； Queen of Norway； she had
twelve brothers； you know； and could lick them all； though they
were heroes：…
On Dovrefeld in Norway
Were once together seen
The twelve heroic brothers
Of Ingeborg the queen。'
'None of your chaffing； young fellow；' said the tall girl； 'or I
will give you what shall make you wipe your face； be civil； or you
will rue it。'
'Well； perhaps I was a peg too high；' said I； 'I ask your pardon …
here's something a bit lower：…
As I was jawing to the gav yeck divvus
I met on the drom miro Rommany chi … '
None of your Rommany chies； young fellow；' said the tall girl；
looking more menacingly than before； and clenching her fist； 'you
had better be civil； I am none of your chies； and though I keep
company with gypsies； or； to speak more proper； half…and…halfs； I
would have you to know that I come of Christian blood and parents；
and was born in the great house of Long Melford。'
'I have no doubt；' said I； 'that it was a great house； judging from
your size I shouldn't wonder if you were born in a church。'
'Stay； Belle；' said the man； putting himself before the young
virago； who was about to rush upon me； 'my turn is first' … then；
advancing to me in a menacing attitude； he said； with a look of
deep malignity； '〃Afraid；〃 was the word； wasn't it？'
'It was；' said I； 'but I think I wronged you； I should have said；
aghast； you exhibited every symptom of one labouring under
uncontrollable fear。'
The fellow stared at me with a look of stupid ferocity； and
appeared to be hesitating whether to strike or not： ere he could
make up his mind； the tall girl started forward； crying； 'He's
chaffing； let me at him'； and before I could put myself on my
guard； she struck me a blow on the face which had nearly brought me
to the ground。
'Enough；' said I； putting my hand to my cheek； 'you have now
performed your promise； and made me wipe my face： now be pacified；
and tell me fairly the grounds of this quarrel。'
'Grounds！' said the fellow； 'didn't you say I was afraid； and if
you hadn't； who gave you leave to camp on my ground？'
'Is it your ground？' said I。
'A pretty question；' said the fellow； 'as if all the world didn't
know that。 Do you know who I am？'
'I guess I do；' said I； 'unless I am much mistaken； you are he whom
folks call the 〃Flaming Tinman。〃 To tell you the truth； I'm glad
we have met； for I wished to see you。 These are your two wives； I
suppose； I greet them。 There's no harm done … there's room enough
here for all of us … we shall soon be good friends； I daresay； and
when we are a little better acquainted； I'll tell you my history。'
'Well； if that doesn't beat all！' said the fellow。
'I don't think he's chaffing now；' said the girl； whose anger
seemed to have subsided on a sudden； 'the young man speaks civil
enough。'
'Civil！' said the fellow； with an oath； 'but that's just like you；
with you it is a blow； and all over。 Civil！ I suppose you would
have him stay here； and get into all my secrets； and hear all I may
have to say to my two morts。'
'Two morts！' said the girl； kindling up； 'where are they？ Speak
for one； and no more。 I am no mort of yours； whatever some one
else may be。 I tell you one thing； Black John； or Anselo； … for
t'other ain't your name； … the same thing I told the young man
here； be civil； or you will rue it。'
The fellow looked at the girl furiously； but his glance soon
quailed before hers； he withdrew his eyes； and cast them on my
little horse； which was feeding amongst the trees。 'What's this？'
said he； rushing forward and seizing the animal。 'Why； as I am
alive； this is the horse of that mumping villain Slingsby。'
'It's his no longer； I bought it and paid for it。'
'It's mine now；' said the fellow； 'I swore I would seize it the
next time I found it on my beat； ay； and beat the master too。'
'I am not Slingsby。'
'All's one for that。'
'You don't say you will beat me？'
'Afraid was the word。'
'I'm sick and feeble。'
'Hold up your fists。'
'Won't the horse satisfy you？'
'Horse nor bellows either。'
'No mercy； then？'
'Here's at you。'
'Mind your eyes； Jack。 There； you've got it。 I thought so；'
shouted the girl； as the fellow staggered back from a sharp blow in
the eye； 'I thought he was chaffing at you all along。'
'Never mind； Anselo。 You know what to do … go in；' said the vulgar
woman； who had hitherto not spoken a word； but who now came forward
with all the look of a fury； 'go inapopli； you'll smash ten like
he。'
The Flaming Tinman took her advice； and came in bent on smashing；
but stopped short on receiving a left…handed blow on the nose。
'You'll never beat the Flaming Tinman in that way；' said the girl；
looking at me doubtfully。
And so I began to think myself； when； in the twinkling of an eye；
the Flaming Tinman； disengaging himself of his frock…coat； and
dashing off his red night…cap； came rushing in more desperately
than ever。 To a flush hit which he received in the mouth he paid
as little attention as a wild bull would have done； in a moment his
arms were around me； and in another he had hurled me down； falling
heavily upon me。 The fellow's strength appeared to be tremendous。
'Pay him off now；' said the vulgar woman。 The Flaming Tinman made
no reply； but； planting his knee on my breast； seized my throat
with two huge horny hands。 I gave myself up for dead； and probably
should have been so in another minute but for the tall girl； who
caught hold of the handkerchief which the fellow wore round his
neck； with a grasp nearly as powerful us that with which h