to the pistol, you may blow away--blow away, my fine fellow," said the
chuckling highwayman. The farmer instantly fired, and his assailant
fell off his horse to the ground with a groan. The farmer galloped
back to the inn, and inquired of the hostler where his master was.
"He has been gone out, on horseback, about a quarter of an hour,"
the hostler replied. "Well, I will tell you what," said the farmer,
"you may find your master, with his brains blown out, in the road,"
describing the place where he had had the encounter with the
innkeeper.

From this time a number of persons resident in and about Thaxted and
Dunmow, left their places of abode, which circumstance created some
surprise among the remaining inhabitants; but it was afterwards
ascertained they formed the desperate gang that had so long and
successfully robbed, and sometimes murdered, their unsuspecting
neighbours and the different travellers who had occasion to pass the
roads on which these marauders were stationed.

J.W.B.

* * * * *



MANNERS & CUSTOMS OF ALL NATIONS.

_(For the Mirror.)_


WISE MEN OF GOTHAM.