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Page:The Vicar of Wakefield (Volume 2) - Goldsmith (1766, 1st edition).djvu/169

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The Vicar of Wakefield.
167

by turns, and swore that if I continued but silent, he intended no harm. In the mean time I had broken the canvas that he had drawn up, and whom should I perceive at some distance but your old friend Mr. Burchell, walking along with his usual swiftness, with the great stick for which we used so much to ridicule him. As soon as we came within hear­ing, I called out to him by name, and entreated his help. I repeated my ex­clamations several times, upon which, with a very loud voice, he bid the pos­tillion stop; but the boy took no notice, but drove on with still greater speed. I now thought he could never overtake us, when in less than a minute I saw Mr. Burchell come running up by the side of the horses, and with one blow knock the postillion to the ground. The horses when he was fallen soon stopt of them­selves, and the ruffian stepping out, with oaths and menaces drew his sword, and"or-