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Rh her down in his own scales? Thirty thousand pound they footed up, I'm told."

"I heard naught of that, but I've seen a many of Master Hull's shillings," replied Cheeseboro, cautiously.

"Nay, I'm not jesting with thee, man! 'Twas so in sober verity; and now I'll be off to fetch some of those same shillings to meet thy demand, since thou'lt have none of my bill of credit."

"I'd liefer have guineas than shillings; they're less bulky," remonstrated Cheeseboro, but the other retorted mockingly:

"The Colony's silver is legal tender, and what more is needed for a good citizen who lodges at the State Arms rather than the King's Head?"

This business finished, and the noonday dinner eaten and paid for, Samuel Cheeseboro leisurely walked his horse over the desolate Neck and through the gates into the open country, with a heavy bag of coin strapped to his saddle-bow besides the knapsack at the croup.

"Better throw your coat over yon bag, friend," suggested the gate-warden, who with four men kept watch over the safety of the town by day and night." It looks marvelously like a money pouch, and there's no lack of light-fingered gentry on the road 'twixt here and Connecticut."

"Many thanks to you, friend," replied the young man, gayly." But I've a comrade at either hand that will have a word to say to any such gentry I may meet withal." And, touching the butts of a