CHAPTER XVIIIRIDING WITH A HIGHWAYMAN
"Get into the chaise, Mr. Fairfax," said Colonel Preston.
"Thank you," said the adventurer, and accepted the invitation.
"Now we are off," said the colonel, as he took the reins, and touchedthe horse lightly with the whip.
"Is the road a pleasant one?" inquired Fairfax.
"The latter part is rather lonely. For a mile it runs through thewoods--still, on a summer day, that is rather pleasant than otherwise.In the evening, it is not so agreeable."
"No, I suppose not," said Fairfax, rather absently.
Colonel Preston would have been startled could he have read thethoughts that were passing through the mind of his companion. Could hehave known his sinister designs, he would scarcely have sat at hisside, chatting so easily and indifferently.
"I will postpone my plan till we get to that part of the road hespeaks of," thought Fairfax. "It would not do for me to beinterrupted."
"I suppose it is quite safe traveling anywhere on the road," remarkedthe adventurer.
"Oh, yes," said Colonel Preston, with a laugh. "Thieves and highwayrobbers do not pay us the compliment of visiting our neighborhood.They keep in the large cities, or in places that will better rewardtheir efforts."
"Precisely," said Fairfax; "I am glad to hear it, for I carry aconsiderable amount of money about me."
"So do I, to-day. This is the day for payment of mill dividends, andas I have occasion to use the money, I did not deposit it."
"Good," said Fairfax, to himself. "That is what I wanted to find out."
Aloud he said:
"Oh, well, there are two of us, so it would be a bold highwayman thatwould venture to attack us. Do you carry a pistol?"
"Not I," said Colonel Preston. "I don't like the idea of carryingfirearms about with me. They might go off by mistake. I was reading ina daily paper, recently, of a case where a man accidentally shot hisson with the pistol he was in the habit of carrying about with him."
"There is that disadvantage, to be sure," said Fairfax. "So, he has nopistol. He is quite in my power," he said to himself. "It's a goodthing to know."
"By the way," he asked, merely to keep up the conversation, "are you afamily man, Colonel Preston?"
"Yes, sir; I have a wife, and a son of fifteen."
"You have the advantage of me in that respect. I have always beendevoted to business, and have had no time for matrimony."
"Time enough yet, Mr. Fairfax."
"Oh, yes, I suppose so."
"If you are going to settle down in our neighborhood, I can introduceyou to some of our marriageable young ladies," said Colonel Preston,pleasantly.
"Thank you," said Fairfax; in the same tone. "I may avail myself ofyour offer."
"Won't you take supper at my home this evening?" said the colonel,hospitably. "I shall be glad to introduce Mrs. Preston. My son is atboarding school, so I shall not be able to let you see him."
"Have you but one child, then?"
"But one. His absence leaves us alone."
Godfrey's absence would have been lamented more by his father, had hischaracter and disposition been different. But he was so arrogant andoverbearing in his manners, and so selfish, that his father hoped thatassociation with other boys would cure him in part of theseobjectionable traits. At home, he was so much indulged by his mother,who could see no fault in him, as long as he did not oppose her, thatthere was little chance of amendment.
So they rode on, conversing on various topics, but their conversationwas not of sufficient importance for me to report. At length theyentered on a portion of the road lined on either side by a naturalforest. Fairfax looked about him.
"I suppose, Colonel Preston, these are the woods you referred to?"
"Yes, sir."
"How far do they extend?"
"About a mile."
They had traversed about half a mile, when Fairfax said:
"If you don't object, Colonel Preston, I will step out a moment.There's a tree with a peculiar leaf. I would like to examine it nearerto."
"Certainly, Mr. Fairfax," said the colonel, though he wondered whattree it could be, for he saw no tree of an unusual character.
The chaise stopped and Fairfax jumped off. But he seemed to haveforgotten the object of dismounting. Instead of examining the foliageof a tree, he stepped to the horse's head, and seized him by thebridle.
"What are you going to do, Mr. Fairfax?" asked Colonel Preston, insurprise.
By this time Fairfax had withdrawn a pistol from his inside pocket,and deliberately pointed it at his companion.
"Good heavens! Mr. Fairfax, what do you mean?"
"Colonel Preston," said the adventurer, "I want all the money you haveabout you. I know you have a considerable sum, for you have yourselfacknowledged it."
"Why," exclaimed Colonel Preston, startled, "this is highway robbery."
"Precisely!" said Fairfax, bowing mockingly. "You have had the honorof riding with a highwayman. Will you be good enough to give me themoney at once? I am in haste."
"Surely, this is a joke, Mr. Fairfax. I have heard of such practicaljokes before. You are testing my courage. I am not in the leastfrightened. Jump in the chaise again, and we will proceed."
"That's a very kind way of putting it," said Fairfax, coolly; "but notcorrect. I am no counterfeit, but the genuine article. Fairfax is notmy name. I won't tell you what it is, for it might be inconvenient."
No man can look with equanimity upon the prospect of losing money, andColonel Preston may be excused for not wishing to part with his eighthundred dollars. But how could he escape? He had no pistol, andFairfax held the horse's bridle in a strong grasp. If he could onlyparley with him till some carriage should come up, he might save hismoney. It seemed the only way, and he resolved to try it.
"Mr. Fairfax," he said, "if you are really what you represent, I hopeyou will consider the natural end of such a career. Turn, I entreatyou, to a more honest course of life."
"That may come some time," said Fairfax; "but at present mynecessities are too great. Oblige me by producing your pocketbook."
"I will give you one hundred dollars, and keep the matter a secretfrom all. That will be better than to expose yourself to the penaltyof the law."
"Colonel Preston, a hundred dollars will not satisfy me. You haveeight hundred dollars with you, and I shall not leave this spot tillit is transferred to my possession."
"If I refuse?"
"You will subject me to the unpleasant alternative of blowing yourbrains out," said the other, coolly.
"You surely would not be guilty of such a crime, Mr. Fairfax?" saidColonel Preston, with a shudder.
"I would rather not. I have no desire to take your life, but I musthave that money. If you prefer to keep your money, you will compel meto the act. You'll gain nothing, for in that case I shall takeboth--your life first, and your money afterward."
"And this is the man with whom I dined, and with whom, a few momentssince, I was conversing freely!" thought Colonel Preston.
The adventurer became impatient.
"Colonel Preston," he said, abruptly, "produce that money instantly,or I will fire."
There was no alternative. With reluctant hand the colonel drew out hispocketbook, and was about to hand it with its contents to thehighwayman, when there was a sudden crash in the bushes behindFairfax, his pistol was dashed from his hand, and our young hero, AndyBurke, with resolute face, stood with his gun leveled at him. Allhappened so quickly that both Colonel Preston and Fairfax were takenby surprise, and the latter, still retaining his hold upon the bridle,stared at the young hero, who had so intrepidly come between him andhis intended victim.
With an oath he stopped, and was about to pick up the pistol which hadfallen from his hands, but was arrested by the quick, decisive tonesof Andy:
"Let that pistol alone! If you pick it up, I will shoot you on thespot."