Page:Life of Richard Turpin (1).pdf/18

18 would get no hares near that thicket. “No" says says the fellow, “but I have got a Turpin,” and presented his gun at him, commanded him to surrender. Turpin stood talking with him, and receding back to his cave, laid hold of his carbine, and shot him dead, at which the higgler made off. The man’s death obliged Turpin to make off precipitately; so he went farther into the country in search of King; and sent his wife a letter to meet him at a public-house in Hertford, who occordingly went, with two of Squire H—s’s servants. She waited for him about half an hour, and when he came to the house, he asked for her by a fictitious name, left on purpose.  He soon found she was there, and going to her through the kitchen, he saw a butcher to whom he owed five pounds: the butcher taking him aside, “come Dick,” says he, “it weuldwould [sic] be of great service.”  Turpin replied, his wife was in the next room, and she had money, and he would get some of her, and pay him presently. The butcher apprised two or three who were present who was, and that he would get his five pounds first, and then take him, But Turpin instead of going to his wife, jumped out of the window, took horse, and went away immediately, without  her, while the butcher waited some time in expectation of receiving his five pounds.

After this he still kept about the forest, till he was harassed almost to death, for he did not dare go near his old place of safety, the cave, which was ransacked as soon as discovered after his shooting the keepers man; and when they found his habitation out, it contained two shirts in a cloth bag, five pair of stockings, various shoes and boots, some few utensils to cook with, a quantity of shot, flints and powder, the remains of a bottle of wine, and some ham and pieces of bacon; so that, being driven from place to place, he skulked about the