CHAPTER X.
The Highwayman is taken--we are detained as Evidence against him--proceed to the next village--he escapes--we arrive at another inn, where we go to Bed--in the Night we are awaked by a dreadful Adventure--next night we lodge at the house of a Schoolmaster--our Treatment there Strap and I were about to depart on our journey, when we perceived a crowd on the road coming towards us, shouting and hallooing all the way.
As it approached, we could discern a man on horseback in the middle, with his hands tied behind him, whom we soon knew to be Rifle.

The highwayman, not being so well mounted as the two servants who went in pursuit of him, was soon overtaken, and, after having discharged his pistols, made prisoner without any further opposition.

They were carrying him in triumph, amidst the acclamations of the country people, to a justice of peace in a neighbouring village, but stopped at our inn to join their companions and take refreshment.
When Rifle was dismounted and placed in the yard, within a circle of peasants, armed with pitchforks, I was amazed to see what a pitiful dejected fellow he now appeared, who had but a few hours before filled me with such terror and confusion.

My companion was so much encouraged by this alteration in his appearance that, going up to the thief, he presented his clenched fists to his nose, and declared he would either cudgel or box with the prisoner for a guinea, which he immediately produced, and began to strip, but was dissuaded from this adventure by me, who represented to him the folly of the undertaking, as Rifle was now in the hands of justice, which would, no doubt, give us all satisfaction enough.
But what made me repent of our impertinent curiosity was our being detained by the captors, as evidence against him, when we were just going to set forward.

However, there was no remedy; we were obliged to comply, and accordingly joined in the cavalcade, which luckily took the same road that we had proposed to follow.