One
fired his pistol at the man who fled, and missed him. The man then
fired in return, and with true aim, as one of the highwaymen fell. All
this was so sudden, that Edward had hardly time to draw his pistol and
put spurs to his horse, before the parties were upon him, and were
passing him. Edward leveled at the second highwayman as he passed him,
and the man fell. The third highwayman, perceiving this, turned his
horse to the side of the road, cleared a ditch, and galloped away
across the heath. The man who had been attacked had pulled up his
horse when Edward came to his assistance, and now rode up to him,
saying,
"I have to thank you, sir, for your timely aid; for these rascals were
too many for me."
"You are not hurt, I trust, sir?" replied Edward. "No, not the least;
the fellow singed my curls though, as you may perceive. They attacked
me about half a mile from here. I was proceeding north when I heard
the clatter of hoofs behind me; I looked round and saw at once what
they were, and I sprung my horse out of the road to a thicket close to
it, that they might not surround me. One of the three rode forward to
stop my passage, and the other two rode round to the back of the
thicket to get behind me. I then saw that I had separated them, and
could gain a start upon them by riding back again, which I did, as
fast as I could, and they immediately gave chase.
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