The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 170: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

FRESH ADVENTURES 153 that the astounded Edmund was swept clean off the horse and landed upon his feet in the middle of the road. “Now, my lord,’ said the audacious captain, suddenly producing a pistol from the holster of his saddle, “ your purse, your watch, and those rings from your fingers! ”’ Lord Saxondale was very far from being the most valorous young man in existence, and the sight of the pistol gleaming in the argentine splendour which poured down from the heavens at once filled him with dismay. He cast an anxious look rapidly up and down the road, but no succour was nigh, nor did a sound of approaching horse or vehicle meet his ears. “Come, quick, quick!” exclaimed Captain Chandos, the accents of whose voice, though still somewhat muffled by the thick shawl-kerchief, nevertheless sounded peremptory enough. “ Keep me not waiting, as you value your life.”’ “ But — but — you are joking, captain—I mean, fair unknown — whoever you are,” stammered Saxondale, still with a faint hope that it might prove a frolicsome Jest, after all. | _ “Tf you keep me talking here another minute you will find it to be no joke, I can assure you,” at once rejoined the bold Amazon. “ Now, then, my lord, quick! Your purse, and so forth!” The wretched Saxondale, perceiving that the fair unknown was indeed terribly in earnest, drew forth his purse with trembling hands and craven demeanour. Then he surren- dered up his watch, with the gold chain, and lastly he took the rings from his fingers. -* You have handsome diamond studs in your shirt,” said the Amazon, “ but I will leave you them. I do not wish to strip you altogether,’ and a merry kind of laugh sounded irom behind the muffling shawl-kerchief. ‘‘ Now, my lord,”’’ added the false captain, “‘ I need scarcely enjoin you to hold your tongue relative to the adventure you have just experi- enced, for your pride will prevent you from proclaiming to the whole world that you have been robbed by a woman.” With these words the female highwayman put spurs to her steed, which started away at full gallop, and in a few mo- ments the Amazonian desperado disappeared in the distance. Discomfited, abashed, and devoured with shame, young Lord Saxondale stood transfixed to the spot in most wretched ,) Gomicdoo <S (SO)