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the kind。'
As I said the words； I came to a full stop and held up the lantern
to his face。 He stood before me； brilliantly illuminated on the
background of impenetrable night and falling snow； stricken to
stone between his double burden like an ass between two panniers；
and gaping at me like a blunderbuss。 I had never seen a face so
predestined to be astonished； or so susceptible of rendering the
emotion of surprise； and it tempted me as an open piano tempts the
musician。
'Nothing of the sort； Rowley；' I continued； in a churchyard voice。
'These are appearances； petty appearances。 I am in peril；
homeless； hunted。 I count scarce any one in England who is not my
enemy。 From this hour I drop my name； my title； I become nameless；
my name is proscribed。 My liberty； my life； hang by a hair。 The
destiny which you will accept； if you go forth with me； is to be
tracked by spies； to hide yourself under a false name； to follow
the desperate pretences and perhaps share the fate of a murderer
with a price upon his head。'
His face had been hitherto beyond expectation； passing from one
depth to another of tragic astonishment； and really worth paying to
see； but at this it suddenly cleared。 'Oh； I ain't afraid！' he
said； and then； choking into laughter； 'why； I see it from the
first！'
I could have beaten him。 But I had so grossly overshot the mark
that I suppose it took me two good miles of road and half an hour
of elocution to persuade him I had been in earnest。 In the course
of which I became so interested in demonstrating my present danger
that I forgot all about my future safety； and not only told him the
story of Goguelat； but threw in the business of the drovers as
well； and ended by blurting out that I was a soldier of Napoleon's
and a prisoner of war。
This was far from my views when I began； and it is a common
complaint of me that I have a long tongue。 I believe it is a fault
beloved by fortune。 Which of you considerate fellows would have
done a thing at once so foolhardy and so wise as to make a
confidant of a boy in his teens； and positively smelling of the
nursery？ And when had I cause to repent it？ There is none so apt
as a boy to be the adviser of any man in difficulties such as mine。
To the beginnings of virile common sense he adds the last lights of
the child's imagination； and he can fling himself into business
with that superior earnestness that properly belongs to play。 And
Rowley was a boy made to my hand。 He had a high sense of romance；
and a secret cultus for all soldiers and criminals。 His travelling
library consisted of a chap…book life of Wallace and some sixpenny
parts of the 'Old Bailey Sessions Papers' by Gurney the shorthand
writer； and the choice depicts his character to a hair。 You can
imagine how his new prospects brightened on a boy of this
disposition。 To be the servant and companion of a fugitive； a
soldier； and a murderer； rolled in one … to live by stratagems；
disguises； and false names； in an atmosphere of midnight and
mystery so thick that you could cut it with a knife … was really； I
believe； more dear to him than his meals； though he was a great
trencherman； and something of a glutton besides。 For myself； as
the peg by which all this romantic business hung； I was simply
idolised from that moment； and he would rather have sacrificed his
hand than surrendered the privilege of serving me。
We arranged the terms of our campaign； trudging amicably in the
snow； which now； with the approach of morning； began to fall to
purpose。 I chose the name of Ramornie； I imagine from its likeness
to Romaine； Rowley； from an irresistible conversion of ideas； I
dubbed Gammon。 His distress was laughable to witness： his own
choice of an unassuming nickname had been Claude Duval！ We settled
our procedure at the various inns where we should alight； rehearsed
our little manners like a piece of drill until it seemed impossible
we should ever be taken unprepared； and in all these dispositions；
you maybe sure the despatch…box was not forgotten。 Who was to pick
it up； who was to set it down； who was to remain beside it； who was
to sleep with it … there was no contingency omitted； all was gone
into with the thoroughness of a drill…sergeant on the one hand and
a child with a new plaything on the other。
'I say； wouldn't it look queer if you and me was to come to the
post…house with all this luggage？' said Rowley。
'I dare say；' I replied。 'But what else is to be done？'
'Well； now； sir … you hear me；' says Rowley。 'I think it would
look more natural…like if you was to come to the post…house alone；
and with nothing in your 'ands … more like a gentleman； you know。
And you might say that your servant and baggage was a…waiting for
you up the road。 I think I could manage； somehow； to make a shift
with all them dratted things … leastways if you was to give me a
'and up with them at the start。'
'And I would see you far enough before I allowed you to try； Mr。
Rowley！' I cried。 'Why； you would be quite defenceless！ A footpad
that was an infant child could rob you。 And I should probably come
driving by to find you in a ditch with your throat cut。 But there
is something in your idea； for all that； and I propose we put it in
execution no farther forward than the next corner of a lane。'
Accordingly； instead of continuing to aim for Aylesbury； we headed
by cross…roads for some point to the northward of it； whither I
might assist Rowley with the baggage； and where I might leave him
to await my return in the post…chaise。
It was snowing to purpose； the country all white； and ourselves
walking snowdrifts； when the first glimmer of the morning showed us
an inn upon the highwayside。 Some distance off； under the shelter
of a corner of the road and a clump of trees； I loaded Rowley with
the whole of our possessions； and watched him till he staggered in
safety into the doors of the GREEN DRAGON； which was the sign of
the house。 Thence I walked briskly into Aylesbury； rejoicing in my
freedom and the causeless good spirits that belong to a snowy
morning； though； to be sure； long before I had arrived the snow had
again ceased to fall； and the eaves of Aylesbury were smoking in
the level sun。 There was an accumulation of gigs and chaises in
the yard； and a great bustle going forward in the coffee…room and
about the doors of the inn。 At these evidences of so much travel
on the road I was seized with a misgiving lest it should be
impossible to get horses； and I should be detained in the
precarious neighbourhood of my cousin。 Hungry as I was； I made my
way first of all to the postmaster； where he stood … a big；
athletic； horsey…looking man； blowing into a key in the corner of
the yard。
On my making my modest request； he awoke from his indifference into
what seemed passion。
'A po'…shay and 'osses！' he cried。 'Do I look as if I 'ad a po'…
shay and 'osses？ Damn me； if I 'ave such a thing on the premises。
I don't MAKE 'osses and chaises … I 'IRE 'em。 You might be God
Almighty！' said he； and instantly； as if he had observed me for the
first time； he broke off； and lowered his voice into the
confidential。 'Why； now that I see you are a gentleman；' said he；
'I'll tell you what！ If you like to BUY； I have the article to fit
you。 Second…'and shay by Lycett； of London。 Latest style； good as
new。 Superior fittin's； net on the roof； baggage platform； pistol
'olsters … the most com…plete and the most gen…teel turn…out I ever
see！ The 'ole for seventy…five pound！ It's as good as givin' her
away！'
'Do you propose I should trundle it myself； like a hawker's
barrow？' said I。 'Why； my good man； if I had to stop here； anyway；
I should prefer to buy a house and garden！'
'Come and look at her！' he cried； and； with the word； links his arm
in mine and carries me to the outhouse where the chaise was on
view。
It was just the sort of chaise that I had dreamed of for my
purpose： eminently rich； inconspicuous； and genteel； for； though I
thought the postmaster no great authority； I was bound to agree
with him so far。 The body was painted a dark claret； and the
wheels an invisible green。 The lamp and glasses were bright as
silver； and the whole equipage had an air of privacy and reserve
that seemed to repel inquiry and disarm suspicion。 With a servant
like Rowley； and a chaise like this； I felt that I could go from
the Land's End to John o' Groat's House amid a population of bowing
ostlers。 And I suppose I betrayed in my manner the degree in which
the bargain tempted me。
'Come；' cried the postmaster … 'I'll make it seventy； to oblige a
friend！'
'The point is： the horses；' said I。
'Well；' said he； consulting his watch； 'it's now gone th