`` My fine fellow , '' I said , `` I know very well your English comes and goes . Tell me what will bring it back ? Is it more money you wish ? '' `` Five shillings mair , '' said he , `` and hersel ' will bring ye there . '' I reflected awhile and then offered him two , which he accepted greedily , and insisted on having in his hands at once `` for luck , '' as he said , but I think it was rather for my misfortune . The two shillings carried him not quite as many miles ; at the end of which distance , he sat down upon the wayside and took off his brogues from his feet , like a man about to rest . I was now red-hot . `` Ha ! '' said I , `` have you no more English ? '' He said impudently , `` No . '' At that I boiled over , and lifted my hand to strike him ; and he , drawing a knife from his rags , squatted back and grinned at me like a wildcat . At that , forgetting everything but my anger , I ran in upon him , put aside his knife with my left , and struck him in the mouth with the right . I was a strong lad and very angry , and he but a little man ; and he went down before me heavily . By good luck , his knife flew out of his hand as he fell . I picked up both that and his brogues , wished him a good morning , and set off upon my way , leaving him barefoot and disarmed . I chuckled to myself as I went , being sure I was done with that rogue , for a variety of reasons . First , he knew he could have no more of my money ; next , the brogues were worth in that country only a few pence ; and , lastly , the knife , which was really a dagger , it was against the law for him to carry . In about half an hour of walk , I overtook a great , ragged man , moving pretty fast but feeling before him with a staff . He was quite blind , and told me he was a catechist , which should have put me at my ease . But his face went against me ; it seemed dark and dangerous and secret ; and presently , as we began to go on alongside , I saw the steel butt of a pistol sticking from under the flap of his coat-pocket .
To XXXXX such a thing meant a fine of fifteen pounds sterling upon a first offence , and transportation to the colonies upon a second .
back carried carry chuckled drawing grinned knew leaving overtook strike