.

ROBBIE, SPEED ON!.
Upon reaching the Woodman at Kendal, Robbie found little reason to doubt that Sim had been there and had gone.

A lively young chambermaid, who replied to his questions, told him the story of Sim's temporary illness and subsequent departure with another man.
"What like of a man was he, lass--him as took off the little fellow ?" asked Robbie.
"A very personable sort; maybe as fine a breed as you'd see here and there one," replied the girl.
"Six foot high haply, and square up on his legs ?" asked Robbie, throwing back his body into an upright posture as a supplementary and explanatory gesture.
"Ey, as big as Bully Ned and as straight as Robin the Devil," said the girl.
Robbie was in ignorance of the physical proportions of these local worthies, but he was nevertheless in little doubt as to the identity of his man.

It was clear that Sim and Ralph had met on this spot only a few hours ago, and had gone off together.
"What o'clock might it be when they left ?" said Robbie.
"Nigh to noon--maybe eleven or so." It was now two, and Ralph and Sim, riding good horses, must be many miles away.

Robbie's vexation was overpowering when he thought of the hours that he had wasted at Winander and of the old gossip at the street corner who had prompted him to the fruitless search.
"The feckless old ninny," he thought in his mute indignation; "when an old man comes to be an old woman it's nothing but right that he should die, and have himself done with." Robbie was unable to hire a horse in order to set off in pursuit of his friends; nor were his wits so far distraught by the difficulties tormenting them that he was unable to perceive that, even if he could afford to ride, his chance would be inconsiderable of overtaking two men who had already three hours' start of him.
He went into the taproom to consult the driver of the Carlisle coach, who was taking a glass before going to bed--his hours of work being in the night and his hours of rest being in the day.