He drew the pistol from his belt, and fired full at the fellow who had sought to seize the mare's rein.
He might almost have spared his fire, for Nell Gwynne would have dashed out his brains with her forefeet had he not fallen with a groan, a lifeless corpse.

The other man, who had seemed about to rush forward, too, now started back in terror and dismay.
Sheltering himself behind a tree, he yelled out in a voice of trembling fury: "You shall swing for this, Tom Tufton! you shall feel the halter about your neck right soon! The highway robber who is a murderer to boot will never escape the arm of the law! I will bring you to the gallows ere I have done with you!" Tom knew the voice, and turned the mare's head towards the fellow, who, however, decamped so quickly amongst the trees that it was hopeless to try and follow on horseback.

Moreover, Tom did not know that he was not also pursued from behind; and if so, he must gain the friendly shelter of the forest ere his enemies came up.
True, he had but slain this fellow in self-defence.

He had been well-nigh the victim himself.

But the crime thus forced upon him seemed to cut the last cable which bound him to the life of the past.