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William Pitt Palmer: Thornley

Master Filman crept nearer as the horse stepped slowly over the uneven ground, and was just beginning to call out to the rider to stop, when to his amazement a man started from behind a tree a few yards in front of him, and crying, "Halt, for your life!" confronted Mr. Thornley, pistol in hand, and Filman like a coward took to his heels, lest the robber should tackle him as well.

But Mr. Thornley at the startling appearance of the highwayman reined in his horse and sat perfectly still, waiting for the next movement on the part of his assailant. He was a brave man, and in those few seconds had made up his mind what course to take.

He knew he had possessed a weapon which had served him many a good turn already.

As the robber advanced to his horse's head, still levelling the pistol at him and twice repeating the terrible warning, "Move, and you are a dead man!"

Mr. Thornley opened his lips to speak. At the same moment a voice, gruff and husky, called out behind the highwayman, "What are you up to now, man?"

The robber turned half round with a start, but could see no one.

Instantly another voice on the opposite side of the road cried, "Take care what you're doing! Leave the man alone or you'll have this in you." And he heard the click of triggers.

The solitary robber took alarm. He dropped his pistol and fled in panic.

Mr. Thornley watched his retreating figure as it vanished into the night; then he laughed until he nearly rolled out of his saddle.

As he rode out of the shadows of the wood into the Mr. Thornley, the traveller, ate his supper in silence, open country, he looked up into the dark vault of and after settling with his host and bidding him a heaven and thanked God for the gift of that power to "Fair good-night," he rode off into the dark shadows ventriloquize, which had that night been the means of of the lane. saving him from disaster and perhaps even from As soon as he had started Master Filman pulled on death. "I But never from this shall a vaunting word From the humbled Pebble again be heard, Till something without me or within The Pebble and the Acorn.

AM a pebble! and yield to none!"

Were the swelling words of a tiny stone ;- "Nor time nor seasons can alter me; I am abiding, while ages flee.

The pelting hail and the drizzling rain Have tried to soften me, long, in vain; And the tender dew has sought to melt Or touch my heart; but it was not felt.

There's none can tell about my birth, For I'm old as the big, round earth.

The children of men arise, and pass Out of the world, like the blades of grass; And many a foot on me has trod, That's gone from sight, and under the sod.