A minute later the bailiff and four of his men rode past him on their journey back to Southampton, the other two having been chosen as grave-diggers.

As they passed Alleyne saw that one of the men was wiping his sword-blade upon the mane of his horse.
A deadly sickness came over him at the sight, and sitting down by the wayside he burst out weeping, with his nerves all in a jangle.

It was a terrible world thought he, and it was hard to know which were the most to be dreaded, the knaves or the men of the law..