WYLDER'S HAJVD. 453
and Thomas, already on their -way in the fly, undertook to
have open for their reception, and furnished with some
serious politicians from the vicinity. From the windows,
the Captain, thus supported, was to make his maiden
speech, one point in which Tom Wealdon insisted upon,
and that was an injunction to the " men of Gylingden"
on no account to break the peace. "Take care to say it
and we'll have it well reported in the " Chronicle," and our
lads won't mind it, nor hear it neither, for that matter."
So. there was mounting in hot haste in the courtyard
of old Brandon, and a rather ponderous selection of
walking-sticks by the politicians — of whom I was one —
intended for the windows of the assembly room.
Lake rode; Tom Wealdon, myself, and two scriveners,
squeezed into the dog-cart, which was driven by Jekyl,
and away we went. A few minutes brought us into the
Blackberry hollow, which debouches into Redman's Dell.
Here, the road being both steep and rugged, our speed
abated. The precipitous banks shut out the sunlight,
except at noon, and the road through this defile, overhung
by towering trees and rocks, was even now in solemn
shadow. The cart-road leading down to Redman's Dell,
and passing the mills near Redman's Farm, diverges from
the footpath with which we are so well acquainted, near
that perpendicular block of stone which stands a little
above the steps which the footpath here descends.
CHAPTER LXXI.
MARK WYLDER'S HAND.
Just at the darkest point of the road, a little above the
rude column which I have mentioned, Lake's horse, a