. American scenery. enI bethought me of my adventure with the imaginary highway-men, which I related to you when we were on the Ohio. Iwas inwardly laughing at that remembrance, as our road ledus into the depths of a thick copse, which stretched for somedistance along the river bank. I had barely time, as we en-tered its gloomy recesses, to call the notice of my friend tothe accelerated approach of our ugly followers, before I sawhim struggling with one of the miscreants, and found myselfparrying the hearty blows of the other. The contest was veryunequal ; they were heavy stalwart chaps, and w
. American scenery. enI bethought me of my adventure with the imaginary highway-men, which I related to you when we were on the Ohio. Iwas inwardly laughing at that remembrance, as our road ledus into the depths of a thick copse, which stretched for somedistance along the river bank. I had barely time, as we en-tered its gloomy recesses, to call the notice of my friend tothe accelerated approach of our ugly followers, before I sawhim struggling with one of the miscreants, and found myselfparrying the hearty blows of the other. The contest was veryunequal ; they were heavy stalwart chaps, and we were par-tially disarmed by the paraphernalia of our travelling baggage,sketch-boxes, and the like. We were beginning to chuckleover the coming disappointment of our assailants, as theyshould explore our meagre purses, when just at that moment,the faithless moon came to the rescue, shedding a flood oflight upon the scene; and what was still more to the pur-pose, revealing the approach of yet another traveller. The. loves labour won. 271 merest glance told us, as by instinct, that tlie new-comer wasa friend, and uttering the first words which had as yet beenspoken, we called upon him for help. A few lusty whacks, totlie riglit and left, of his willing staff, aided by the increasedvigour of our own blows, soon did the business, and left us towatch the flying retreat of our assailants with a feeling ofintense satisfaction. We were then within a mile of our destined halt, andas our gallant defender was also looking for quarters, we per-suaded him to accompany us, and, at least, be our guest for thenight, since he refused other acknowledgment of the timelyservice which he had so heartily rendered us. To this heconsented, and as we began to know him better, over ourcoffee and cakes, we were glad of the acquaintance for otherreasons than his late good aid; for he proved to be one ofthose genial, intelligent, and experienced travellers, whomfellow-voyagers so much like to meet. Our f
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Keywords: ., bookauthorrichards, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, bookyear1854
