For I presume that it is to the wars that ye are riding, since ye are all so armed and accoutred.' 'We are indeed bound for the West,' I replied, with some reserve, for in Saxon's absence I did not care to be too loose-tongued.
'And in what capacity ?' he persisted.

'Will ye risk your crowns in defence of King James's one, or will ye strike in, hit or miss, with these rogues of Devon and Somerset?
Stop my vital breath, if I would not as soon side with the clown as with the crown, with all due respect to your own principles!' 'You are a daring man,' said I, 'if you air your opinions thus in every inn parlour.

Dost not know that a word of what you have said, whispered to the nearest justice of the peace, might mean your liberty, if not your life ?' 'I don't care the rind of a rotten orange for life or liberty either,' cried our acquaintance, snapping his finger and thumb.

'Burn me if it wouldn't be a new sensation to bandy words with some heavy-chopped country justice, with the Popish plot still stuck in his gizzard, and be thereafter consigned to a dungeon, like the hero in John Dryden's latest.

I have been round-housed many a time by the watch in the old Hawkubite days; but this would be a more dramatic matter, with high treason, block, and axe all looming in the background.' 'And rack and pincers for a prologue,' said Reuben.