murmured the girl . She departed , but did not trip along the road so lightly as when she came . Now , this girl 's father was a thriving country merchant in the neighborhood , and happened at that identical time to be looking out for just such a young man as David Swan . Had David formed a wayside acquaintance with the daughter , he would have become the father 's clerk , and all else in natural succession . So here , again , had good fortune -- the best of fortunes -- stolen so near that her garments brushed against him , and he knew nothing of the matter . The girl was hardly out of sight when two men turned aside beneath the maple shade . Both had dark faces set off by cloth caps , which were drawn down aslant over their brows . Their dresses were shabby , yet had a certain smartness . These were a couple of rascals who got their living by whatever the devil sent them , and now , in the interim of other business , had staked the joint profits of their next piece of villainy on a game of cards which was to have been decided here under the trees . But , finding David asleep by the spring , one of the rogues whispered to his fellow : `` Hist ! Do you see that bundle under his head ? '' The other villain nodded , winked and leered . `` I 'll bet you a horn of brandy , '' said the first , `` that the chap has either a pocketbook or a snug little hoard of small change stowed away amongst his shirts . And if not there , we will find it in his pantaloons pocket . '' `` But how if he wakes ? '' said the other . His companion thrust aside his waistcoat , pointed to the handle of a dirk and nodded . `` So be it ! '' muttered the second villain . They approached the unconscious David , and , while one pointed the dagger toward his heart , the other began to search the bundle beneath his head .
Their two faces , grim , wrinkled and ghastly with guilt and fear , bent over their victim , looking horrible enough to be mistaken XXXXX fiends should he suddenly awake .
against at by for in near of that toward under