Before morning three men came
in whom I soon discovered from their speech to be poachers. They
found me, robbed me of my money--not a vast sum--and forced me to
exchange garments with them."
Here the flicker of a smile crossed the gentleman's face.
"They left me tied hand and foot, and when I released myself I was
in such a taking at the scarecrow figure I must cut that I shunned
the sight of men, and kept to the fields. But I had not eaten since
noon of the day of my misadventure, and, being desperately hungry,
I entered your gate to beg a meal, purposing to pay for it by some
service for you."
"Hum! What then of this crown piece which you confessed was yours?
Why need ye starve with that in your pocket?"
"To that, sir, I have no answer, save that I would not spend it
till the last extremity."
"Hum! How old are you?"
"Somewhat past seventeen, sir."
"Just the age of our Roger," said the lady.
"And what's your name?"
At this I hesitated. I could not be more than thirty miles from
Shrewsbury, and if I told my name perchance it might travel back,
and I was in no mind to have my mischances retailed in the town.
The gentleman saw my hesitation.
"Well, well," he said, "no matter for that. You have run away, eh?"
"No, sir. I have no relatives, and I came with full consent of my
friends."
"And what think you to do at Bristowe? Have you friends there?"
"No, sir. I purposed to find employment on a ship.
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