CONTENTS How Dick Turpin rode to York....William Harrison Ainsworth .... PAGE HOW DICK TURPIN RODE TO YORK ICK TURPIN hesitated no longer. Turning his horse, he galloped slowly off, little heeding the pursuit with which he was threatened. Arrived at the brow of the hill, he turned for an instant to reconnoiter the officers who were pursuing him. Coates and Titus he utterly disregarded; but Paterson was a more formidable foe, and he well knew that he had to deal with a man of experience and resolution. It was then that, for the first time, the thoughts of execut ing his wild ride to York flashed across him. His bosom throbbed high with rapture, and he involuntarily exclaimed aloud, as he raised himself in the saddle, "Let happen what may, I'll do it!" Aroused by the approaching clatter of his pursuers, Dick struck into a lane which lies on the right of the road, and set off at a good pace in the direction of Hampstead. At length, after various twistings and turnings in that devious lane; after scaring one or two farmers, and riding over a brood or two of ducks, dipping into the verdant valley of West End and ascending another hill, he burst upon a gorsy, sandy, and beautiful heath. It was here that the chase first assumed a character of interest. Being open ground, the pursued and pursuers were in full view of each other; and as Dick rode swiftly across the heath, with the shouting trio hard at his heels, the scene had a very animated appearance. He crossed the hill, passed Crackskull Common, and dashed along the crossroad to Highgate. Here he slackened his pace, and his pursuers redoubled their efforts. To avoid the town, Dick struck into a narrow path at the right, and rode easily down the hill. His pursuers were now within a hundred yards, and shouted to him to stand. Pointing to a gate which seemed to bar their further progress, Dick unhesitatingly charged it, clearing it in beautiful style. Not so with the constable's party; and the time they lost |