Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-07-29

y
ed the rufhan, at the same time presenting
pistol. Don't do that If you 60 to max
in fight Of il, we shall have TO fight as well
as YOU and you ought to know how such
bit of play ought to end. Give us your
money, and we won't harm so much as a hair
of your head We know you've got twenty
thousand pounds in your pockct-book-stowed
right away in your bosom there, and we want
it,"
BY this time the other four had come up
two of them standing directly at his horses
head while the others came up by his side. |
They all had pistols in their belts; but the
weapons which they held ready for immediate |
use were heavy clubs.
Had the marquis drawn his pistols, he
might possibly have shot down the two men
before him but he had not yet been stricken,
and there was something in the deliberate
shooting of a fellow creature that was not at
all to his liking 4 moment later, however,
he was sorry for this instinct Of human ma.
ture. for no sooner had he drawn his sword
than he received blow upon his right arm
that caused his weapon to drop, and imme-
diately afterwards he was dragged from his
saddle to the ground He quickly regained
his feet, and faced the rufians, who had now
gathered together before him.
Look ye, your lordship," spoke a tall,
powerful fellow, who held his club in a men
acing manner, " do you mean to make us fight
for it7-because, if you do, egad you'll
have enough Of it; an that right quickly,
too"
This was a time for his lordship to eonsid.
err and what conclusion he might have ar.
rived at we cannot say; for hardly had the
burly ruffan ceased speaking when new
conner appeared upon the scene The noise
and excitement of the strife had prevented
the party from hearing the tramp of the horse
until both horse and rider were upon the spot,
having come from the southwark
Halo! What is this"
So demanded the stranger; and, as he
spoke, he slipped from his saddle, and APP
preached the marquis side. He saw at a
glance that gentleman was opposed by five
stout and disguised rufhans and with quick
discernment he readily comprehonded the
whole matter.
How now, villains, why have you way
laid this gentleman in such manner?"
"If you like to put your head in the same
trap with his lordships you're welcome, I'm
sure, replied the man who had last addressed
the marquis.
HIS lordShip?" repeated the stranger.
Eustace Percy, at your service, sir, said
the marquis.
And, having thus spoken he darted to
where his sword had fallen, and picked it up.
The movement was so quick that the rascals
could not prevent it; and as the marquis
quietly moved back to the strangers side af-
ter he had regained his sword, they did not
offer then to touch him. They saw that the
newcomer was without arms of any kind
unless he might have had small pistol hid
den away--and they evidently concluded moi
to fear him.
is this Lord Percy, Marquis of Abbots
woldP' the stranger demanded with lively
emotion.
1.-The same, gentle sir
"Then, egad, let's set these fellows aside
for | would fain accompany you to Abbots
void"
The rufians seemed at once to comprehcn,
that they had found one who might prove
troublesome customer if he were not quickl,
disposed of, for they raised their clubs in
beligerent manner, and their spokesman sal,
to him, not in very gentle tones
Look G, my fine gentleman, just you mi
, up in this, and you'll find AT you've come jus
in time to get your head broke. Take that
and try it !"
Now when the rascal told the gentleman
to take that and try it, he meant to have nc
companied the invitation with a blow upo
the head from his club; but, somehow, tn
gentleman was too quick for him, for the lat
ter not only lodged the blow, but he made
movement like hghtning---a compound move
ment, which consisted in grasping the ruifian
club with his left hand, at The same time deal
ing him blow with his right, directly unde
the ear, which settled him as though he hai
been stricken with an ak.
For few seconds the marquis was he'll
so spell-bound by the strangers movement
| that he could only suffer his sword to drop i
g his grasp while he looked on in wondor an
Y as he looked, he could only think of the stor
: he had so often read in Holy Writ, of San
son laying about among the Philistines wit
n the jaw-bone. Two of the rufhans had tn
: stranger sent to earth, when he who had bee
/, first stricken down with the fist, crawed u
n and approached the Titan from behind. Whe
e Percy saw this he sprang to the work, and
5, a very few moments four of the robbers ha
d bitten the dust, and the fifth was fleeing ava
r. as fast as his legs would carry him.
1t As soon as it was evident that the fifth ru
m fan had escaped them, both the men, NOV,
m by the same instinct, stopped to ascertain Il
ce result of their work.
lie :" am sorry" said the marquis-and h
ID tones youched for his sincerity. 81 belle
id | have sent this poor fellow to his final a
count"
I'd "And here is one whom | have sent
I'd bear him company" added the strange
er " Mercy no man can live with such sma
It, of the skull as that. But these other ty
g. are alive Will your lordship stop to rend
e. them assistance"
tn There is no need, replied Percy. ale
p have a look at their faces, and then we
G. move on. There is a small hamlet not
distant, where | am well known, and l W
ar send people from that place to look aft
Il. these fellows, and nurse them if there
Mt need"
ch The marquis stripped the Grape from t
at faces of the fallen men, and one Of them
Is recognized as face that he had seen aIno
N. fishermen at Abbotswold, but he was sure 'tw
Sc no tenant of his The other three were stra
lis gers.
his And now Sir Eustace had opportunity
TO turn and take fair look at his delivere
.as and the result of the look was pleasing.
beheld young man, not over fiye-and-twen
on clad in half-military suit with a form
ov matchless symmetry and grace, yet comps
'ot and museular--the thin TANKS, the elegn
iNA r IL {.
~ the massive chest and shoulders giving tok
Of. of that wondrous power which had been j.
ION displayed. His face was something me
than handsome. The fearures were not OIL
his cast in mould of perfect manly beauty, |
M, there was a light of truth and honor, and
or beaming from the clear blue eyes of generC
Co. sentiment and sincere affection which was
'be to be mistaken by one who possessed even
os, ordinary capacity for reading human char
~ ter from outward signs. His face was Gle,