The lackeys at Rupert's order discharged their pistols after them; but a moment later the sound of four horses making off at full gallop, showed that they had escaped.
"By my faith," the traveller said, turning to Rupert, and holding out his hand, "no knight errant ever arrived more opportunely.

You are a gallant gentleman, sir; permit me to ask to whom I am so indebted ?" "My name is Rupert Holliday, sir," the lad said, as the stranger shook his hand warmly, and who, as the lackey approached with the torch, exclaimed: "Why, by the king's head, you are but a stripling, and you have run one of these fellows through the body, and disarmed the other, as neatly as I ever saw it done in the schools.

Why, young sir, if you go on like this you will be a very Paladin." "I have had good masters, sir," Rupert said, modestly; "and having been taught to use my sword, there is little merit in trouncing such rascals as these." "By my faith, but there is though," the stranger said.

"It is one thing to fence in a school with buttoned foils, another to bear oneself as calmly and as well as you did.

But here are your friends, or I mistake not." The coach came lumbering up, at a speed which for coaches in those days was wonderful, and as it stopped Colonel Holliday leapt out, sword in hand.
"Is it all over ?" he exclaimed.