The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-05-04


full in a silver network, with black clunp
or two to southwark, where the line OF Bag
ley trees ran below the hill. Ipulled out the
letter that Anthony had given me. In the
moonlight the brown smear Of his blood was
plain to see, running across the superscrip-
ton:
ITO our trusty and well beloved Sir Ralfth
Hopton, at our Army in Cornwall-these"
Twas no moro than looked for; yet the
sight of it and the kings red seal quickened
my step as | set off again. And cared not !,
a straw for DR.. Kettles wrath on the NOR
row.
Having no desire to fall in with any of the
ROYAL outposts that lay around Abingdon, I
fetched well away to the west, meaning to
shape my course for Fsringdon and so into
the great Bath road IT'S not my purpose to
describe at any length my itinerary, but
rather to reserve my pen for those more NOV
ing events that overlook me later. Only la
the uncertain light I must have taken .
wrong turn to the left q think near Bessels-
leigh that led me round to the south; for,
coming about daybreak to a considerable
town, found it 80 be, not Faringdon. but
Vantage. There was no help for it, so set
about inquiring for a bed The town was
full, and already astir with preparations for
for cattle fair; and neither at the 'Bear" nor
the ''Three Nuns" was there @ bed to be had.
But at length at the Boot tavern-a small
house, found one just vacated by couple
of drovers, and having cozened the chamber
maid to allow mo clean pair of sheets, went
up stairs very drowsily, and in five minutes
was sleeping sound.
awoke amid clatter of voices, and be-
held the room full of womankind.
Hes waking said one.
IT'S pity, too, to be afflicted thus-and
he such pretty young mani"
This came from the landlady, who stood
close, her hand shaking my shoulder roughly.
whats amissl" asked, rubbing my eyes.
"Why, tits three of the afternoon"
"Thsn I'll get up, as soon as you retire."
"Ludl we've been trying to wake thee this
hour past; but twas sleep-sleepl"
''I'll get up, l tell you"
Thought thee'd ha' slept through the bed
and right through to the foor,n said the
chambermaid by the door, tittering
UNLESS you pack and go I'll step out
amongst you allw
Whereat they fed with mock squeals, CALI
ing out that the very thought made them
blush, and left me to dress
Down stairs 1 found giants breakfast
spread for me, and ate the whole, and felt
the better for it, and thereupon paid my
scot, resisting the landlady's endeavor to
charge me double for tue bed, and walked
out to see the town.
Take care O. thysel," the chambermaid
bawled after me; NOR flourish thy attain
ments abroad, lest they put thee in show%
Dark was coming on fast; and to my cha
grin for l had intended purchasing horse,
the buying and selling of the fair were over,
the cattle pens broken up, and the dealers
gathered round the iddlers, ballad singers
and gingerbread stalls. There wore gaming
booths, too, driving q brisk trade at shovel
board, all tours and costly colors; and an
eating tent, whence issued thick reek Of
cooking and a rattle of plates. Over the en-
trance, remember, was set notice: Dame
Alaway, from Bartholomew fair. Here are
the best geese, and she does them as we'll as
ever she did" jostled my way along, keep
ing tight hold on my pockets, for fear of cut
purses; when presently, about half way down
the street, there arose the noise of shouting.
The crowd made rush towards it; and in @
minute l was left alone, standing before a
juggler Who had q sword half way down his
throat, and had to draw it out again before
he could with any sufficiency curse the de-
lection of his audience; but offered to pull
out q tooth for me if l wanted it.
/ left him. and, running after the crowd,
soon learned the cause of this tumult.
1t was meager old rascal that some one
had charged with picking pockets; and they
were dragging him off to be ducked. Now
) in the heart of Vantage the little stream
that runs through the town is widened into q
cistern about ten feet square and five in
depth, over which hung ducking stool for
scolding wives. And since the townspeople
draw their water from this cistern, It's to be
supposed they do not fear the infection. A
long beam on pivot hangs out over the
pool, and to the end is chair fastened, into
which, despite his kicks and screams, they
now strapped this poor wretch, whose gray
, locks might well have won mercy for him.
Souse he was plunged; hauled up choking
and dripping; then-just as he found tongue
: to shriek-sousei again.
, Twas a dismal punishment; and this time
5 they kept him under for full half minute.
} But Us the beam was lifted again, heard q
: huilabaloo and cry:
1.-THE bearl the bearl"
: And, turning, saw great brown form
: numbering down the street behind, and driv-
ing the people before it like chaR.
| The crowd at the brink of vne pool scat
D tered to right and left. yelling. Up flew the
beam Of the ducking stool, relieved of theil
? weight, and down with splash went tbs
pickpoclset at the far end. AS well for my
own skins sake as out Of pity to see hin
( drowning l jumped into the water. In two
l strokes l reached him, gained footing, anG
: with Anthony's sword cut the straps away
D and pulled him up. And there we Stood VI
i to our necks, coughing and spluttering, while
on the deserted brink the bear shifted at tn.
water and regarded u.s.
No doubt we appeared contemplate enough
for after a time he turned with louder sniff
7 and went his way lazily up the street again
He had broken out from the pit wherein, fol
the best part of the day, they had baited him
yet seemed to bear little malice. For ht
sauntered about the town for an hour or two
: hurting no man, but making a clean sweep Of
every sweet stall in his way, and was taker
at last very easily, with his head in treacls
i casE, by the bear ward and few dogs.
!, Meanwhile the pickpocket and / had
scrambled out by the further bank and
q wrung our clothes. He seemed to resent hi
treatment no more than did the bear.
y ''Ben cove-'tis good world MY thanksr
:. And with this scant gratitude he was gone
: leaving me to make my way back to the sigl
of "The Boot" where the chambermaid lie,
J, me upstairs and took away my clothes to DIR,
by the fire. determined to buy horse Oh
n the morrow, and with my guineas and TN
d kings letter under the pillow dropped off Il
Y slumber again.
Ill My powers of sleep must have been noiseS
:. abroad by the hostess, for next morning a
q I the breakfast ordinary the dealers ant