Twigs whipped my face, thorns and brambles dragged at my clothes,
hidden obstacles lay in wait for my feet, for the wood grew
denser as I advanced, but I pushed on, heedless alike of these
and of what direction I took. But, as luck would have it, I
presently blundered upon a path which, in a short time, brought
me out very suddenly into what appeared to be a small tavern
yard, for on either hand was a row of tumble-down stables and
barns, while before me was a low, rambling structure which I
judged was the tavern itself. I was yet standing looking about
me when a man issued from the stables upon my right, bearing a
hammer in one hand and a lanthorn in the other.
"Hallo!" said he, staring at me.
"Hallo!" said I, staring at him.
"You don't chance to 'ave a axle-bolt about you, I suppose?"
"No," said I.
"Humph!" he grunted, and, lowering his lanthorn, began searching
among the cobblestones.
"Is this it?" I inquired, picking up a rusty screw-bolt at my
feet.
"Ah!" said he, taking it from me with a nod, "know'd I dropped it
'ere some'eres. Ye see," he went on, "couldn't get another round
'ere to-night, and that cussed axle's got to be in place
to-morra."
"Yes?" said I.
"Ah!" nodded the man; "chaise come in 'ere 'arf-an-hour ago wi'
two gentlemen and a lady, in the Lord's own 'urry too. 'Mend
this axle, me man,' says one on 'em--a top-sawyer be the looks
on 'im--'mend this axle, and quick about it.' 'Can't be done,
my lord,' says I. 'W'y not?' says 'e, showin' 'is teeth
savage-like. 'Because it can't,' says I, 'not no'ow, me lord,'
says I. Well, after cussin' 'isself well-nigh black in the face,
'e orders me to have it ready fust thing to-morra, and if you
'adn't found that there bolt for me it wouldn't have been ready
fust thing to-morra, which would ha' been mighty bad for me, for
this 'ere gentleman's a fire-and-fury out-and-outer, and no error."
"Can I have a bed here, do you think?" I inquired.
"Ah," said he, "I think you can."
"For how much, do you suppose?"
"To you--sixpence."
"Why, that seems reasonable," said I.
"It are," nodded the man, "and a fine feather bed too! But then,
Lord, one good turn deserves another--"