Next the visitor turned to news of a more thrilling character: how the down mail had been stopped again near Grantham by three men on horseback--a white and two bays; how they had handkerchiefs on their faces; how Tom the guard's blunderbuss missed fire, but he swore he had winged one of them with a pistol; and how they had got clean away with seventy pounds in money, some valuable papers, and a watch or two.
'Brave! brave!' cried Jonathan in ecstasy.

'Seventy pounds! O, it's brave!' 'Well, I don't see the great bravery,' observed the ostler, misapprehending him.

'Three men, and you may call that three to one.
I'll call it brave when some one stops the mail single-handed; that's a risk.' 'And why should they hesitate ?' inquired Mr.Archer.

'The poor souls who are fallen to such a way of life, pray what have they to lose?
If they get the money, well; but if a ball should put them from their troubles, why, so better.' 'Well, sir,' said the ostler, 'I believe you'll find they won't agree with you.

They count on a good fling, you see; or who would risk it ?--And here's my best respects to you, Miss Nance.' 'And I forgot the part of cowardice,' resumed Mr.Archer.