Page:The Necromancer, or, The Tale of the Black Forest Vol. 2.djvu/87

 in ambush, and to rob the first traveller he should see coming along the road.

Poor John was thunderstruck at the stern command of the Captain, fell at his feet, and entreated him to have mercy on him, but the ruffians laughed at him, and their leader repeated his order, swearing he would kill him on the spot, if he did not instantly comply with his desire. The hapless fellow seeing there was no alternative, but to be killed, or to prey on his fellow creatures, concealed himself in a thicket, and the robbers posted themselves opposite to him, behind some bushes, taking the three horses along with them.

The first travellers that passed by were two monks, and John thanked God in his heart that they were two. A little while after a ruddy countryman appeared, he was on horse-back, as it seemed returning from the market, carrying two empty sacks behind him, and counting money. That will be an easy task, thought John, but when he was going