away so many months.’ He answered —

“London is better than the country, and safer, these late years, the laws be so bitter and so diligently enforced. An’ I had not had that accident, I had stayed there.

I had resolved to stay, and never more venture country-wards — but the accident has ended that.”

He inquired how many persons the gang numbered now. The ‘ruffler,’ or chief, answered —

“Five and twenty sturdy budges, bulks, files, clapperdogeons and maunders, counting the dells and doxies and other morts. {7} Most are here, the rest are wandering eastward, along the winter lay. We follow at dawn.”

“I do not see the Wen among the honest folk about me. Where may he be?”