I have been sliding off and clambering on ever since I bade goodbye to Havant.

Sure, such a horse for slipping from under one was never bestridden by man.' 'Good Heavens, Reuben!' I cried in amazement, 'what brings you all this way from home ?' 'The very same cause which brings you, Micah, and also Don Decimo Saxon, late of the Solent, whom methinks I see in the shadow behind you.

How fares it, oh illustrious one ?' 'It is you, then, young cock of the woods!' growled Saxon, in no very overjoyed voice.
'No less a person,' said Reuben.

'And now, my gay cavalieros, round with your horses and trot on your way, for there is no time to be lost.

We ought all to be at Taunton to-morrow.' 'But, my dear Reuben,' said I, 'it cannot be that you are coming with us to join Monmouth.