“My brother Jack, late one evening in January, proceeding in his gig to Southbarrow, was stopped on Bromley Hill by a highwayman, who, presenting a pistol, furiously demanded his money. I will not say that Jack took fright, but his horse did, and with a violent plunge, galloped off at full speed. The highwayman’s foot being struck by the wheel, he was immediately unhorsed, and dashed on the ground; while his horse, now left to his own guidance, mechanically followed the vehicle.
Jack, in total ignorance of the whole proceeding, hearing the horse behind the gig,naturally concluded the highwayman was in full pursuit, and expected every moment to have his brains blown out. However, on entering the town, he discovered his error, to his great relief.; and stopping at the in, and desiring to speak to the landlord, he related the circumstance, and then delivered the horse to him; ordering it to be immediately advertized according to the usual form – ‘If not owned, nor demanded within then days from the date hereof, it will peremptorily sold, to defray expenses.’
As may be supposed, the horse was neither owned nor claimed, so therefore sold; and Jack, pocketing the affront, cleared upwards of thirty pounds by what he called, ‘robbing a highwayman.’
Natural justice served
shame it happened so seldom.
On Thu, Jan 17, 2013 at 11:22 PM, texthistory