seeing me you would have smitten me on the head with an oar, and ever
since you have been like a bandog at my heels, ready to hark if I do but
set my foot over what you regard as the straight line. Remember that
you go now among men who fight on small occasion of quarrel. A word
awry may mean a rapier thrust.'

'Do you bear the same in mind,' I answered hotly; 'my temper is
peaceful, but covert threats and veiled menace I shall not abide.'

'Odd's mercy!' he cried. 'I see that you will start carving me anon,
and take me to Monmouth's camp in sections. Nay, nay, we shall have
fighting enow without falling out among ourselves. What houses are
those on the left?'

'The village of Swathling,' I replied. 'The lights of Bishopstoke lie
to the right, in the hollow.'

'Then we are fifteen miles on our way, and methinks there is already
some faint flush of dawn in the east. Hullo, what have we here?
Beds must be scarce if folks sleep on the highways.'

A dark blur which I had remarked upon the roadway in front of us had
resolved itself as we approached into the figure of a man, stretched at
full length, with his face downwards, and his head resting upon his
crossed arms.

'Some reveler, mayhap, from the village inn,' I remarked.

'There's blood in the air,' said Saxon, raising up his beak-like nose
like a vulture which scents carrion. 'Methinks he sleeps the sleep