diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 7806.txt | 7619 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 7806.zip | bin | 0 -> 135041 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/bride10.txt | 7590 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/bride10.zip | bin | 0 -> 134513 bytes |
7 files changed, 15225 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/7806.txt b/7806.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..226b6be --- /dev/null +++ b/7806.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7619 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Boy's Ride, by Gulielma Zollinger + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Boy's Ride + +Author: Gulielma Zollinger + +Posting Date: September 26, 2012 [EBook #7806] +Release Date: March, 2005 +First Posted: May 18, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A BOY'S RIDE *** + + + + +Produced by Patricia L. Ehler, Suzanne L. Shell, Charles +Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: "Yield Thee in the King's Name"] + + + + +A BOY'S RIDE + + + + +BY +GULIELMA ZOLLINGER + +1909 + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS AND COVER DESIGN +BY FANNY M. CHAMBERS + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + +"Yield thee in the king's name!" + +Hugo seeks shelter within the walls + +"Thou art welcome, my lad," said Lady De Aldithely + +"It is well thou hast me to lead thee" + +Humphrey and Hugo in the oak tree + +The little spy and Humphrey + +Hugo looked about him with interest + +Humphrey started up, snatching a great bunch of long, flaming reeds + +None knew which way to turn to escape + +Richard Wood finds Walter Skinner + +Walter Skinner's horse refused to be controlled + +Richard Wood beckoned the Saxons to approach + +He rode to the edge of the moat and looked down + +Humphrey in priest's garb + +Bartlemy bore garments for disguise + +Humphrey, half turning in his saddle, saw a priest + + + + +A BOY'S RIDE + + + + +CHAPTER I + + +It was the last of May in the north of England, in the year 1209. A +very different England from what any boy of to-day has seen. A chilly +east wind was blowing. The trees of the vast forests were all in leaf +but the ash trees, and they were unfolding their buds. And along a +bridle-path a few miles southwest of York a lad of fourteen was riding, +while behind him followed a handsome deerhound. A boy of fourteen, at +that age of the world, was an older and more important personage than +he is to-day. If he were well-born he had, generally, by this time, +served his time as a page and was become an esquire in the train of +some noble lord. That this lad had not done so was because his uncle, a +prior in whose charge he had been reared since the early death of his +parents, had designed him for a priest. Priest, however, he had +declined to be, and his uncle had now permitted him to go forth +unattended to attach himself as page to some lord, if he could. + +To-day he seemed very much at home in the great wood as he glanced +about him fearlessly, but so he would have been anywhere. Apparently he +was unprotected from assault save by the bow he carried. In reality he +wore a shirt of chain mail beneath his doublet, a precaution which he +the more willingly took because of his good hope one day to be a +knight, when not only the shirt of mail, but the helmet, shield, sword, +and lance would be his as well. + +It was not far from noon when he came to the great open place cleared +of all timber and undergrowth which announced the presence of a castle. +And looking up, he saw the flag of the De Aldithelys flying from its +turrets. + +There was a rustle in the thicket, horse and deerhound pricked up their +ears, and then ran pursued by flying arrows. And now ride! ride, my +brave boy, and seek shelter within the walls! For till thou reach them, +thy shirt of mail must be thy salvation. + +The drawbridge was yet down, for a small party of men-at-arms had just +been admitted, and across it rushed boy, and horse, and dog before the +warder had time to wind his horn: the horse and rider unharmed, but the +deerhound wounded. + +[Illustration: Hugo Seeks Shelter within the Walls] + +The warder stared upon the strange boy, and the boy stared back at him. +And then the warder crossed himself. "'Tis some witchcraft," he +muttered. "Here cometh the young lord, and all the time I know that the +young lord is safe within the walls." + +The grooms also crossed themselves before they drew up the bridge. But +the boy, unconcerned, rode on across the outer court and passed into +the inner one followed by the wounded dog. Here the men-at-arms were +dismounting, horses were neighing, and grooms running about. The boy, +too, dismounted, and bent anxiously over his dog. + +Presently a young voice demanded, "Whence comest thou?" + +The boy looked up to see his counterpart, the son of the lord of the +castle, standing imperiously before him. + +"From York," answered the stranger, briefly. "Hast thou a leech that +can care for my dog? See how he bleeds." + +"Oh, ay," was the answer. "But how came he wounded? He hath been +deer-stealing, perchance, and the ranger hath discovered him." + +"Nay," replied the strange lad, in tones the echo of his questioner's. +"Thou doest Fleetfoot wrong. We were but pursuing our way when from +yonder thicket to the north and adjoining the open, a flight of arrows +came. I had been sped myself but for my shirt of mail." + +The leech had now advanced and was caring skilfully for the dog while +the strange lad looked on, now and then laying a caressing hand on the +hound's head. + +Meanwhile the men-at-arms conferred together and exchanged wise looks +while a stout and clumsy Saxon serving-man of about forty shook his +head. "I did dream of an earthquake no longer ago than night before +last," he said, "which is a dream that doth ever warn the dreamer and +all concerned with him to be cautious and careful. Here cometh riding +the twin of our young lord: and the Evil One only knoweth how this +stranger hath the nose, the eyes, the mouth, the complexion, the gait, +the size, and the voice of our young lord, Josceline De Aldithely. +Thinkest thou not, William Lorimer, it were cautious and careful to put +him and his hound outside the walls, to say nothing of his horse?" + +William Lorimer, the captain of the men-at-arms, smiled in derision. A +great belief in dreams and omens was abroad in the land: and nowhere +had it a more devoted adherent than in Humphrey, the Saxon serving-man, +and nowhere a greater scoffer than in William Lorimer. + +"I see thou scoffest, William Lorimer," pursued Humphrey. "But were he +put out, then might those minions of the king shoot at him once more, +and spare to shoot at our young lord. I will away to our lady, and see +what she ordereth." + +There had always been times in England when no man who stood in the way +of another was safe, but these were the times when women and children +were not safe. For perhaps the wickedest king who ever sat upon the +English throne occupied it now, and his name was John. + +This king had tried to snatch the kingdom from his brother, Richard +Coeur de Lion, and had failed. When Richard was dead, and John was made +king in his stead, there was still another claimant to the throne,--his +nephew Arthur,--and him the king in 1204 had murdered, so report said, +with his own hand. This was the deed that lost him Normandy and all his +other French possessions, and shut him up to rule in England alone. And +the English soon had enough of him. He was now in a conflict with the +Pope, who had commanded him to receive Stephen Langton as Archbishop of +Canterbury. This John had refused to do. Now, the kingdom, on account +of the king's disobedience, was under the papal interdict, and the king +was threatened with excommunication. + +England had at this time many, many churches, and their bells, before +this unfortunate situation, had seemed to be ringing all day long. They +rang to call the people to the ordinary church services; they rang to +call them to work, and to bid them cease from work. They rang when a +baby was born, and when there was a death. And for many other things +they rang. Now, under the interdict, no bell rang. There were no usual +church services, and everywhere was fasting. A strange England it +seemed. + +The king had never gotten on well with his barons, and they hated him. +Nevertheless they would have stood by him if he had been at all just to +them. And surely he needed them to stand by him, for all the world was +against him. The French were eager to fight him, and the Church was +arrayed against him. But all these things only made the king harder and +more unjust to the barons because just now they were the only ones in +his power, and his wicked heart was full of rage. He had hit upon one +means of punishing them which they all could feel,--he struck them +through their wives and children. Some of the barons were obliged to +flee from England for their lives. Many were obliged to give the king +their sons as pledges of their loyalty. In every man's knowledge was +the sad case of one baron who had been obliged to flee with his wife +and son into hiding. The king, through his officers, had pursued them, +ferreted them out of their hiding-place, taken the wife and son +captive, shut them up in prison, and starved them to death. Lord De +Aldithely himself had been obliged to flee, but his son would never be +delivered up peaceably to the king's messengers, for De Aldithely +castle was strong and well defended. + +This was the meaning of the arrows shot at the strange boy. The king's +messengers, who were constantly spying on the castle from the wood in +the hope of gaining possession of the person of the young lord by +stratagem, had taken him for Josceline, the young heir of the De +Aldithelys. + +And now came a summons for both lads to come to the ladies' bower, for +Humphrey had not been idle. + +"My change of raiment?" said the strange lad, inquiringly. + +"Shall be in thy chamber presently," answered Josceline. + +"I would that Fleetfoot also might be conveyed thither," said the +stranger, with an engaging smile. + +"It shall be done," promised Josceline. + +He gave the necessary commands to two grooms, and the lads, each the +counterpart of the other, waited a few moments and then started toward +the tower stairway, followed by the grooms bearing the huge dog between +them on a stretcher. The stair was steep, narrow, and winding, and +built of stone. Josceline went first, and was followed by the stranger, +who every now and then glanced back to speak a reassuring word to his +dog. At the entrance to the ladies' bower Josceline paused. "Thou +mayest, if thou like, lay the dog for a while on a skin by my mother's +fire," he said, and looked inquiringly at his guest. + +"That would I be glad to do," was the grateful reply. "See how he +shivers from the loss of blood and the chill air." + +For answer Josceline waved his hand toward his mother's parlor, and the +grooms, conveying the dog, obediently entered. For all but Humphrey, +the Saxon serving-man, were accustomed to obey the young heir +unquestioningly. But Humphrey obeyed no one without question. It was +often necessary to convince his rather slow reason and his active and +many superstitions before his obedience could be secured. No one else +in the castle would have dared to take his course, but Humphrey was +thus favored and trusted because he was born a servant in Lord De +Aldithely's father's house, and was ten years older than the mistress +of the castle, whose master was now gone. He had already told Lady De +Aldithely all that he knew of the strange lad, and had advised her, +with his accustomed frankness, to put lad, horse, and hound at once +without the castle walls. Lady De Aldithely had listened, and when he +had finished, without any comment, she had commanded him to send the +two lads to her. + +For a moment Humphrey had seemed disappointed. Then recovering himself +he had made answer, "Oh, ay. It will no doubt be best to see for +yourself first, and there is no denying that the three can then be put +outside the walls." + +Receiving no reply, he had withdrawn and delivered his message. + +Lady De Aldithely was standing evidently in deep thought when the +little group entered. The strange lad looked at her curiously. He saw a +slight figure clad in a green robe, and as she turned he caught the +gleam of a jewel in the golden fillet that bound her wimple on the +forehead. Her eyes were blue, and her look one of high courage shadowed +somewhat by an expression of anxiety. One could well believe that, +however anxious and worried she might be, she would still dare to do +what seemed to her best. She now diligently and eagerly compared the +two lads, glancing quickly from one to the other, and their exceeding +great likeness to each other seemed to strike her with astonishment. At +last she smiled and spoke to the stranger. "Thou art welcome, my lad," +she said kindly. "But whence comest thou? and what is thy name?" + +[Illustration: "Thou Art Welcome My Lad" Said Lady De Aldithely] + +"I am to-day from York, and I am called Hugo Aungerville," was the +frank reply with an answering smile. + +"To-day," repeated Lady De Aldithely. "That argueth that thy residence +is not there, as doth also thy name, which is strange to me." + +"Thou art right," replied Hugo. "I come from beyond Durham, from the +priory of St. Wilfrid, the prior whereof is my uncle, I having no other +kin so near as he." + +"And whither dost thou journey?" asked Lady De Aldithely. + +"South," was the answer. "My uncle, the prior, would have had me bred a +priest, but I would be a knight. Therefore he hath at last given me his +blessing and bid me fare forth to attach myself to the train of some +nobleman." + +"Why did he not secure thee a place himself?" asked Lady De Aldithely +in surprise. + +"Because he hath too great caution," was the answer. "These be +troublous times. Few be true to the king, and no man knoweth who those +few be. Should he choose for me a place and use his influence to secure +it, perchance the next week the noble lord might be fleeing, and all in +his service, under the hatred of the king. And there might be those who +would say, 'Here is Hugo Aungerville, the page to my lord, and the +nephew of the prior of St. Wilfrid.' And then might the king pull down +the priory about my uncle's ears,--that is, I mean he would set my +uncle packing. For the priory is fat, and with the prior gone--why, the +king is so much the richer. Thou knowest the king." + +"Too well," rejoined Lady De Aldithely, with a sigh. "The Archbishop of +York is 'gone packing,' as thou sayest, and the king is all the richer +therefor. And this is thy dog that hath the arrow wound," she +continued, as she advanced a few steps and laid her hand on the hound's +head. "I have here a medicament of wonderful power." She turned to a +little casket on a table and unlocked it. Then taking out a small +flask, she opened it and, stooping over the dog, poured a few drops on +the bandage of his wound. "He is now as good as well," she said +smilingly. "That is, with our good leech's care, which he shall have. +Nay, thou needst not speak thy thanks. They are written in thy face. I +see thou lovest thy dog." + +"Yea, my lady, right well. I have naught else to love." + +"Except thine uncle, the prior," said Lady De Aldithely. + +"Except my uncle," agreed Hugo. + +All this time Josceline had waited with impatience and he now spoke. +"He is not to be put outside the walls, mother, is he?" + +"Nay, my son. That were poor hospitality. He may bide here so long as +he likes." + + + + +CHAPTER II + + +Life was rather monotonous at the castle, as Hugo found. Occasionally +the men-at-arms sallied out, but there were no guests, for Lady De +Aldithely was determined to keep her son, if possible, and would trust +few strangers. It was a mystery to Humphrey why she had trusted Hugo. + +"I may have dreams of earthquakes," he grumbled, "and what doth it +count? Naught. Here cometh a lad, most like sent by the Evil One, and +he is taken in, and housed and fed, and his hound leeched; and he goeth +often to my lady's bower to chat with her; and often into the tilt-yard +to practise with our young lord Josceline; and often lieth on the +rushes in the great hall at the evening time before the fire with the +men-at-arms; and he goeth to the gates with the warder and the grooms; +and on the walls with William Lorimer; and Robert Sadler followeth him +about to have speech with him and to hear what he will say; and he is +as good as if he were My Lord Hugo with everybody, when he is but Hugo, +a strange lad, and no lord at all." + +It was as Humphrey had said. Hugo was a favorite with all in the +castle. His company was a great solace to Lady De Aldithely in +particular. She was drawn to trust him, and every day confided more and +more to him concerning her painful and perilous situation. "I am +convinced," she said one day when two weeks had passed, "that there is +mischief brewing. I fear that I shall lose my boy, and it will break +his father's heart." + +Hugo looked sympathetic. + +"Thou knowest that fathers' hearts can break," she said. "Our first +King Henry fell senseless when his son was lost." + +"What fearest thou, Lady De Aldithely?" asked Hugo. + +"Treachery," was the answer. "There is some one within the castle walls +who will ere long betray us." + +Hugo was silent a while. He was old for his years, very daring, and +fond of adventure. And he loved Lady De Aldithely not only for her +kindness to him, but for the attention she had given to Fleetfoot. At +last he spoke. "I have a plan. But, perchance, thou mistakest and there +is no traitor within the walls." + +Lady De Aldithely looked at him quickly. "Nay, I am not mistaken," she +said. + +"Then this is my plan," announced Hugo. "Josceline and I be alike. I +will personate him. In a week Fleetfoot will be quite recovered. We +will go forth. They who watch will think they see Josceline and pursue +me. I will lead them a merry chase, I warrant thee." + +"But, my boy!" cried Lady De Aldithely. "What wild plan is this? Thou +lead such evil men a merry chase? Speak rather of the dove leading the +hawk a merry chase." + +"Even so I will lead them," declared Hugo. "If they catch me, they +shall do well." + +Lady De Aldithely smiled at the boyish presumption. "My poor lad!" she +said. "How if they catch thee with an arrow as they caught Fleetfoot? +Thou mightest find no castle then to give thee shelter, no leech to +salve thy wound." + +"For thee, because of thy kindness, I will risk that," declared Hugo, +after a pause. + +Lady De Aldithely put up her hand. "Hush!" she said. "Speak no more at +present to me, and nothing on the subject at any time to any but me. I +hear footsteps." + +The footsteps, bounding and light, drew nearer, and presently Josceline +looked in at the door. "Come, Hugo!" he cried. "Let us away to the +tilt-yard and do our exercise." + +Josceline was already an esquire, and very diligent in the exercises +required of an esquire as a part of his training for knighthood. But +not more diligent than Hugo had been during his stay at the castle. For +Hugo felt himself at a disadvantage on account of having been bred up +at the priory, and was eager to make up for his shortcomings. In all +their practice Robert Sadler, one of the men-at-arms, was present. And +both boys liked him very well. He was not a young man, being some sixty +years old, and gray and withered. He was of Irish parentage, and short +in stature; and he had a tongue to which falsehood was not so much a +stranger as the truth. He was also as inquisitive as a magpie, and +ready to put his own ignorant construction on all that he saw and +heard. The two boys, however, had never stopped to think of his +character. He was always praising their performances in the tilt-yard, +and always deferring to them, so that they regarded him very favorably +and were quite ready to abide by his judgment. To-day he was waiting +for them with a tall horse which he held by the bridle. "I would fain +see both of you vault over him," he said. + +Josceline advanced, put one hand on the saddlebow and the other on the +horse's neck, and vaulted over fairly well. After him came Hugo, whose +performance was about equal to Josceline's. + +"It was the cousin to the king that could not do so well as that," +commented Robert Sadler. + +"And how knowest thou that?" asked Josceline, complacently. "Didst thou +see him?" + +"See him!" exclaimed Robert Sadler. "I have seen him more times than +thou art years old. And never did he do so well as thou and Hugo." + +With hearts full of pride the two went from vaulting over the horse to +striking heavy blows with a battle axe. + +"Ah!" cried Robert Sadler. "Could the cousin to the king see the +strokes that ye make, he were fit to die from shame. He can strike not +much better than a baby. I could wish that all mine enemies might +strike me no more heavily than the cousin to the king." + +"This cousin to the king must be worthless," observed Josceline, his +face red from the exertion of striking. + +"Worthless!" exclaimed Robert Sadler. "It were not well that the king +heard that word, but a true word it is. Worthless he is." + +"I knew not that the king had a cousin," observed Hugo, with uplifted +axe. + +"There was never a man born," declared Robert Sadler, recklessly, "who +had not a cousin. And would the king that hath everything else be +lacking in a common thing like a cousin? Thy speech is well nigh +treasonable. But strike thou on. I will not stay to see thee put the +king's cousin to shame, and then hear thee deny there is such a one." +And he stalked off to the stables leading the horse. + +"I fear thou hast angered him," said Josceline. "But no matter. He will +not harbor anger long." And so it proved. For before the two had +finished striking he had returned to the tilt-yard apparently full of +good humor. + +Two days went by. Then Lady De Aldithely spoke again to Hugo of his +project. "Hast abandoned thy plan?" she asked. + +"Nay, my lady," he replied. "How should I abandon it? Is it not a good +one?" + +"Good for my son," admitted Lady De Aldithely, "but bad for thee." + +"Thou wilt find it will be bad for neither," said Hugo, stoutly. "I am +resolved." + +Lady De Aldithely sighed in relief. "Come nearer," she said. "I would +confide in thee, and none but thou must hear. I have discovered the +traitor within our walls. For a sum of money he will deliver my son to +the king. Ask me not how. I have discovered it." + +Hugo looked at her and his eyes flashed indignation. "Deliver +Josceline, he shall not!" he cried. + +"He could but for thee, for we are powerless." + +"Then again I say, he shall not." + +"Come nearer still," said Lady De Aldithely. "I would tell thee the +man's name. What sayest thou to Robert Sadler?" + +Hugo stared. "Robert Sadler!" he repeated. "Why, 'tis he of all the +men-at-arms, save William Lorimer, who is kindest to Josceline and me. +He will be ever with us; in the tilt-yard, in the stables, in the hall, +everywhere." + +"To watch you," said Lady De Aldithely. "To mark what you say. To catch +your plans." + +"He shall catch no more plans from me!" cried Hugo, indignantly. "I +will speak no more with him, nor be with him." + +"Ah, but thou must," counselled Lady De Aldithely. "Wert thou to turn +from him, as thou sayest, he would know at once thou hadst been warned +against him, and would hasten his own plans. What said he to thee +yesterday?" + +"He did ask me when I should leave the castle." + +Lady De Aldithely's face clouded with anxiety. "And what didst thou +answer?" she asked. + +"I said it might be one day and it might be another. For thou didst +forbid me to speak of my plan." + +"I marvel at thy prudence," smiled Lady De Aldithely. "Where didst thou +learn it?" + +"From my uncle, the prior. He never telleth aught to any man. And no +one can wring from him ay or nay by a question." + +"A blessing upon him!" breathed Lady De Aldithely. + +The boy's eyes brightened. "He is a good man, my uncle, the prior," he +said. "And ever he saith to me, 'In troublous times a prudent tongue is +worth ten lances and shields.'" + +Lady De Aldithely smiled. "May he keep his priory in peace," she said. +"'Twere a pity that he should lose it." + +Hugo looked at her gratefully. Not every one so leniently regarded the +prior's prudence. In more than one quarter his reticence was severely +blamed. By some it was called cowardice, by others self-seeking. + +"And now thou knowest the worst," said Lady De Aldithely. "Within three +days I will contrive to send Robert Sadler hence on an errand. When he +is gone thou shalt go forth in the daylight, and that same night my son +and I will flee into Scotland. There, if no one tracks our steps, we +may be safe. Were I to drive Robert Sadler forth as a traitor, I know +full well that some other would arise in his place to practise +treachery against us. And so we flee." + +And now Hugo drew himself proudly up. He felt that he was trusted and +that he was doing a knight's part in rescuing a lady in distress, +though he had not, as yet, taken his knightly vow, and was not even an +esquire. + +Lady De Aldithely saw it and smiled. "Thou must put off that high look, +dear lad," she said. "It might beget wonderment in the brain of Robert +Sadler, and so lead him to seek its cause. Look and act as thou hast in +the past. Call to mind thine uncle, the prior, and guard not only thy +tongue, but the glance of thine eye, and the carriage of thy body." + +Hugo blushed. "I fear I am like to mar all without thy counsel," he +said humbly. + +"Thou art but a lad," replied Lady De Aldithely, kindly, "and my +counsel thou shalt freely have. And now I must tell thee that thou art +to take our good Humphrey with thee on thy journey." + +Hugo started and looked disappointed. But all he said was, "Dost not +think him very like an old crone, with his dreams and his omens and his +charms?" + +"I may not criticise Humphrey thus," said Lady De Aldithely, gravely, +"because I know his great faithfulness to me and mine. And thou knowest +there is much superstition abroad in the land--too much to make it just +to single out Humphrey for dislike because he is tainted with it. I +send him with thee because I have the highest regard for thy safety. +Thou wilt consent to take him to attend thee?" + +"If thou require it," answered Hugo, reluctantly. + +"I do require it," said Lady De Aldithely, "and I thank thee for +yielding. Now go. Come not again to me until Robert Sadler be well sped +on his journey. Had I but known that he was treacherous and greedy of +gold, no matter how gained, he had never been admitted to these walls." + +Obediently Hugo left the apartment and slowly descended the winding +stair. And almost at the small door of the stairway tower he found +Robert Sadler waiting for him. The traitor was growing impatient and +was now resolved to proceed more boldly. "Thou stayest long with her +ladyship," he began. "I had thought the sun would set or ever thou came +down the stair." + +Hugo did not meet his glance. He was trying hard to conceal the sudden +aversion he had to the man-at-arms, the sudden desire he felt to look +him scornfully in the face, and then turn on his heel and leave him. +And he knew he must succeed in his effort or Josceline was lost. + +Meanwhile the man-at-arms stole questioning glances at him. He could +see that the boy was not his usual self, but he did not guess the cause +of his changed manner. With his usual prying way he began: + +"Thou hast been here now a fortnight and more. Perchance her ladyship +will be rid of thee. Was't of that she spake to thee?" + +And now Hugo had sufficiently conquered himself so that he dared to +lift his eyes. Innocently he looked into the traitor's face. "We spake +of my uncle, the prior," he said. + +For a moment Robert Sadler was silent. "That is it," he thought. "She +will send him packing back to his uncle. The lad wishes not to go. +Therefore he looks down. Now is the time to ask him about the postern +key. When one is angered a little then is when he telleth what he hath +discovered." + +He cast a searching look at Hugo, but by it he learned nothing. The boy +now began to take his way toward the tilt-yard, and Robert Sadler kept +close at his side, talking as he went. + +"Women be by nature suspicious, you will find," he began. "They be ever +thinking some one will be breaking in; and ever for having some one on +guard. Her ladyship now--surely thou knowest she keepeth the postern +key herself, and will trust no one with it. The grooms and the warder +at the great gate she will trust, but it is the postern she feareth, +because she thinketh an enemy might be secretly admitted there. Knowest +thou where she keepeth the key? I would but know in case my lord +returneth suddenly, and, perchance, pursued, since the king will have +his head or ever he cometh to his home, he hath such an enmity against +him. And all because my lord spake freely on the murder of Arthur and +other like matters. He might be sped to his death awaiting the opening +of the postern while her ladyship was coming with the key." + +"Cometh the lord soon, then?" asked Hugo, interestedly. + +"That no man can tell," answered Robert Sadler. "He is now safe over +sea in France; but he might be lured back if he knew the young lord +Josceline was in peril." + +"In peril, sayest thou?" asked Hugo. He was learning his lesson of +self-control fast. + +"Why else are we mewed up here in the castle?" demanded the man-at-arms. +"I be weary of so much mewing-up. If the king will have our young lord +Josceline to keep in his hand so that he may thereby muzzle his father, +why, he is king. And he must have his will. Sooner or later he will have +it. Why, who can stand against the king?" + +"And how can that muzzle his father?" asked Hugo. + +"Why, if Lord De Aldithely, who is a great soldier, and a great help to +victory wherever he fighteth, should join with King Louis of France to +fight against our king--why, then it would go ill with Josceline if he +were biding in the king's hand. And, knowing this, his father would +forbear to fight, and so be muzzled." + +"And Josceline would not otherwise be harmed?" asked Hugo. + +"Why, no man knoweth that," admitted the man-at-arms. "The rage of the +king against all who have offended him is now fierce, and he stoppeth +at nothing." + +"I know not so much as some of such matters," observed Hugo, quietly. + +"Nor needest thou," answered the man-at-arms. "It is sufficient for +such as be of thy tender years to know the whereabouts of the postern +key. I would ask the young lord Josceline, but, merry as he is, he +turneth haughty if one ask what he termeth a meddling question. He +would say, 'What hast thou to do with the whereabouts of the postern +key?' And then he would away to his mother with a tale of me, and the +key would be more securely hidden than before." + +"And Lord De Aldithely still further endangered if he came riding and +pursued?" + +"Even so. I see that thou art a clever lad. Much cleverer than thy +years warrant. And I warn thee, speak to no one of what I have said to +thee, or it may be worse for thee. But tell me plainly, since we have +gone so far, knowest thou the whereabouts of the key?" + +"Nay," answered Hugo. "I know not. I have never before thought of the +postern and its key." + +The traitor's frowning face cleared. "I believe thou speakest truly," +he said. "Thou art so full of being a knight that thou thinkest only of +knightly exercises in the tilt-yard. I will speak a good word for thee, +and it may be thou wilt be admitted a page to the Earl of Hertford." + +"And hast thou influence there?" inquired Hugo, with assumed interest. + +"Yea, that have I," answered Robert Sadler, falsely. For he had no +influence anywhere. "I will so speak for thee that thou wilt be page +but a short while before thou art made an esquire. Do thou but bide +quiet concerning what hath passed between us, and thou shalt fare never +the worse." + +Then he departed to the stables and Hugo was left alone. To be able to +conceal what one feels is a great accomplishment. Rarely do people of +any age succeed in doing so, and it was with a feeling of exultation +over his success that the boy looked after Robert Sadler. + +The next day Lady De Aldithely summoned her men-at-arms before her in +the castle hall. She had a missive in her hand. "I must send one of you +on a journey," she said. "More than one I cannot now spare to go to +Chester. Who will take this missive from me to the town of Chester, and +bring back from my aunt what it calleth for?" + +A light flashed in the eyes of Robert Sadler which Lady De Aldithely +affected not to see. The opportunity he had been seeking was before +him. He would go out alone, but he would not return alone. When the +drawbridge should be lowered to admit him on his return the king's +messengers with a troop of horse would be at hand. They would make a +rush while he held parley with the old warder. They would gain entrance +to the castle; Josceline would be taken, and the reward for his own +treachery would be gained. He had plenty of time to think of all this, +for the men were slow to offer. Aside from Robert Sadler they were all +true and devoted adherents of the De Aldithelys, and each one imagined +the castle and its inmates safer because of his presence. Therefore +none desired to go. + +"No man seemeth willing to do thy ladyship's behest," said Robert +Sadler, with a crafty smile. "I will, by thy leave, undertake it." + +Lady De Aldithely looked calmly upon him. "Thou shalt do so, Robert +Sadler," she said courteously, "and thou hast my thanks for the +service. Thou shalt depart to-morrow morn, and thou shouldest return by +the evening of this day week. See that thou bringest safely with thee +what the missive calleth for." + +"I will return at eventide of this day week," promised the traitor as +he received the missive. + +"And now," he said to himself, when Lady De Aldithely had retired from +the hall, "let her keep the postern key. I care not for it." + + + + +CHAPTER III + + +It was now mid-June. The air was dry and cool. But Robert Sadler +thought not of June nor dryness and coolness of air as in triumph he +made ready for his journey. + +"I should have gone," grumbled Humphrey the serving-man when he heard +of it. "Who knoweth this Robert Sadler? My lord had him at the +recommendation of Lord Clifford and he hath been at the castle not yet +a year. Who knoweth that he is to be trusted? I should have gone. I did +dream of serpents last night, and that foretelleth a prison. Robert +Sadler will no doubt be caught by some marauding baron as he cometh +again from Chester, and he will be thrown into the dungeon, and then my +lady will see." + +So grumbling he was summoned to the ladies' bower just as the +drawbridge was lowered to permit the departure of Robert Sadler. +Ungraciously he obeyed; and just as ungraciously he continued his +grumbling in her ladyship's presence. "I did dream of serpents last +night," he began, "and that foretelleth a prison." + +Lady De Aldithely shivered. "I pray thee, speak not of prisons, +Humphrey," she said firmly, "but attend my words." + +"Am I not faithful?" demanded Humphrey. + +"Thou art, my good Humphrey," was the reply. + +"Was it then for Robert Sadler to do thine errand?" + +"I have a greater errand for thee," was the grave answer. "Robert +Sadler is a traitor, and we have much to do ere he return." + +Humphrey seemed bewildered. "And wouldst thou trust a traitor?" he at +length demanded. + +"Abroad, good Humphrey, and in a small matter, but not within these +walls." + +The dense Humphrey showing still by his countenance that he could not +comprehend his mistress, Lady De Aldithely spoke more plainly. "I must +tell thee, Humphrey, that Robert Sadler designeth for a sum of money to +deliver Josceline to the king." + +Humphrey stared. + +"I have discovered it, and have been almost crazed in consequence. But +a deliverer hath come." + +"I saw no one," said Humphrey in a dazed tone. + +"Didst thou not see Hugo?" asked Lady De Aldithely with a faint smile. +"My lord will be fain to do much for him when he heareth what Hugo will +do for Josceline." + +"And what can a lad like him do?" demanded Humphrey. "Thou hadst better +trust me. I am forty years of age and have served the De Aldithelys all +my life." + +"I do trust thee, Humphrey, and I do honor thee by sending thee to +attend on this brave lad, Hugo." + +"I will not go," declared Humphrey. "Why should I leave thee and +Josceline to serve a stranger? Here I bide where my lord left me." + +"Wilt thou not go at my command, Humphrey?" + +There was no reply but a mutinous look, and Lady De Aldithely +continued, "Thou hast doubtless seen how very like in appearance Hugo +is to my son. This good lad, Hugo, this best of lads, Hugo, will, for +my sake and Josceline's, assume to be my son. He will ride forth toward +London as if he made to escape to his father in France. The servants of +the king will hear of it through the spies they keep in the wood near +us. They will pursue him while Josceline and I escape into Scotland." + +Humphrey reflected. "I see it, I see it," he said at last. "Hugo is the +good lad." + +"He is indeed, Humphrey. So good I cannot see him go unattended. Thou +art the trustiest servant I have; and so I send thee with him to keep +him from what peril thou mayest, and to defend him in what thou canst +not ward off. Thou must serve him as thou wouldst Josceline, on pain of +my displeasure." + +"I did dream of serpents," said Humphrey, slowly, "and they foretell a +prison. It were better for thee to abide here, for, perchance, it is +not to foretell the fate of Robert Sadler but the fate of Josceline +that the dream was sent." + +"Abide here, and let Robert Sadler take my son? Nay, good Humphrey, we +must away. Hugo and thou to-morrow morn, Josceline and I to-morrow +night." And then Humphrey was dismissed with the command, "Send Hugo to +me." + +Almost immediately the boy appeared, and Lady De Aldithely met him with +a smile. "I send thee forth to-morrow morn," she said, "and Humphrey +will go with thee--if thou be still of a mind to go." + +"I am still of a mind to go, Lady De Aldithely," was the answer. + +"Thou knowest the danger to thyself," she said. "And 'twere not to save +my only son, I could not let thee take such peril. Cross thou to +France, I charge thee, and take this favor to my husband. Tell him, +because thou wouldst do knightly service for me and mine, I give it +thee. Thou wilt not go unrewarded." And she held out a knot of blue +ribbon. + +The boy looked from it to her green robe, and back again. Lady De +Aldithely saw the look. "Green is not my color, Hugo," she said. "It is +but the fashion of the time." Suddenly she drew back her hand and laid +the knot against her sleeve. "See how the colors war," she said. "But +not more than truth and constancy with the wickedness of this most +wicked reign." Then she held out the knot of blue to him again. +"Receive it, dear lad," she said. "Whatever knightly service it is +thine to render after thou hast taken thy vow, thou canst render none +greater than thou dost now render to Matilda De Aldithely." + +"And what service is that?" inquired Josceline as he came smiling into +the room. "And what solemn manner is this, my mother? There must be +great deeds afoot to warrant it." And he glanced from one to the other. + +"Thou hast well come, my son," returned his mother, gravely. "I would +this moment have sent to summon thee. Thou and I must away to-morrow +night to wander through the forest of Galtus and on into the wilds of +Scotland, where we may, perchance, find safety." + +At this Josceline stared in astonishment. "We be safe here in the +castle," he said at length. + +"Nay, my son," returned his mother. "Here be we not safe. I had told +thee before of the treachery of Robert Sadler but for thy hasty, +impetuous nature which, by knowing, would have marred my plans. Thou +wouldst have dealt with him according to his deserts--" + +"Ay, that would I," interrupted Josceline, "if he be a traitor. And +that will I when he returneth." + +Lady De Aldithely looked at him sadly. "We be in the midst of grave +perils, my son," she said. "Control thyself. It is not always safe to +deal with traitors according to their deserts, and never was it less +safe than now. When Robert Sadler returneth we must be far away." + +But Josceline was hard to convince. "Here is the castle," he said, +"than which none is stronger, and here be good men and true to defend +it. Moreover, Robert Sadler is now outside the walls. Thou canst, if +thou wilt, keep him out, and we have naught to fear. Why should we go +wandering with our all on the backs of sumpter mules, and with only a +few men-at-arms and serving-men to bear us company?" + +"My son," said Lady De Aldithely, rising from her seat, "thy father +gave thee into my keeping. And thou didst promise him upon thine honor +to obey me. Thou mayest not break thy pledged word." + +"I had not pledged it," rejoined Josceline, sulkily, "had I known of +wanderings through forest and wild." + +"Better forest and wild than the king's dungeon, my son," replied Lady +De Aldithely. "We go hence to-morrow night." + +During this conversation Hugo had stood a silent and unwilling +listener. Josceline now turned to him. "And whither goest thou, Hugo?" +he asked. "With us?" + +"Nay, let me speak," said Lady De Aldithely, holding up her hand to +check Hugo's reply. "Hugo goeth south toward London clad in thy +bravery, and with Humphrey to attend him." + +Again Josceline showed astonishment. "I understand not thy riddles," he +said at last petulantly. + +"He is thy counterpart, my son, and he will personate thee," said Lady +De Aldithely. "He setteth out to-morrow morn. The king's spies will +pursue him, and thus we shall be able to flee unseen." + +"And thou hast planned all this without a word to me?" cried Josceline, +angrily. "But for my pledged word I would not stir. Nay, not even if I +knew Robert Sadler would give me up to the king's messengers." + +Lady De Aldithely gave Hugo a sign to leave the room. When he was gone +she herself withdrew, and Josceline was left alone in the ladies' +bower, where he stamped about in great irritation for a while. But he +could not retain his anger long. Insensibly it faded away, and he found +visions of wood and wild taking its place. + +Meanwhile Lady De Aldithely had gone to the castle hall, when she sent +a summons to William Lorimer to attend her there. To him, when he +arrived, she unfolded Robert Sadler's treachery and her own meditated +flight with her son. + +"Thee," she said, "I leave in charge of these bare walls to deal with +Robert Sadler on his return. Whatever happeneth I hold thee blameless. +Do as seemeth thee best, and when thou art through here, repair with +the others I leave behind, to my lord in France. And if thou shouldst +ever find Hugo to be in need, what thou doest for him thou doest for my +lord and me." + +The man-at-arms bowed low. "I will deal with Robert Sadler as I may," +he answered. "Only do thou leave me the postern key. As for Hugo, I +will not fail him if ever in my presence or hearing he hath need." + +Then Lady De Aldithely with a relieved smile gave him the postern key +and he withdrew. + +The day was now drawing to a close, and an air of solemnity was upon +the castle. Each man knew he was facing death; each man was anxious for +the safety of Lady Aldithely and her son; and each man cast a sober eye +on Hugo and Humphrey. The effect upon Hugo was visibly depressing, +while upon Humphrey it was irritating. + +Humphrey had been thinking: and while he would be ostensibly Hugo's +servant, he had decided that he would be in reality the master of the +expedition. "I like not this obeying of strangers," he said to himself. +"Moreover, it is not seemly that any other lad than our own young lord +should rule over a man of my years. Let the lad Hugo think I follow +him. He shall find he will follow me. And why should these men-at-arms +look at us both as if we went out to become food for crows? Did I not +dream of acorns last night, and in my dream did I not eat one? And what +doth that betoken but that I shall gradually rise to riches and honor? +Let the men-at-arms look to themselves. They will have need of all +their eyes when that rascal Robert Sadler cometh galloping again to the +castle with the king's minions at his back." + +Now all this grumbling was not done in idleness. For all the time +Humphrey was busy filling certain bags which were to be swung across +the haunches of the horses he and Hugo were to ride. Brawn, meal for +cakes, grain for the horses, and various other sundries did Humphrey +stow away in the bags which were to supply their need at such times as, +on account of pursuit, they would not dare to venture inside a town. +"And what care I that the interdict forbiddeth us meat as if we were in +Lent," grumbled Humphrey as he packed the brawn. "Were the king a good +king, meat would be our portion as in other years. Since he is the bad +king he is, I will e'en eat the brawn and any other meat to be had. And +upon the head of the king be the sin of it, if sin there be." + +And the packing finished, he went early to rest. + +The castle stood on a ridge near the river Wharfe, from which stream +the castle moat derived its water. Its postern gate was toward the +east, the great gate being on the northwest. From the postern Hugo and +Humphrey were to set out and follow along down the river toward Selby. +They were to make no effort at concealment on this first stage of their +journey which might, therefore, possibly be the most dangerous part of +it. They had little to fear, however, from arrows, as the king's men +would not so much wish to injure the supposed Josceline as to capture +him. They had shot at him before simply to disable him before he could +reach the shelter of the castle. + +But Humphrey was not thinking of the dangers of the way. He was up and +looking at the sky at the early dawn. "I did hear owls whooping in the +night before I slept, which foretelleth a fair day for the beginning of +our enterprise," he said. "The sky doth not now look it, but my trust +is in owls. I will call Hugo. It is not meet that he should slumber +now." + +Hugo was not easily roused. He had slept ill: for as night had come +down upon him in the castle for the last time, he had not felt quite so +sure of being able to lead his pursuers a merry chase. And it was +midnight when he fell into an uneasy sleep which became heavy as +morning dawned. Humphrey knew nothing of this, however, nor would he +have cared if he had. By his own arguing of the case in his mind, he +was now firm in the conviction that Hugo had been put into his charge, +and he was quite determined to control him in all things. So he routed +him from his slumbers and his bed without the slightest compunction, +bidding him make haste that they might take advantage of the fair day +prognosticated by the owls. + +This duty done, Humphrey betook himself to the walls near the postern +where he had before noticed William Lorimer apparently deeply engaged +in reconnoitring and planning. Now, whatever Humphrey lacked, it was +not curiosity; and he was speedily beside the man-at-arms, who +impatiently, in his heart, wished him elsewhere. + +"What seest thou?" began Humphrey curiously as he gazed about him on +all sides. + +"The same that thou seest, no doubt," retorted William Lorimer, +gruffly. + +"Why, then," observed Humphrey, slowly, "thou seest what I and thou +have seen these many times,--a bare open place beyond the ditch, and +then the wood. I had thought some king's man must have shown himself +from his hiding." + +"Not so, good Humphrey, not so," rejoined William Lorimer more +pleasantly as he reflected that he would soon be rid of the prying +serving-man. "Hugo and thou will see king's men before I do." + +"Ah, trust me," boasted Humphrey, complacently. "I shall know how to +manage when we see them." + +"Thou manage?" said William Lorimer, teasingly. "Bethink thee, thou art +but servant to Hugo. Hast thou not promised Lady De Aldithely to be his +servant?" + +Humphrey hesitated a moment and then replied: "Yea, in a measure. But I +take it that there are servants and servants. Besides, I did dream of +acorns of late and of eating one of them, which doth foretell that I +shall gradually rise to riches and honor; and surely the first step in +such a rise is the managing of Hugo. My dream hath it, thou seest, that +Hugo shall obey me. Wherefore I said I shall know how to manage when I +see the king's men." + +"Hath Hugo heard of this fine dream?" inquired William Lorimer with +pretended gravity. + +"Not he. Why should he hear of it? He is as headstrong as our young +lord Josceline, though not so haughty. I shall but oppose the weight +of my years and experience against him at every turn, and thou shalt +see I shall prevail." So saying, Humphrey, with an air of great +self-satisfaction, turned and descended the wall to the court-yard. + +For a moment William Lorimer smiled. "I would I might follow the two," +he said. "There will be fine arguments between them." + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +The spies who kept watch on De Aldithely castle were four in number, +and were hired by Sir Thomas De Lany, who had been commissioned by the +king to capture Josceline in any manner that he could. It chanced that +there was but one of them on duty in the wood that morning--a certain +short, stalky little fellow whose name was Walter Skinner, and who was +fond of speaking of himself as a king's man. Formed by nature to make +very little impression on the beholder, it was his practice to eke out +what he lacked in importance by boasting, by taking on mysterious airs, +and by dropping hints as to his connection with great personages and +his knowledge of their plans. He was about the age of Humphrey, and +though he was but a spy hired by Sir Thomas, he persisted in regarding +himself as of great consequence and directly in the employ of the king. +He was mounted in the top of a very tall tree in the edge of the wood, +and he could hardly believe his eyes when, about nine o'clock, he saw +Hugo and Humphrey issue from the postern gate, cross the bridge over +the moat, and ride away into the wood, which they struck a quarter of a +mile south of him. + +In great haste he began to come down the tree, muttering as he did so. +"They must all away yesterday morn to York on a holiday," he cried, +"and here am I left to take the young lord in my own person. When I +have done so I warrant they get none of the reward. I will sue to the +king, and we shall see if he who catcheth the game is not entitled to +the reward." + +By this time he was on the ground and strutting finely as he hurried +about for his horse. "A plague upon the beast!" he cried. "He hath +slipped halter and strayed. I had come up with the young lord while I +seek my horse." + +It was some ten minutes before the animal was discovered quietly +browsing and brought back to the watch-tree, and then a sign must be +made on the tree to let his companions know whither he had gone, so +that they might follow immediately on their return. And all this delay +was fatal to his catching up with the fugitives. For, once in the wood, +Humphrey's authority asserted itself. He pushed his horse ahead of +Hugo's and led the way directly through the thick forest for a short +distance when he emerged into a narrow and evidently little used +bridle-path. "It is well thou hast me to lead thee," he observed +complacently. "There be not many that know this path." + +[Illustration: "It is Well That Thou Has Me to Lead Thee"] + +Meanwhile Richard Wood, one of the other spies, had unexpectedly +returned, read the sign on the watch-tree, and followed his companion. +It was at this moment that Hugo discovered that Fleetfoot was not with +them. In the excitement of getting under cover of the forest he had not +noticed the dog's absence. "Where is Fleetfoot?" he asked as he stood +in his stirrups and looked about him anxiously. + +"Fleetfoot is at the castle," replied Humphrey, calmly. + +"By thy command?" asked Hugo, quickly. + +"Ay," replied Humphrey. "Why, what young lord would journey about with +a great dog like that in his train? If thou art to play Josceline, thou +must play in earnest. Moreover, the hound would get us into trouble +with half the keepers of the forest. If ever a deer were missing, would +not thy dog bear the blame? So think no more of thy Fleetfoot." + +Hugo was silent while the complacent Humphrey jogged on ahead of him. +What the serving-man had said was in large measure true. And he thought +with a swelling heart that it was not so easy, after all, to personate +Josceline when that personating cost him Fleetfoot. + +But no less a person than William Lorimer had discovered that Fleetfoot +had been left behind. William was fond of both the dog and his master; +so now, when Fleetfoot made his appeal to William, the man-at-arms at +once responded. He snapped the chain that bound him, and leading him by +the collar to the postern gate opened it and let down the bridge. "Why, +what would become of thee, Fleetfoot," he said, "when that which is to +come to the castle hath come?" Then while the great deerhound looked up +expectantly into his face he added as he pointed to the place where +Hugo and Humphrey had entered the wood, "After thy master, Fleetfoot! +Seek him!" + +The deerhound is a dog of marvellous swiftness, and, like an arrow from +the bow, Fleetfoot shot across the open space and gained the wood. +William Lorimer looked after him. "If thy other commands be no better +obeyed, Humphrey, than this which left Fleetfoot behind, I fear thou +wilt have cause to lose a part of thy self-satisfaction," he said. Then +he drew up the bridge and shut the postern gate. + +Hugo had taken the loss of Fleetfoot so quietly that Humphrey with +still greater confidence now changed the course slightly, and went down +to the river-bank at a point which was half ford and half deep water. +But at this Hugo was not so obedient. + +"What doest thou, Humphrey?" he demanded. "Was not our course marked +out toward Selby? Why wouldst thou cross the river here? We must be +seen once on our road, and that thou knowest, or the king's men will +not pursue us, and perchance Lady De Aldithely and Josceline shall fare +the worse." + +"I go not to Selby," declared Humphrey, stubbornly. "And why shouldst +thou think we have not been seen? The king's men have eyes, and it was +their business to watch the castle." + +Then Hugo sat up very straight in his saddle and looked at Humphrey +full as haughtily as Josceline himself could have done. "Thou art, for +the time, my servant," he said. "And we go to Selby." + +For a moment Humphrey was disconcerted, but he did not relinquish his +own plan. Presently he said: "If we must go to Selby, let us cross the +river here. We can go on the south side of it as well as the north." + +Hugo reflected. Then without a word he directed his horse down the bank +and into the water, which was here swimming deep. Well satisfied, +Humphrey followed. + +"I did not dream of acorns and of eating one of them for nothing," he +said to himself. "I shall be master yet." + +And hardly had the words passed through his mind when _splash_ +went a heavy body into the water behind the two swimming horses. +Fleetfoot had come up with his master. Swiftly Hugo and Humphrey turned +their heads, Hugo with a smile and an encouraging motion of the hand +toward his dog, and Humphrey with a frown. "I would I knew who sent the +hound after us," grumbled the disgusted serving-man to himself when, +the shallow water reached, both riders drew rein for the horses to +drink. + +Once across the Wharfe Humphrey led the way to a heavy thicket, and +dismounting pushed the growth this way and that and so made a passage +for the horses, Fleetfoot, Hugo, and himself. In the middle of the +thick was a little cleared grassy place where, crowded closely +together, all might find room, and here Humphrey announced that they +would take their midday rest and meal. + +Hugo still said nothing, but he looked very determined, as Humphrey +could see. "But I go not to Selby," thought the stubborn serving-man. +"I run not my head into the king's noose so near home." + +It was an early nooning they had taken, for it was barely half-past +twelve when Humphrey broke the silence. He rose, tied each horse +securely, and then turning to Hugo said: "Bid the dog stay here. We +will go and have a look over the country." + +Hugo rose, laid down his bow and arrows, and, bidding the dog watch +them, followed Humphrey out of the thicket. + +The serving-man, who was well acquainted with this part of the country, +now made a little detour into a path which he followed a short distance +till he came out a quarter of a mile away from the thicket into a +grassy glade in the centre of which towered one of those enormous oaks +of which there were many in England at this time. "We will climb up," +said Humphrey, "and have a look." + +Up they went; Hugo nimbly and Humphrey clumsily and slowly, as became +his years and experience, as William Lorimer would have said if he had +seen him. Barely had they reached complete cover, and the rustling they +made had just ceased, when the tramp of two approaching horses was +heard. The sky was now overcast with clouds in spite of the +prognostications of the owls, and the rain began to descend heavily, so +that the two riders sought refuge beneath the tree. Hugo and Humphrey +looked at each other and then down upon the horsemen, who were the two +spies, Walter Skinner and Richard Wood. + +"I had thought to have come up with them ere this," said Walter +Skinner. "They had not more than half an hour the start of me." + +"Have no fear," replied Richard Wood, who was a tall and +determined-looking man. "They have most like gone on to Selby on the +north side of the river. We shall catch them there." + +[Illustration: Humphrey and Hugo in the Oak Tree] + +"Thou saidst there is no one to watch the castle?" inquired Walter +Skinner. + +"Ay, I said it," returned Richard Wood. "Why, who should there be when +Sir Thomas hath taken the other two and gone off to get a troop +together against Robert Sadler's return? There be thirty men-at-arms +within the castle, and all will fight to the death if need be, and none +more fiercely than William Lorimer. So saith Robert Sadler. He giveth +not so brave an account of the warder and the grooms at the drawbridge, +for, saith he, 'The warder is old and slow, and the grooms stupid.' It +was well we fell in with Robert Sadler as he departed on his journey." + +There was a brief silence while the rain still fell heavily, though the +sky showed signs of clearing. Then Walter Skinner in his small cracked +voice laughed aloud. "The troop will be there, and there will be hard +fighting for naught," he said. "For the prize is escaped and we shall +capture it and have the reward." + +"What thinkest thou of Selby?" asked Humphrey, when the two spies had +gone on toward the river. + +"I think thou art right," answered Hugo, frankly. + +Without a word Humphrey climbed still higher in the tree and gazed +after the two till they were hidden from view in the forest. + +"Hast thou been before in this wood?" he inquired, when he and Hugo had +descended and stood upon the ground. + +"Nay," replied Hugo. + +"I thought not. Ask me no questions and I will lead thee through it. I +know it of old." + +Hugo at this looked rather resentful. He had regarded himself as the +important personage on the journey just undertaken, and now it seemed +that the serving-man regarded the important personage as Humphrey. And +the boy thought that because Humphrey had been right in his purpose to +avoid Selby was no reason why he should assume the charge of the +expedition. He did not dispute him, however, but followed the +triumphant serving-man back to the thicket, to the horses, his bow and +arrows, and his dog. + +In a short time they were out of the thicket and mounted; and then +Humphrey condescendingly said to Hugo: "Follow me, and thou shalt see I +will keep out of sight of keepers and rangers. And keep thy hound +beside thee, if thou canst. He is like to make us trouble." + +At this Hugo felt indignant. He was not accustomed to be treated as if +he were a small child. + +They now jogged on in silence a few zigzag miles until Humphrey came to +another thicket, in which he announced they would pass the night. "Had +we kept the open path," he observed, "we might have been further along +on our journey, if, perchance, we had not been entirely stopped by a +ranger or a king's man." + +"The two spies went down the Wharfe toward the Ouse and Selby," +remarked Hugo. + +"Oh, ay," returned Humphrey. "But the king hath many men, and they all +know how to do a mischief for which there is no redress. Hadst thou +been a Saxon as long as I have been, and that is forty years, thou +hadst found it out before this. And now I will make a fire, for the +night is chill, and, moreover, I would have a cake of meal for my +supper." So saying, he set to work with his flint and soon had a fire +in the small open place in the midst of the thicket. + +"Hast thou no fear of the ranger?" asked Hugo. + +"Not I. This thick is well off his track. I would have no fear of him +at any time but for thy dog. Moreover, he is a timid man, and the wood +hath many robbers roving around in it. Could he meet us alone with thy +dog, there would be trouble. But here I fear him not." + +Hugo laid his hand on Fleetfoot's head. "Thou hast no friend in +Humphrey," he said in a low tone as he looked into the dog's eyes. +Then, while Humphrey baked the oatmeal cake in the coals, Hugo gave the +dog as liberal a supper as he could from their scant supply. + +"Be not too free," cautioned Humphrey, as he glanced over his shoulder. +"We have yet many days to journey ere we reach London if we escape the +clutches of the king's men. Could they but look in at the castle now, I +warrant they would laugh louder and longer than they did under the big +oak." + +Hugo glanced around him nervously. + +"Tush, boy! what fearest thou?" said Humphrey. "Here be no listeners. +Thou knowest this is the hour. I tell thee frankly I had rather be with +her ladyship than to lead thee in safety; yea, even though the way lay, +as her way doth lie, through that robber-infested forest of Galtus. +Hast heard how there be lights shown in York to guide those coming into +the town from that wild place?" + +"Yea," answered Hugo, briefly. + +Humphrey sighed. "There will be somewhat to do on that journey," he +said. "A train of sumpter mules carry the clothing, the massy silver +dishes, and the rich hangings; and with them go all the serving-men and +half the men-at-arms." + +"I pray thee, cease thy speech," said Hugo, still more nervously as he +looked about him apprehensively in the semi-darkness of the fire-lit +enclosure. "Thy prating may mar all." + +"Was it for this," demanded Humphrey, "that I did dream of acorns and +of eating one of them, which foretelleth, as all men know, a gradual +rise to riches and honor, that I should be bid to cease prating by a +stranger, and he a mere lad? But I can cease, if it please thee. I had +not come with thee but for her ladyship's commands." And in much +dudgeon he composed himself to sleep. + +As for Hugo, he lay on the grass, his eyes on the glimmering fire, and +his ears alert for any sound. But all was still; and he soon fell to +picturing the scene at the castle,--Lady De Aldithely and Josceline, +mounted for their journey, going out at the postern gate at the head of +the train of sumpter mules and attended by the band of serving-men and +men-at-arms. And with all his heart he hoped for their safety. He did +not wonder at their taking their treasures with them. It was the custom +of the time to do so, and was quite as sensible as leaving them behind +to be stolen. + +The great deerhound blinked his eyes lazily in the firelight and drew, +after a while, the lad's thoughts away from the castle. What should he +do with Fleetfoot? How should he feed him, and with what? And how +should he get him through the town of Ferrybridge near which they now +were, and which they must pass through in the morning, unless Humphrey +would agree to swim the horses across the Aire above the town and so +avoid it? + +And now the wood seemed to awake. Owls insisted to the ears of the +sleeping Humphrey that the morrow would be a fair day. Leaves rustled +in the gentle wind. Far off sounded a wildcat's cry. And with these +sounds in his ears Hugo fell asleep. + + + + +CHAPTER V + + +The fire was plentifully renewed, and Humphrey was preparing breakfast +when, in the morning, Hugo awoke. + +With what seemed to the boy a reckless hand, the serving-man flung +Fleetfoot his breakfast. "He may eat his fill if he will," said +Humphrey, noting Hugo's expression of surprise. "He hath already so +lowered our store that more must be bought." + +"And where?" inquired Hugo. + +"At Ferrybridge," returned Humphrey, complacently, to Hugo's dismay. + +"I had thought best to avoid Ferrybridge," said Hugo. "I would swim the +horses across the Aire above the town." + +Humphrey seemed to ruminate a short time. Then he put on a look of +stupid wisdom. "Let us have breakfast now," he said. + +Hugo looked at him impatiently, and wondered how he could ever have +found such favor with Lady De Aldithely. But in silence he took the +brawn and oat-cake Humphrey gave him. The horses were already feeding, +and, despatching his own breakfast with great celerity, Humphrey soon +had them ready for the day's journey. Still in silence Hugo mounted, +for a glance at the stubborn Humphrey's face told him he might as well +hold his peace. + +Straight toward the river-bank rode Humphrey, while Hugo and Fleetfoot +followed. + +"There!" said Humphrey, when they had reached the river's brink. "Seest +thou that thick across the stream? Swim thy horse and thy dog across, +and bide there in that thick for me. I go to the town to buy supplies. +Last night I did have two dreams. I had but gone to sleep when I +dreamed I was going up a ladder. Knowest thou what that meaneth?" + +"Nay," replied Hugo. "I am not skilled in old woman's lore." + +Humphrey frowned. "Thou mayest call it what thou likest," he said, "but +dreams be dreams; and this one signifieth honor. I waked only long +enough to meditate upon it and fell asleep again, and dreamed I climbed +once more the big oak of yesterday. And that meaneth great preferment. +Canst thou see now how I have no cause to fear king's men? For what +honor could it be to be caught by them? or what preferment to be laid +by the heels in the king's dungeon? And canst thou see how it is meet +for me to go into the town, and for thee and the hound to swim the +river? I warrant thee the king's men, though they fill the streets of +Ferrybridge, will be no match for me with such a dream as that." + +Then Hugo lost his temper. "Thou art a foolish fellow," he said, "and +moreover thou art but my servant. Where is thy prudence of yesterday? I +am of a mind to forbid thee to go into the town. But this I tell thee; +I know this region by report. We be not so many miles from Pontefract +castle. If thou comest not to the thick by noon, Fleetfoot and I +journey on southward, and thou mayest overtake us as thou canst." + +"I know not if I can come by noon," answered Humphrey, more +submissively than he had yet spoken. "Never have I been in Ferrybridge. +I know not what supplies I may find." + +"Take care thou find not the king's men," said Hugo. "At noon Fleetfoot +and I journey on." With that he directed his horse into the water, +Fleetfoot followed, and Humphrey was left on the bank. + +"Ay," he said to himself, rather ruefully, "thou canst play the master +as haughtily as our young lord Josceline himself when it pleaseth thee. +But for all that, last night I did go up a ladder and climb a tree. No +doubt I shall yet prevail." + +Then he galloped off toward the town, where he mingled with the throng +of people quite unnoticed in the number, for, in spite of the interdict +which forbade amusements of all kinds, a tournament was to be held at +Doncaster, and many were on the way to attend it. Since the king +scouted the interdict, many of the people braved it also, and the inns +were already full. Humphrey was riding slowly along with curious eyes +when, in the throng, he caught sight of Walter Skinner, the pompous +little spy, who sat up very straight on his horse, and looked fiercely +around, as if to warn the people of what they might expect if they +unduly jostled him, the king's man. For so he regarded himself, +although he was only the hired spy of Sir Thomas De Lany. + +"A plague upon my dreams!" thought Humphrey, his native common sense +getting the better of his superstition. "I had never ventured my head +in this noose but for them. I must now get it out as I can, but that +will never be done by noon." + +Almost as soon as Humphrey had seen him, Walter Skinner had seen +Humphrey, and had recognized both man and horse as the same he had seen +from the treetop leaving the castle with Hugo the previous day. Not +finding any trace of the two in the neighborhood of Selby, he had come +on to Ferrybridge, while his companion, Richard Wood, had gone south by +the very way Hugo would start out on at noon. He gave no sign of +recognizing Humphrey, however, and Humphrey seemed not to recognize +him. + +Said Walter Skinner to himself, "I will not alarm him, and the sooner +he will lead me to his master." + +While Humphrey thought, "I will not seem to see him, and when I can, I +give him the slip." + +So up and down the narrow streets rode these two, Walter Skinner +looking fiercely upon the innocent throng, and Humphrey apparently +gazing about him with all a countryman's curiosity. Noon came and +Humphrey managed to find a place for himself and horse at an inn. "I +may as well eat and drink," he said, "for what profit is it to be going +up and down these narrow streets? At every turn is this little cock of +a king's man who, though he croweth not with his mouth, doeth so with +his looks. I know not for whom he is seeking. Not for me, or he would +assail me and capture me and put me to the torture to tell him where +Hugo is, for he thinketh Hugo is Josceline, which he is not, but a +stranger, and a headstrong one. There is nothing in dreaming of going +up a ladder or climbing a tree, if I get not the better of him." And so +he betook him to his dinner. + +The little spy followed him, and the innkeeper was obliged to make +room for him also, which, when Humphrey saw, he changed his opinion as +to whom the spy was in search of. "He thinketh," said Humphrey to +himself, with sudden enlightenment, "to follow me quietly and so find +Hugo." + +Humphrey was ever a gross eater, and Walter Skinner watched him with +great impatience and dissatisfaction. For Humphrey ate as if no anxiety +preyed upon his mind, but as if his whole concern was to make away with +all placed before him. + +[Illustration: The Little Spy and Humphrey] + +"It may be," reflected Walter Skinner, "that he hath bestowed his +master, as he thinketh in safety, in a neighboring abbey or priory. +From whence my master will not be long in haling him out. For what +careth the king for abbots or priors? And so let him leave off this +partridge dance he hath been leading me about the streets." And he +scowled upon the apparently unconscious serving-man. + +"Ay, let him scowl," thought Humphrey, with his mouth full of savory +viands that filled him with satisfaction. "He may do more scowling ere +evening if he like. I did go up a ladder and climb a tree last night." + +His dinner over, Humphrey went out to the stables, whither Walter +Skinner followed him as if to look after the welfare of his own horse, +thus confirming Humphrey's suspicion that he had recognized him. And +the serving-man at once put on an air of self-confidence and pride in +his own wisdom which effectually concealed his anxiety from the +watching Walter Skinner. He entered into conversation with the grooms, +and let fall, in a loud voice, such a weight of opinions as must have +crushed any intelligent mind to consider. And there about the stables +he stayed; for the grooms took to him, and evidently regarded him as +some new Solomon. + +The impatient Walter Skinner listened as long as he could, but seeing, +at last, that Humphrey's wisdom was from an unfailing supply, he went +back to the inn, after beckoning one of the grooms to him and giving +him a piece of money, in return for which, as he pompously instructed +him, he was to keep an eye on Humphrey, and on no account to allow him +to escape him; at the same time he threw out hints about the king and +his wrath if such a thing should happen. + +The groom, who was himself a Saxon, and who hated all king's men, +listened respectfully, took the coin, said that he had but two eyes, +but he would use them to see all that went on before him, and returned +to the stables, where he at once told Humphrey what had passed. "I have +a hatred to the king and his men," declared the groom. + +"And what Saxon hath not?" asked Humphrey. "I have lived forty years, +and in all that time the Normans grow worse, and this John is worst of +all." + +"Perchance thy master is oppressed by him," ventured the groom. + +"Perchance he is, and his lady and his son likewise," returned +Humphrey. + +The groom looked at him. "I ask thee to reveal nothing," he said +significantly. "I have but two eyes, and I must use them, as I said, to +see, all that goeth on before me. Do thou but ask Eric there to show +thee the way out of the town before the curfew ring. He hateth king's +men worse even than I. My master will summon me to the house shortly, +according to his custom. That will be the time for thee, for I can in +no wise see what goeth on behind my back, nor did I promise to do so." + +At once Humphrey betook himself to Eric, explained matters so far as he +dared, and received the groom's ready promise to guide him out of the +town, which he did within an hour, while Walter Skinner sat impatiently +waiting for him to reenter the inn from the stables. Eric did more for +him also; for he provided him with provender for the horses and +abundant provisions for himself, Hugo, and the dog, receiving therefor +a good price which he promised to transmit to his master. + +"And now," said Humphrey to himself, when he was well quit of the town, +"if the time cometh when Saxon as well as Norman hath preferment, my +device shall be a ladder and a tree. And may the king's man have a good +supper at Ferrybridge and be long in the eating of it." + +Straight to the thicket rode Humphrey at a good pace, but he found no +Hugo there. "Here is a snarl to be undone!" he cried. "The lad is too +headstrong. Perchance he hath already run into the noose of the other +king's man. For who knoweth where he is? And I shall be held to answer +for it. This cometh of a man being servant to a boy and a stranger at +that. I will away after him." So saying, he rode to the south, giving +all habitations of men and walks of forest rangers a wide berth, and +hoping sincerely that Hugo before him had done the same. "For the lad," +said he, "is in the main a good lad. And how can I face my lady if harm +cometh to him? It is no blame to him that he hath not a knack at dreams +to help him on his way." + +At the last word his horse shied; for out of the undergrowth at the +side of the little glade through which he was riding fluttered a +partridge, while, after it, floundering through the bushes with a great +noise, came Fleetfoot. In vain Humphrey tried to call the dog from his +prey. In a twinkling the unhappy bird was in the hound's mouth and +Fleetfoot was off again to the thicket to supplement his scant dinner +with a bird of his own catching. + +"Here be troubles enough!" cried Humphrey. "King's men on our track, +and now partridge feathers to set the keepers and rangers after us. +Well, I will push through this underbrush to the right. Perchance Hugo +rideth in the bridle-path beyond, since it was from that part the dog +came. And he shall put the hound in leash. I am resolved on it. I have +no mind to have hand or foot lopped off that so a deerhound may have +his fill of partridges." + +With a frown he pushed through the underbrush. The sun was setting when +he emerged into a path and, at a little distance, caught sight of Hugo +jogging slowly along and looking warily about him. He dared not signal +him by a whistle, so, putting spurs to his loaded horse, he advanced as +fast as he was able, and shortly after came up with the lad, his anger +at Fleetfoot's trespass rather increased than abated, and, in +consequence, with his manner peremptory. + +"Into the thick here to the right," he growled, laying his hand on the +bridle of Hugo's horse. "The sun is now set, and we go no farther +to-night. In this stretch robbers abound, and I have no mind to face +three dangers when two be enough." + +Hugo looked at him inquiringly. + +"Yea, by St. Swithin!" went on the angry serving-man. "King's men and +partridge feathers be enough without robbers." And giving Hugo's horse, +which he had now headed toward the thicket, a slight cut on the flank +with his whip, he drove Hugo before him, much to the boy's indignation. +"Thou hast been drinking!" he cried, turning in his saddle. "Strike not +my horse again." + +They were barely screened from sight when Humphrey, his head turned +over his shoulder, held up his hand warningly. A horse was coming on +the gallop. A second elapsed, and then Walter Skinner went by. He had +discovered Humphrey's flight a half-hour after Eric had led him out of +the city, but the grooms had successfully delayed him half an hour +longer. Then he had started in pursuit, and had gone thundering along +at such a pace that he could hear nothing nor see anything that was not +in full view. This new sight of danger at once pacified both Hugo and +Humphrey. The boy forgot what he had been pleased to regard as the +insubordination of his servant, and Humphrey forgot the anger he had +felt against Fleetfoot and his master. + +As soon as they dared, they pushed cautiously farther into the thicket, +and presently Humphrey dismounted and tied his horse. Here was no +grassy spot within enclosing underbrush where comfort might be found. +There was such a place not far off, but Humphrey would not go to it. +With his knife he set to work clearing a place large enough for the +tied horses to lie down in. Cutting every stick into the very ground, +he laid the cut brush in an orderly heap, and thus made a bed for +himself and Hugo. Then without a word he went out on foot and down to +the bank of the Went, peeled a willow, and came back with a long strip +of its bark. "Thou wilt tie this to the collar of thy dog," he said. +"He hath been trespassing, and hath taken a partridge. Should the keeper +discover it and us, thy hand or foot, or mine, must pay for it." + +"How knowest thou that Fleetfoot did take a partridge?" asked Hugo, +with disbelief in his tone. + +"I did see him," replied Humphrey. "And noting whence he came, I did +find thee, and none too soon." + +There was a short silence. Then Hugo said: "A partridge is not much; +and, as thou sayest, if thou hadst not seen Fleetfoot, thou hadst not +found me in time; and so the spy would now have me in custody. +Therefore Fleetfoot should not have too much blame." + +"Ay," grumbled Humphrey. "Thou art ready with thy excuses for thy dog." + +"He is all I have, Humphrey," returned Hugo, quietly. "But I promise +thee he shall be put in leash on the morrow if he cometh." And he +listened anxiously for some sound of his dog's approach. But he heard +none. + +And now Humphrey's good-nature was quite restored, so that he said: +"Think no more of the hound to-night. He hath begun on a partridge. May +he not end on a deer; and, if he doth, may the keeper set its loss down +to these prowling robber bands. It is well with us thus far." + +By this time the horses were fed and supper was over, all having been +accomplished in darkness, and Humphrey lay down to sleep. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +The part of Yorkshire which they had been traversing abounded in +rivers. The Wharfe and the Aire, the first of which joins the Ouse +eight miles south, and the second eighteen miles southeast of York, +they had already crossed. They were now near the Went, and here, as +Hugo discovered the next morning, it was Humphrey's decision to stay a +day or two. + +"I go no further without a dream," he declared. "Last night I slept too +sound to have one. And moreover I wish not to fall in with these +galloping king's men. Let them ride up and down till they think us +securely hid away in some religious house, since they find us not in +the wood. So shall we go the safer on our way to Doncaster." + +Hugo had thought much the evening before, and he had resolved to +dispute Humphrey in future no more than was necessary. For he now saw +that, though he was but a serving-man, Humphrey knew more of Yorkshire +woods than his master. He therefore made no objection when Humphrey +announced his decision, much to the serving-man's surprise, for he had +expected opposition. Finding none, he enlarged his air of importance, +and bade Hugo stay where he was while he took the horses down to the +stream for water. + +Hugo, putting a strong restraint on himself, obeyed, and was rewarded +on the serving-man's return with the promise that, as soon as the dog +came in and was tied, he might venture forth with Humphrey to explore +the region. + +"Thou must know," remarked Humphrey, "that we be on the high bank. On +the other side of the valley sloping coppices abound, and therein can I +show thee many badger holes. Hast ever seen a badger hunt?" + +"Nay," answered Hugo. + +"I was but twenty years old," continued Humphrey, "when first I came +through these woods, and on the bank across the valley from this point +I did see a badger hunt. Three men and two dogs did I see, and they +five did at length dig out one badger. The old badger was inside the +hole taking his sleep, for it was ten o'clock in the morning. And a +badger not only sleepeth all day in summer, but day and night in +winter. Thou knowest that?" + +"Yea," replied Hugo. And added that at his uncle's priory he had +occasionally eaten badger meat, which was very good. + +"Cured like ham, was it?" inquired Humphrey. + +"Yea," responded Hugo. + +Humphrey nodded his head approvingly. "A priest," he said, "for knowing +and having good eating." + +The two sat silent a few moments waiting for Fleetfoot, who did not +come, and then Humphrey continued: "The badger hath a thick skin. He +goeth into a wasp's nest or a bees' nest, and the whole swarm may sting +him and he feeleth it not." + +"What doth the badger in wasps' nests and bees' nests?" inquired Hugo. + +"Why, he will eat up their grubs. The eggs make footless grubs, and +these the badger eateth. My grandsire went a journey through this wood +once on a moonlight night. He rode slowly along, and at a certain place +was a bees' nest beside the path, and there, full in the moonlight, was +a badger rooting out the nest. Out swarmed the bees, and several did +sting the horse of my grandsire at the moment when he had taken good +aim at the badger with his stick. The horse bolted, and my grandsire +found himself lying in the path with his neck all but broken, and the +bees taking vengeance on him for the trespass of the badger. He hath +had no liking to bees or badgers since that day." + +"He still liveth, then?" asked Hugo. + +"Ay," returned Humphrey, much pleased at the question. "Hale and hearty +he is, and ninety-six years of age." + +By common consent both now paused to listen for Fleetfoot. Hearing +nothing Humphrey continued, "Didst ever see a tame badger?" + +"Nay," was the reply. + +"A badger becometh as tame as a dog, if he be taken young. Report hath +it that there is great sport in London at the public houses baiting the +badger. I know not how it may be." + +And now Fleetfoot came. Not joyfully, but slinking, for he knew he had +been doing wrong. Three partridges, a fox, and a badger he had slain +since Humphrey had seen him, and he wore a guilty look. + +"Thou wilt do no more than tie him with the willow thong," observed +Humphrey, eyeing Fleetfoot with disfavor. "Were he mine, I should beat +him. The king maketh nothing of lopping off a man's hand or foot for +such a trespass, or even putting out of his eyes. And should the +keepers discover what he hath done, it were all the same as if we had +done it." + +"Nay, Humphrey," said Hugo, smoothing the dog's head. "Perchance he +hath taken no more than the partridge thou sawest." + +For answer Humphrey struck lightly the dog's rounded-out side. "Tell me +not," he said, "that one partridge hath such a filling power. Else +would I feed only on partridges. Moreover, he is a knowing dog, and see +how he slinketh. He would not be that cast down for one partridge, I +warrant thee." + +"It may be thou art right," replied Hugo, as he tied up Fleetfoot. + +"Yea, that I may be," returned Humphrey, importantly. "A man that hath +dreams of going up a ladder and climbing a tree in the same night is +most likely to be right when it cometh to measuring up the trespasses +of a straying deerhound. For why should a man be advanced to preferment +and honor except that he hath merit? And to dream of going up a ladder +and climbing a tree is sure warrant that he hath it. And now fare we +forth to see this Brockadale." + +Hugo having finished tying Fleetfoot securely with a tether so short +that he could not gnaw through it, followed Humphrey, and the dog +attempted to follow Hugo, much to Humphrey's satisfaction. "Ay, thou +wouldst follow, wouldst thou?" he said. "Bide where thou art with the +horses, and think on thy evil deeds." Then turning to the boy he added, +"If thou wilt not beat him, Hugo, my chiding may do him some good." + +It was a most beautiful little valley that the boy saw when he stood on +the edge of a hill on its northern side and gazed down into it, while +Humphrey stood by pointing out its features with the air of a +proprietor. Green and lovely it stretched away to the southeast some +two miles, as Humphrey told him. Through it flowed the Went, bending +and turning, its banks lined with osiers and willows. Wooded hills were +the northern, and sloping coppices the southern boundary of the vale. + +The two had not ventured out into the open. They were still in the +shelter of the trees. "The Normans rule, and honest men must skulk and +hide," observed Humphrey, with some bitterness. + +"Lord De Aldithely is a Norman," remarked Hugo. "So also am I." + +"Ay," rejoined Humphrey, "but all Normans are not alike bad. Thou art +not the king, moreover, nor is my lord, who is an honest man and +standeth bravely by the people, and is opposed to murder and robbery. +Therefore is he fled, and therefore is our young lord Josceline in +danger, and therefore are we skulking and hiding and leading the king's +men this chase. The times be evil; and who knoweth what shall amend +them?" + +Hugo did not reply. His eye had caught sight of the flash of sunlight +on steel down the valley, and he pointed it out to Humphrey. + +"Up! up!" cried Humphrey. "Up into yon spreading oak at the edge of the +vale. There shall we be concealed, and yet see all." + +"They come from toward Doncaster, do they not?" asked Hugo when they +were safely out of sight among the branches. + +"Ay," answered Humphrey. "Nor was it for naught that I did sleep too +sound to dream last night, else might we have been on the way to +Doncaster, and so, perchance, have met them." + +The party drew nearer, and soon the keen eyes of Humphrey and Hugo +resolved them into three men-at-arms led by Walter Skinner. + +"Three soldiers and a king's man to take a boy and a man!" laughed +Humphrey. "It must be that they have a good opinion of our bravery." + +"Or of thy cunning," said Hugo, to whom Humphrey had a short while +before revealed all that had befallen him in Ferrybridge. + +"Oh, ay," answered Humphrey, complacently. "I have my share, no doubt. +A man doth not live forty years with treachery on all sides of him and +learn nothing. My head had been off my shoulders ere this, had not +some measure of cunning done its part to keep it on. They will beat up +the whole forest hereabout for us, I doubt not. If I get a good dream +to-night, we go on to-morrow." + +Hugo smiled. He thought it strange that a man so sensible, in many +respects, as Humphrey should pin such faith to dreams. So he said +teasingly: "How if thou get not the dream to-night, nor yet to-morrow +night? Do we bide here until the dream come, if that be next +Michaelmas?" + +The serving-man seemed puzzled. Then he answered: "Nay, to be sure. +Then would the summer be done; and, moreover, I never went so long +without the right dream in my life." + +Nearer and nearer drew the horsemen until, in the vale just opposite +and below Hugo and Humphrey, they dismounted. "Here do we stop," said +Walter Skinner. "I warrant you they be hereabouts, else have the fat +priests lied when they denied they were in abbey and priory." + +"Ay," answered one of the men-at-arms. "They be hereabouts, no doubt, +if they be not farther to the east, when thy fellow will catch them if +we miss them. I marvel thou hast not come up with them before now. Thou +sayest this is the third day of their flight?" + +This seeming to reflect on the ability of the pompous little Walter +Skinner, he frowned. And drawing himself up importantly he said, "The +young lord hath to his servant a Saxon who knoweth well these parts." + +"Some deer-stealer, without doubt," observed the man-at-arms. + +"And he goeth not straight forward," continued Walter Skinner, "else +had I met him. But he creepeth here, and hideth there, and goeth in +retired paths." + +"And all to balk thee!" said the big man-at-arms, regarding with scarce +concealed contempt the little strutting spy. + +There was that in the manner of the man-at-arms that nettled Walter +Skinner, so that he became more pompous than before and, resolved to +show the soldier how high he stood in the king's counsel, he said +haughtily: "Why, it were best he balk me, if he knew what will come to +his young master when I find him. King John, as thou knowest, hath a +special hatred toward his father, Lord De Aldithely." + +"De Aldithely, sayest thou?" interrupted the man-at-arms. + +"Ay, and he is resolved the son shall not live, no more than his own +nephew Arthur." + +"And he will put him to death?" asked the man-at-arms. + +"Why, not speedily," answered Walter Skinner, importantly, "but cat and +mouse fashion, by which he will be the longer dying, and his father the +more tormented. He will speedily give orders also to raze his castle as +a nest of traitors." + +"Whence hadst thou this?" demanded the man-at-arms. + +Walter Skinner stood off and looked at him. Then, with an air of great +mystery, he said: "It is whispered about. I may not say more. It +becometh me not." + +The man-at-arms now rose from the ground where he had thrown himself +and mounted his horse. "I seek not the young lord," he said. "I betray +no mouse to the cat, least of all the son of the brave De Aldithely. I +will back to my own master from whom thou didst borrow me. I will say +thou needest me not and hast bid me return. When thou art tired of thy +life, say thou otherwise." And he looked meaningly at him. + +"I go with thee," said the second man-at-arms, springing from the +ground. + +"And I also!" exclaimed the third. + +In vain Walter Skinner tried to restrain them. They clattered off down +the valley whence they had come, and were soon out of sight on their +way to Doncaster. + +The sound carried well here; the voices of the men were loud; and Hugo +and Humphrey, whose ears were keen, heard with consternation all that +passed. "I fear it meaneth death to thee also if thou be caught," said +Humphrey. "For it is a serious thing to dupe a man of the king's rage. +This calleth for dreams, and that right speedily, if we are not to fall +into his hands." + +The disappointed Walter Skinner made no attempt to depart. "Here will I +stay a while," he said, "and berate the folly that did tell them the +purpose of the king and the name of the young lord. I did think to +raise myself in authority over them by showing that I did know the +king's counsel, and, in so doing, I did forget that for murdering of +Arthur all men hate him, and few will help him to his will upon +others." Moodily he threw himself upon the grass, having staked his +horse, and soon left off berating himself by falling into a sound +sleep. The sun reached the meridian, and he still slept. It came to be +mid-afternoon and still he moved not, for he had ridden hard and had +been deprived of his rest the night before. His tethered horse at last +whinnied softly and then loudly. And, to the dismay of Hugo and +Humphrey, he was answered by their own horses in the thicket. But still +the king's man moved not. + +"Would that I knew certainly that he sleepeth," said Humphrey, +anxiously. "For then we might come down and escape." + +"Nay, nay," objected Hugo, earnestly. "Seest thou not how a little +sound goeth far here? The rustling of the leaves and rattling of the +boughs as we descend might awake him." + +Humphrey looked at him. "Ay, poor mouse!" he said. "Mayhap thou art +right." + +And now Walter Skinner stirred in his slumber. Once more his horse +whinnied loudly. Once more the horses in the thicket answered; and the +spy, broad awake, sprang to his feet. "Aha, Fortune!" he cried, "thou +art with me." + +"Nevertheless," observed Humphrey, softly, "if thou hast not dreamed of +going up a ladder and climbing a tree, all may not go so well with thee +as thou thinkest." + +Leaving his horse, the spy climbed the wooded hill, at the top of which +he paused just under the oak in which Hugo and Humphrey were concealed. +The horses whinnied no more, though he waited a few moments hoping to +hear them. "I will on," he cried impatiently. "'Twas from this +direction the answer came." And away he hurried on foot, for he +imagined that those he sought were hidden near at hand, and waiting for +the night to come ere they resumed their journey. He knew that he alone +could not capture them, but if he could get on their trail and dog them +unseen till he could get help he would be sure of them. + +As soon as the spy was out of sight Humphrey began to descend the tree. + +"Whither goest thou?" asked Hugo. + +"Thou shalt see," returned Humphrey. + +With speed he ran down the hill, breaking a switch of birch as he ran. +He hastened to Walter Skinner's horse, cut him loose from his tether, +and struck him sharply with the birch rod. Away galloped the horse down +the valley, while Humphrey hastened back to his place in the tree. +"Fortune may be with him," he said to Hugo, "but his horse is not. +Mayhap I need not another dream, for, by the one I had, I think we have +got the better of him. Moreover, there will be no more whinnying for +our horses to answer." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +Till the set of sun and the dusk of the evening the spy pursued the +search, now stumbling over a tree root, now catching his foot in a +straggling vine, and every now and then sorely struck in the face by +the underbrush through which he pushed his way. But, although he was +once very near the concealed horses and hound, he found nothing to +reward him. The return to the little vale was even more tiresome than +the journey from it had been. No moon would shine for an hour, and it +was quite dark when he once more reached the oak in which Hugo and +Humphrey had stayed all day, but from which they had a few moments +before descended. + +In climbing the tree, after setting Walter Skinner's horse loose, +Humphrey had noticed a hollow in one of the lower branches. +"Perchance," he said, "a hedgehog may lodge therein. Knowest thou the +ways of hedgehogs?" + +"Nay," returned Hugo, indifferently. + +"The lad hath lost heart," said Humphrey to himself, "and all because +of the words of this little snipe of a king's man and the slowness of +the journey. I will not seem to see it." Then he continued as if Hugo +had displayed the greatest interest: "I will tell thee, then, that +hedgehogs have many ways. I warrant thee this king's man knoweth naught +of them, any more than he knoweth the wood. Had he been some men, we +had been caught ere now. I fear him not overmuch. For do but see how he +is puffed up with undue pride and importance. And let me tell thee that +undue pride and importance and good sense dwell not in the same skull. +We shall therefore have the better of him." + +Hugo made no reply, and Humphrey continued cheerfully: "A hedgehog will +find a hollow in a tree, and there he will bide, sleeping all day. At +night he will come forth. But first he must reach the ground. And this +he will do by rolling into a ball and dropping on the ends of his +spines. If the ground is beneath him, no harm is done. If this king's +man should be beneath him, I think not that he would cry out that +Fortune was with him when the spines of the hedgehog stuck into him." + +"And how would the king's man be beneath him?" asked Hugo, dully. + +"If the hedgehog be in the hollow of that low branch," answered +Humphrey, "and if the king's man should stand under at such time as the +hedgehog was ready to drop, then he would be beneath him." + +"Yea," observed Hugo. "Many things might come to pass, if thou couldst +make all the plans." + +Humphrey did not hear the sarcasm in Hugo's tones. He heard only what +he was pleased to take as a compliment to his own abilities. "Why, I +believe thou art right," he answered. "Were I to make the plans, some +that are now at the top would be at the bottom. Thou hast well said. +But come. It grows dark. Let us go down ere the king's man come back on +his way to the vale." + +Slowly they made their way down. "This perching on trees all day is fit +to make an old man of a boy," said Humphrey, as he stepped clumsily +about on his half-numbed feet. + +"Sh!" said Hugo. + +Humphrey instantly stood still in the darkness and listened. Weary and +slow steps were approaching. They came nearer, and directly under the +oak they ceased, for the spy, his pompous manner quite gone, had +stopped to rest a little. And now a rustling in the branches above was +heard. Eagerly the spy looked up and strained his eyes to see. +"Josceline! son of Lord De Aldithely!" he called, "I arrest thee in the +king's name. Thou darest not oppose me. Yield thyself, and come down!" + +And just then the hedgehog which Humphrey had surmised might be in the +hollow, moved a little farther along on the branch, rustling the leaves +as he did so. In the darkness the face of the spy was still turned +upward. He had forgotten that he was alone and unaided. And he thought +only of getting hold of the boy he sought. + +"Come down!" he repeated. "Come down, I say! Make no dallying!" + +And then the hedgehog rolled himself into a ball and came down plump +into the face of Walter Skinner. + +"Ugh! what have we here?" sputtered the spy, starting back. + +Hugo and Humphrey did not wait for him to discover, but stepping softly +away they went to the thicket, where the hungry animals gave them a +warm welcome, and where they thoroughly enjoyed the first meal they had +had since morning. Their supper eaten, Humphrey untied horses and +hound, to lead them to water. + +"Thou wilt be caught," objected Hugo, nervously. + +"Not I," returned Humphrey, easily. "I fear not the spy to-night. If he +heareth aught, he will think another hedgehog about to drop upon him. +Come thou with me and see." + +Hugo obediently rose from the couch of boughs where he had thrown +himself, and took the thong of willow from Humphrey's hand to lead +Fleetfoot. The serving-man was right. So far as Walter Skinner was +concerned they had no more to fear that night. His face was lacerated; +and by the time Hugo and Humphrey started from the thicket he had +discovered the loss of his horse. It had been better for him if his +drinking-horn, from which he now took copious draughts, had been lost +also. + +"The kind of fortune that is with him, I should not wish to be with +me," observed Humphrey, when they had returned safely to the thicket. +"I will now to sleep and see what sort of a dream cometh." + +Much cheered in spirit, Hugo also lay down to sleep. His courage came +back, and he felt that let the journey take as long as it would he was +equal to it. + +The moon had now risen, and by its light Richard Wood, the other spy, +and his borrowed men-at-arms came riding through one of the glades of +the forest southward to the vale. Richard Wood had not the overweening +vanity of Walter Skinner; he had not taken his borrowed men-at-arms +into his confidence concerning the king's plans in order to make it +appear that he stood high in counsel; neither had he revealed the name +of the lad they sought. The men-at-arms had, therefore, all three +remained with him, and were as eager as he on the chase. They were +pushing on now to the vale to camp for the night, because they could +find there both grass and water. And, in the same spot where Walter +Skinner had slept before, they came upon a figure reclining in full +sight in the moonlight. + +"There lieth one of them," said a man-at-arms, "but I see not the +other." + +"Thou mayest be sure the other is not far off," observed the second. + +"Thou shalt see how quickly I will awake him out of sleep," cried the +third, as he spurred his horse toward him and pricked him sharply with +the point of his lance. + +"Ugh!" grunted the half-drunken Walter Skinner. "But I have had enough +of hedgehogs for one night." And he sat up sleepily. + +"And is it thou, Walter Skinner?" exclaimed Richard Wood. + +"Why, who should it be?" answered Walter Skinner, peevishly. + +"Thou art a brave pursuer!" said Richard Wood. "Where be thy men-at-arms? +and where is thy horse?" + +"My men-at-arms are returned to their master," replied Walter Skinner, +while those of Richard Wood drew near to learn the whereabouts of their +companions. "As for my horse, I wot not what is become of him." + +"And wherefore did thy men-at-arms play thee false?" demanded Richard +Wood. + +"Softly!" replied Walter Skinner, his small, cracked voice more cracked +than usual. "Ask me not so many questions if thou wouldst not see me +dead before thee." + +Richard Wood regarded him sternly. "Thou must be moonstruck," he said +at length. "When ever heard any one of a man dying of the questions +asked of him?" + +"Thou mistakest my meaning," returned Walter Skinner, a trace of his +pomposity returning. "Thou askest me questions. If I answer thee false, +I lie. If I answer thee true, I die. And truly, death were not much +worse than this lacerated face of mine." + +"Why, how now!" demanded Richard Wood. "How camest thy face lacerated?" + +"One Master Hedgehog of this forest hath paid me his attentions too +closely." + +For a moment Richard Wood was silent. Then he said: "Answer me truly. It +behooveth me to know the truth in this matter. Why did thy men-at-arms +leave thee?" + +"I did but let fall the king's purpose toward the young lord, and name +his father, De Aldithely, and they fell off from me as I had been +myself a murderer. Bade me uphold their lying speech that I had no need +of their services on pain of death, and so left me." + +And now one of the men-at-arms spoke. "We be not knaves," he said. "We +had not thought to lead the youth to death, but to honorable captivity +for a brief while. Nor did we know the lad ye seek was son to De +Aldithely. Wherefore we also leave ye, and if ye say why, your lives +shall answer for it. We have no mind to be marks for the king's +vengeance. He that would crush the Archdeacon of Norwich with a cope of +lead will have no mercy on a man-at-arms that thwarted him. Wherefore, +say why we left ye, if ye think best." And, riding a little way off, +all three encamped by themselves for the night. + +"It seemeth that the best way to earn hatred and contempt is to serve +this King John," remarked Richard Wood, thoughtfully. + +"Ay, and the attention of hedgehogs also," returned Walter Skinner, +thickly. "And the loss of horse and food, and the loss of the quarry +also, if we strike not the trail again. And though we have not the +service of the men-at-arms, be sure we shall pay for it as if we had it +to their master. I would I had a troop of mercenaries to rent out. It +were easier than such scouring of the country as this. Moreover we do +exceed our office. The king said not to me, 'Walter Skinner, scour the +country.' Nay, the king said naught to me on the matter. 'Twas his +favorite, Sir Thomas De Lany, that bade me watch the castle from the +tree; and there might I be now in comfort, if this hare-brained youth +had not run away. He should have stayed at the castle till the coming +of Robert Sadler and the troop. My face had not been thus lacerated had +the youth known his duty and done it." + +"Why, how makest thou all this?" demanded Richard Wood, contemptuously. +"The king careth not whose hand delivereth the youth, so that he be +delivered. That we have not already caught him is the fault of thyself +alone. Hadst thou but held thy tongue, we had had with us to-night six +men-at-arms, and had, erelong, run down the game. In the morning I go +to Hubert le Falconer and hire from him six more--three for thee, and +three for me. Then do thou be silent as to the king's purpose, and this +mischief of thy making may be repaired. Thou mayest look as if thou +wert bursting with wisdom, if it please thee, but see that thou give no +enlightening word to thy followers." + +"Ay, thou mayest lay the burden of all mishaps on me," returned Walter +Skinner, pettishly. "But I promise not that I will speak no word, if it +seemeth to me best to speak. It is not every one in the king's employ. +Not every one is out scouring the country for a lord's son. And if one +may not speak of his honors, why hath he them?" + +"Honors!" exclaimed Richard Wood, with contempt. "There be few would +call such work as thine an honor. To skulk, to spy, to trap another to +his destruction, why, that is what most call knaves' work, and he who +doth it is despised. Yea, even though he do it for a king." + +"Thy loss doth set but sourly on thy stomach, Richard Wood," said +Walter Skinner, stubbornly. "It is an honor to serve the king. Ay, even +though he be a bad one like this. And, I say, if one is not to speak of +honors, why hath he them?" + +"For other people to see, varlet. What others _see_ of thy +_honors_, as thou callest them, they can mayhap endure. But when +thou pratest of thy honors, thou dost but enrage them. Wilt thou give +me thy word to be silent?" + +"Nay, that will I not," retorted Walter Skinner. "I be as good a man as +thou, and not a bear in leading. When I will to speak, I speak; whether +it be of the king's matters or my own." + +"Thou hast said," returned Richard Wood, rising. "In the morning I hire +three men-at-arms from Hubert le Falconer for myself. Pursue thou the +chase as seemeth thee best. We hunt no more in company." + +With the first morning light the men-at-arms mounted their horses +and rode toward Doncaster, Richard Wood rode north to seek his needed +men-at-arms from Hubert le Falconer, and only Walter Skinner was left +horseless and breakfastless in the vale. He had no mind to remain +there in that condition, and so betook himself to the nearest priory, +confident that, in the king's name, he could there procure both food +and a horse, and perhaps a leech to ease his wounded face. + +Hugo and Humphrey were also early astir, the serving-man performing his +morning tasks with such a particularly cheerful air that Hugo smiled +and inquired, "Hadst thou a dream last night?" + +"Ay," answered Humphrey, in triumph. "I say not with that little spy, +'Aha, Fortune! thou art with me,' and then go out to meet a hedgehog. +But this I say, that I did dream of bees and of following them, which +betokeneth gain or profit. And therefore go we not toward Doncaster." + +"Why not toward Doncaster down this Brockadale?" asked Hugo. + +"The vale is well enough," replied Humphrey, "but it extendeth only two +miles after all. We must make haste to-day. I do remember that two +spies did pursue us at the beginning. It may be that the other hath +neither lost his horse nor met a hedgehog to discourage him. And, +moreover, what is to hinder him from having three men-at-arms to his +help like his fellow? Nay, Hugo, we go not through the vale, but make +we what haste we may through short cuts and little used paths." + +"And whither do we go?" asked Hugo. + +"I will tell thee that we seek the marshy Isle of Axholme to the east +of the river Don. There will be room therein for us to hide away, and +there no king's men will look for us moreover." + +"Why?" asked Hugo. + +"Why, lad?" repeated Humphrey. "Why, because they will not. Will a +king's man trust himself in such a boggy place? Nay. Moreover, I fell +in with this one that hath so lately followed us at Ferrybridge, which +is a sure sign that we should meet the other at Doncaster." + +"But--" began Hugo. + +"I tell thee," interrupted Humphrey, "I did dream of bees and of +following them. We go straight to this Isle of Axholme. Vex me no +more." + +Hugo opened his mouth to remonstrate still further, but, happening to +remember his determination not to oppose Humphrey except through +necessity, he closed it again. Seeing which, Humphrey regarded him +approvingly, and even went to the length of expressing his approbation +in words. + +"Thou art learning to keep thyself under," he said. "Thou hast but just +opened thy mouth to speak and shut it again with thy words unsaid. When +one hath no knack at dreams to help him on, the best thing for him is +the power to shut his mouth. An open mouth maketh naught but trouble. +Thou didst wish to see more of the vale, and so thou shalt. Thou shalt +see so much of it as thou canst while the horses and hound drink their +fill before starting." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +The Isle of Axholme, to which Humphrey was determined to go, was a +marshy tract of ground in the northwest part of what is now +Lincolnshire, and its eastern boundary was the Trent River. It was some +eighteen miles long from north to south, and some five miles wide from +east to west. On its north side was the wide mouth of the Ouse; the +river Idle was south of it, and west of it was the Don. In the time of +the Romans there had been a forest here which they had cut down, and +the low, level land afterward became a marsh. At this time few trees +were to be found there. But there were thickets of underbrush and +patches of rank grass, as well as pools and boggy places; and Humphrey +was right in thinking the place comparatively safe from pursuit. +Especially so as the pursuers would naturally think that the young lord +Josceline would push on as rapidly as possible, that he might get +across to France to join his father. + +"I go no more where the crowd goeth," declared Humphrey, when they were +on their way. "How many, thinkest thou, of all that be abroad in these +parts pass through Doncaster? Why, near all. We need not to show +ourselves further to draw pursuit. This is now the fourth day since we +set out, and my lady and Josceline must be well along in their journey. +I would I knew the doings of William Lorimer at the castle. He is a +brave man and a true, though he would never tell me his plans that he +might take my counsel. He ever made naught of dreams and spake lightly +of omens. I hope he may not fare the worse for it." + +Hugo made no reply. He, too, was wondering about how things were going +at the castle, but he kept his thoughts to himself. + +"Now I will tell thee," said Humphrey, pausing and turning in his +saddle, "when thou seest me draw rein and hold up my hand, do thou stop +instantly. There be many robbers in this wood, and we have them to fear +as well as king's men. And hold Fleetfoot fast. Let him not escape +thee." + +Hugo promised to obey in these particulars, and Humphrey, for a short +distance, put his horse to the trot with Hugo following close behind +him. All that day they turned and wound through the forest, going fast +where they dared, and at other times creeping silently along. To Hugo +it seemed they must be lost; but, when darkness fell, they had reached +the edge of the Isle of Axholme, and, putting the horses through the +Don, were safe in its marshy wastes. + +"Here be no keepers and rangers," said Humphrey, exultingly. "And here +may we kill and eat what we choose, while Fleetfoot may hunt for +himself. We stir not till the moon rise, and then we seek a place to +sleep," he concluded, patting the wet coat of the horse he rode. + +Hugo said nothing. He did not know it, but he was nervous. All day he +had been on the alert, and now to stay perfectly still in this strange, +silent place, not daring to stir in the darkness lest he splash into +some pool, or mire in a bog; with his eyes attempting to see, when it +was too dark to see anything but the glow-worms in the grass and the +will-o'-the-wisp, was an added strain. + +Two hours went by, and the curtain of darkness began to lift. The +moonlight made visible a fringe of small trees and the shine of the +water on whose bank they grew. The breeze rose and sighed and whistled +through rush and reed. An owl hooted, and then Humphrey, who had been +nodding on his horse's back, suddenly became very wide awake. + +"Hast been here before, Hugo?" he cried cheerily. + +"Nay," answered the boy, listlessly. + +"No more have I," returned Humphrey. "But what of that? A man who hath +proper dreams may be at home in all places. I will now seek out our +resting-place, and do thou and Fleetfoot follow me." So saying, he +chirruped to his patient horse and led the way carefully; for, however +much Humphrey imagined he depended on dreams, he generally exercised as +good judgment and care as he was able. To-night weary Hugo had +forgotten that Humphrey was his servant, and, as such, bound to obey +him. He felt himself nothing but a tired and homesick boy, and was glad +himself to obey the faithful Saxon, while he thought regretfully of his +uncle the prior, Lady De Aldithely, Josceline, and the valiant William +Lorimer. + +It was not Humphrey's intention to go farther that night than +absolutely necessary; and a little later he dismounted and stamped his +feet with satisfaction. "Here be solid ground enough and to spare for +us and the horses and hound," he said, "and here will we rest." + +A lone, scrubby tree was at hand, and to that Humphrey made fast the +horses and dog. "No fire to-night. Thy cloak must be thy protection +from the damp," he said. "But the swamp is not so damp as the king's +dungeon, nor so dismal. So let us eat and sleep." + +Hugo said nothing. He ate a morsel with a swelling heart, and then, in +silence, lay down. He was beginning to find leading evil men a merry +chase a rather unpleasant business. + +In the moonlight Humphrey looked at him. "He is a good lad," he +thought, "and seemeth no more to me like a stranger. I begin to see +that he seemed no stranger to my lady neither. My lord will make him +his page, no doubt, if he getteth safely over to France. France is a +good country when a bad king ruleth at home." Then faithful Humphrey, +the animals fed, himself lay down to sleep. + +It was late the next morning when Hugo awoke. Humphrey had been +stirring two hours; and the first thing the boy's eyes rested upon was +a little fire made of bits of punky wood collected by Humphrey; and +spitted above the coals were two small birds roasting. + +"Ay, lad!" cried Humphrey. "Open thine eyes now, and we will to +breakfast presently. What sayest thou to a peewit each? Is that not +better than brawn?" + +Hugo smiled and arose at once. His despondency of the night before was +gone, together with his fatigue, and he looked about him with interest. +To the left were reeds some twelve feet tall which fringed a pool; to +the right, thick sedge that fringed another; and they seemed to be on a +sort of tiny, grassy isle, though the water which divided them from the +next bit of solid earth could, in some places, be stepped across. The +sun shone with agreeable warmth. There were frequent whirrs of wings in +the air as small flocks of game birds rose from the water and sedge +near by. + +[Illustration: Hugo looked about him with interest] + +"This is not the wood nor is it Brockadale; but here one may breathe a +little without having his eyes looking on all sides for an enemy," said +Humphrey, with satisfaction. "It is the turn of the peewits to look +out. Knowest thou the peewit?" + +"On the table only," answered Hugo, pleasantly. + +"Ay," observed Humphrey. "Thine uncle, the prior, hath many a fat feast +in the priory, I warrant thee. But here thou shalt see the peewit at +home. Had we but come in April, we had had some eggs as well as birds +to eat." + +Humphrey had made a fresh meal cake in the embers, and the two--boy and +serving-man--now sat devouring birds and cake with great appetites. + +"Thou knowest the pigeon?" asked Humphrey. + +"Yea," replied Hugo. + +"The peewit is the size of a pigeon." + +"So I should guess," remarked Hugo. + +"There be those that call it the lapwing," pursued Humphrey. + +"My uncle, the prior, is of the number," smiled Hugo. + +"Ay, priests ever have abundance of names for everything. It cometh, no +doubt, from knowing Latin and other outlandish gibberish." + +Hugo smiled indulgently. His feeling toward Humphrey had, during the +last day, undergone a complete change. And, though he was but a Saxon +serving-man, the heart of the boy had now an affection for him. +Humphrey was quick to detect it, and he too smiled. + +"Had the peewit short legs like the pigeon," he continued, "and did he +but want what they call the crest on the back of his head, and could +you see only the back of the bird, he might be thought a pigeon, since +he shineth on the back like a peacock in all colors blue and green can +make when mixed together. But when he standeth on his somewhat long +legs, and thou seest that his under parts be white, why, even a +Frenchman would know he was no pigeon, but must be the peewit or +lapwing. And I warrant thee we shall eat our fill of peewits if we +remain here long." + +"When thinkest thou of going?" asked Hugo, interestedly. + +"Why, that I know not. I would fain have another dream. I know not how +it may be with other men, but when I am right weary I dream not. Which +I take as an omen not to stir till I be rested and ready to use my +wits. Thou hast noticed that weariness dulleth the wits?" + +"Yea," replied Hugo. + +"Why, I have seen in my time many fall into grievous snares from +nothing more than being weary, and so, dull of sight and hearing. But +here cometh Fleetfoot sleek and satisfied. I did but turn him loose two +hours ago, and I warrant thee he hath had a fine meal. I will make him +fast once more, and then we go farther into the island to seek another +resting-place for the night. This is too near the edge of the marsh, +and too near the Don." + +Mounting the horses, and with Fleetfoot once more in leash, they set +out, Humphrey picking his way and Hugo following. And by mid-day they +had come to what Humphrey decided was probably the best location for +them on the island. It was another solid, grassy place, and was graced +with three little scrub trees which gave them a leafy roof under which +to lie. From the fringe of neighboring rushes the two cut enough to +strew their resting-place thickly, and so protect their bodies from the +damp ground. Then Humphrey dug a shallow fire-pit at the north, and, +after their mid-day meal, set diligently about collecting a store of +fuel. Little was to be found solid enough to cook with, and that little +he stored carefully apart, reserving a great heap of dead rushes and +reeds for the blaze which was to ward off the night dampness and make +them comfortable. In all these labors Hugo bore his share, for the two, +by tacit consent, were no longer master and man but comrades in need +and danger. + +In collecting the reeds they took few from their immediate +neighborhood, wishing to be as protected from chance observation as +possible. And they found their wanderings in search of fuel full of +interest. At some distance from their camping-place they came upon a +muddy shallow. And there on the bank Hugo saw his first avoset or +"scooper," as Humphrey called him. The bird was resting from his labors +when the two first observed him. Though the ooze was soft the bird did +not sink into it. There he stood, his wide-webbed toes supporting him +on the surface of the ooze, and it seemed a long way from his feet up +his blue legs to his black-and-white body. But the oddest thing about +him was his long, curved, and elastic bill turning up at the end. The +bird had not observed them, and presently set to work scooping through +the mud after worms. Then he waded out a little way into the shallow, +where he did not stay long, for, catching sight of Hugo and Humphrey, +he rose a little in the air and flew swiftly away. Farther on they came +upon a wading crane with an unlucky snake in his mouth. And still +farther away they caught sight of a mother duck swimming with her young +brood upon a pool. And every now and then a frog plumped into the +water. But nowhere did they discover, by sight or sound, another human +being beside themselves. + +When darkness fell the glow-worms shone once more, the will-o'-the-wisp +danced, and the owls hooted. The fire of dead rushes and reeds, fed by +the patient Humphrey, blazed brightly and shed a grateful warmth upon +their sheltered resting-place under the three scrub trees. And, lying +at ease upon the rushes, the hours of darkness went by till, when the +moon arose, the fire had died down, Hugo slept, and Humphrey had gone +in search of a favoring dream. + +Near Doncaster that night camped Richard Wood with his three newly +hired men-at-arms; while within the town at an inn called the Green +Dragon lay Walter Skinner. He was newly equipped with a horse. "I need +no men-at-arms," he said to himself, "nor will I hire them. I will +catch the young lord and his serving-man with arrow and bow if I but +come up with them again." + +And that night, safe out of the forest of Galtus, Lady De Aldithely and +her party encamped on the border of Scotland. + +That night also Robert Sadler, pausing to rest on his return journey to +the castle, looked often at the package he carried, and wondered what +it contained. + +That night also the valiant William Lorimer and his men-at-arms rested +from their labors well satisfied. For, while the moat at the great gate +held only its usual allowance of water, by means of the new dam they +had constructed, that part of the moat near the postern was level full. + +The next morning marked the beginning of the sixth day of their +journey, and Humphrey rose with unimpaired cheerfulness. Once more +Hugo's waking eyes beheld two peewits spitted over the coals and a meal +cake baking in the embers. "I did dream of gold last night," said +Humphrey, by way of a morning greeting. "Knowest thou what that +betokeneth?" + +"Nay," responded Hugo, pleasantly. + +"It betokeneth success in thy present undertaking after first meeting +with difficulties. We have met with difficulties, and what were they +but the king's men? They be now behind us, and success is to be ours. +But come thou to breakfast now. To-morrow morn we set forth again." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +On this, their last day in the Isle of Axholme, Hugo and Humphrey took +up the occupation of the day before, but with more deliberation. And +they went in a different direction,--southeast, toward the Trent. + +"It is this way we journey on the morrow with the horses," remarked +Humphrey. "It is as well to see what the way is like while we gather +our store of reeds and rushes. For I did dream of gold, which +betokeneth success in our present undertaking, and success ever resteth +on good care and good judgment. And so let us see where the solid +places be and where the bogs lie. And do thou note well the course so +that we may run it with safety and speed if need be. And we will not +gather the reeds and rushes till we return." + +"Meanest thou to walk to the Trent, then, to-day, and back again?" +questioned Hugo. And by this time he had so far forgotten the +difference in their stations that there was respect in his tone, which +Humphrey was quick to notice. + +"Yea, lad," answered the serving-man, kindly. "It is only a few miles. +It is not well to risk miring the horses when I did dream of gold last +night." + +Hugo smiled. He was beginning to see that, while the superstition of +the age, and particularly of his condition, had, to a certain extent, a +hold on Humphrey, his course was really directed by sturdy +common-sense; and he wondered no more at Lady De Aldithely's trust in +him. + +The two were well on their way, and Richard Wood and his men-at-arms +were scouring the forest near Doncaster, when Walter Skinner walked out +to the stables of the Green Dragon to see to his horse. His face was +still painful, and he desired to vent some of his spleen on the unlucky +groom, whoever he might be, who had his horse in charge. He found the +horse tied to a ring in the stable wall, and the groom having a sorry +time of it, since every time the groom touched him with comb or brush +the animal backed, or turned, or laid back his ears and snapped with +his teeth. For the monks at the priory had furnished the king's man, on +his compulsion, with the worst horse in their stables. + +"Here be a beast fit for the Evil One and for nobody else," grumbled +the sorely tried groom. "I am like to be killed for my pains in trying +to smooth his coat for him." + +The groom was a tall, overgrown fellow of nineteen, with a vacant face +and an ever-running tongue. He now stood stock still upon the approach +of Walter Skinner and gazed at him. He would have done the same if any +creature possessed of the power of locomotion had come into his view. +But of that Walter Skinner was ignorant. To him the gaze of the groom +seemed honor and respect toward himself, and even, perhaps, awe. And he +was at once mollified. + +"My horse is a beast of mettle," he observed complacently when the +groom had returned to his work. + +"Ay, and I would that his master, the Evil One, had the grooming of +him," was the retort. + +"Why, how now, sirrah! Dost thou slander the horse which is a gift from +Mother Church to the king's work? Thou art a knave, and no doubt art +but unfit for thy task this morn through over-late carousing last +night." + +"Thou mayest call it carousing, if thou wilt," said the groom, sulkily. +"I did come from Gainsborough yesterday. And in the dark, as I did +come, I saw a flaming fire in the Isle of Axholme." + +"And what meanest thou to tell me of that?" demanded Walter Skinner, +sternly. "Thou wert no doubt so drunk that a will-o'-the-wisp in that +boggy place did seem to thee even as a flaming fire. Why dost thou not +stand to my horse and get down with him? He hath already backed and +turned a matter of some miles." + +The groom stopped and looked at him indignantly. "I may be but a +groom," he said, "but the Isle of Axholme I know from a child, every +bog in it. And I did go to the fire, which was a bit out of my way, +but, being my only pleasure on the journey, I did take it. And there on +the rushes lay a young lord, and his serving-man did feed the fire with +reeds." + +"Thou didst see that?" cried Walter Skinner, in great excitement. "Make +haste with the beast, sirrah. Here is a coin for thee, good groom. I do +now see thou wert never drunken in thy life. Make haste with the +horse." + +The groom stared at him foolishly. "Why, who could make haste with such +a beast?" he said at length. + +"Then stay not to finish thy work," cried Walter Skinner, impatiently. +"Bring saddle and bridle. I must away instantly. But do thou first +describe to me the place where thou didst see the fire." + +"The place," said the groom, deliberately, while he examined the coin +Walter Skinner had given him. "Thou dost go till thou comest to it. A +turn here and a turn there mayhap thou must make, and thou wilt find it +a little solid place with three scrub trees upon it. It is a matter of +a short distance from the south end of the Isle, and thou wilt not fail +to know it when thou seest it." + +With this not over-clear direction Walter Skinner was obliged to be +content. Bidding the groom to bring the horse to the door of the inn at +once, he hurried away, paid his reckoning, examined carefully the +string of his bow, and looked over his store of arrows. "And now, +Josceline, son of Lord De Aldithely," he said, "my arrow will bid thee +halt this time, and not my voice. And thou, Richard Wood, who didst +say, 'We hunt no more in company,' what wouldst thou give to know of +this place in the Isle of Axholme? And thou mayst have thy men-at-arms +to bear thee company, and to pay for when thou art done with them. They +cost thee more than a bow and some arrows cost me, nor will they do +thee one half the good." + +So thinking he bestrode the vicious beast which backed and plunged +about the inn yard, and from which the grooms and the watching maids +fled in all directions. Walter Skinner, however, was not to be +unseated, and, the horse being headed in the right direction, his next +plunge carried him out of the yard and fairly started him on his way, +the spur of his rider giving him no permission to halt for a moment. + +"And now," thought Walter Skinner, when he had crossed the Don and was +free of the town, "what said the knave groom? I must go till I come to +it. Ay, and who knoweth when that shall be, and who knoweth the way in +this pitfall of bogs? Three scrub trees, saith he, and all together on +one little solid place. I would I might see three little scrub trees." + +His horse had been over the Isle before and, being given his head, +began to pick his way so cleverly that Walter Skinner was still further +elated. He sat up pompously and pictured himself a courtier at the +palace as a reward for this day's work. "For I lean not to golden +rewards alone," he said. "No doubt it can be managed that from this day +I begin to rise. The king hath advanced baser men than I, let Richard +Wood think as he will in the matter." + +And now he descried the three little scrub trees; but he saw not the +horses, they having been taken to another islet for pasture; nor +Fleetfoot, who had gone with Hugo and Humphrey. + +"The knave groom spake true," said Walter Skinner, with satisfaction. +"There be the rushes on which they lie, and there the ashes of the +fire. I will seek out a convenient hiding-place in the reeds, and +to-night, when the fire blazeth bright, then shall my arrows sing." + +So saying he sought a place of concealment for himself and his horse, +and, having found it, and tied the horse securely, he lay down well +satisfied. + +Hugo and Humphrey did not return till toward evening. They had caught +some fish in the Trent and roasted them on the coals for their dinner, +and afterward had come leisurely back, enjoying the scenes and sights +of the marsh. + +From his covert Walter Skinner saw them come, each leading a horse +which he had stopped to get from the islet pasture, while Fleetfoot +lagged behind on a little hunting expedition of his own. The spy drew +his bow and sighted. "Yea," he said to himself, "no doubt I can do it. +And what is an arrow wound more or less when one would win the favor of +the king? The lad or his servant may die of it. But what is death? It +is e'en what every man sooner or later must meet. And it is the king's +favor I will have, come what may to these runaways." Then he laid down +the bow and arrow and took a long drink from his horn. "When the flames +shoot high and they be in the strong light of the blaze, then will I +shoot," he said. "And it is their own fault if they be hit. They should +have remained in the castle where Robert Sadler arriveth this same +night." + +Hugo and Humphrey had not before been on such thoroughly amicable terms +as they were to-night. The boy, so much like his young master, had, +unconsciously to Humphrey, won his way into the heart of the +serving-man; while Hugo had learned in their few days' companionship to +feel toward Humphrey as his faithfulness deserved. So, while the fire +blazed up and all remained in darkness outside of its circle, Humphrey +entertained Hugo with tales of his early life, to which the boy +listened with appreciation. "Ay, lad," said Humphrey, when half an hour +had gone by and he paused in his story to look at him with approval, +"thou hast the ears of my lady herself, who is ever ready to listen to +what I would say." + +And then came a whistling arrow, shot by an unsteady, drunken hand, and +another, and another, none of which wounded either boy or man, since +Hugo was still defended by his shirt of mail, and Humphrey wore a stout +gambeson. + +[Illustration: Humphrey started up, snatching a great bunch of long +flaming reeds] + +Instantly Humphrey started up and, snatching a great bunch of long, +flaming reeds to serve him for a light, ran in the direction whence the +arrows had come. Hugo, catching up an armful of reeds yet unlighted to +serve when those Humphrey carried should burn out, hurried after him. +Soon they had found the covert and the spy, and, tossing his torch to +Hugo, the serving-man rushed at him. + +"And wouldst thou slay my dear lad?" he cried. "Thou snipe!" + +"Stand back!" sputtered the spy. "Lay not thy hands upon me. I serve +the king." + +"Ay, and thou shalt find what it is to serve the king," cried Humphrey, +seizing him by the shoulders and dragging him along. "Yon is his +horse," he said, turning to Hugo. "Cut him loose." + +The boy obeyed and, with a snort, the animal was off. + +"Thou shalt be well punished for this deed," threatened the spy. "The +steed was the gift of the prior of St. Edmund's." + +"Talk not of punishment," cried the enraged Humphrey; "thou who wouldst +slay my dear lad. Lead to the right, lad!" he cried. "I do know a miry +pool. It will not suck him down, but it will cause him some labor to +get out of it." + +Hugo, bearing the torch, obeyed, and shortly they had reached the pool +which Humphrey had discovered the day before. Grasping his shoulders +yet more firmly, and fairly lifting the little spy from his feet, the +stalwart Humphrey set him down with a thud in the sticky mud. "There +thou mayest stand like a reed or a rush," he said. "I would thou wert +as worthy as either." + +A moment the spy stood there in water up to his knees while Hugo and +Humphrey, by the light of the ever-renewed torch of reeds, watched him. +Then he began to try to extricate himself. But when he pulled one foot +loose, it was only to set the other more securely in the mud. + +"Ay, lad," observed Humphrey, with satisfaction. "He danceth very well, +but somewhat slowly. Leave we him to his pleasure while we go seek for +his bow and arrows. It were not well that he should shoot at us again." + +"Thou villain!" cried the half-drunken Walter Skinner; "when I am a +lord in His Majesty's service thou shalt hear of this night's work." + +"Ay, Sir Stick-in-the-Mud," responded Humphrey, indifferently. "When +that day cometh I am content to hear of it." Then he led the way back +to Walter Skinner's hiding-place, while Hugo followed. And there they +found the bow, which was of yew with a silken string. And with it was a +goodly store of ash arrows tipped with steel and winged with goose +feathers. + +"We be not thieves, lad," said Humphrey, "else might we add these to +our store." So saying, he broke the arrows and flung them away, cut the +bow-string in pieces, and flung the bow far from him into the water. +"Had these been in a steady hand," he said, "it might now be ill with +us. Perchance the spy doth not now cry out, 'Aha, Fortune! thou art +with me.' And now let us back to our couch of rushes, there to wait +till the moon rise, which will be some three hours. And rest we in +darkness. We may not have more fire to make us targets, perchance, for +the other spy." + +In silence the two lay down on the rushes, Hugo full of excitement and +nervously listening for the whistle of another arrow. And, much to the +boy's astonishment, in five minutes the faithful Humphrey was sound +asleep. + +He continued to sleep until the beams of the rising moon struck him +full in the face, when he awoke. "Hast slept, lad?" he asked. + +"Nay," replied Hugo. + +"Thou shouldst have done so. Perchance the time cometh shortly when we +dare not sleep; for I did dream of being taken by the constable, which +signifieth want of wit, and so I know not what to do. But we may not +bide here. On we must go, and make the best of what wit we have." He +rose from the rushes and, followed by Hugo, went to the horses and put +Fleetfoot once more in leash. Then, each having mounted, he led the way +toward the track they had marked out the day before. + +"If the spy be not too lazy, he will doubtless be free of the miry pool +in the morning," observed Humphrey. "And he might as well have dreamed +of being taken by the constable, for if he lacketh not the wit to keep +him from a worse case, I know not the measure of a man's mind. And that +should I know, having observed not only my lord, but the valiant +William Lorimer also." + + + + +CHAPTER X + + +It was the afternoon of this same day in which Walter Skinner had +ventured into the wilds of the Isle of Axholme, there to try to catch +Hugo and Humphrey. At the same time Robert Sadler was galloping on his +way from the town of Chester to the castle, eager to meet the troop, +for his journey was now almost accomplished. Sir Thomas De Lany had +promised him his reward,--a certain sum of money; he had also promised +the troop he had borrowed to help him a reward in addition to the sum +he was to pay to their master, even a share of the plunder of the +castle. Robert Sadler knew this, and he had quite decided that the +package he carried would properly fall to him when her ladyship should +be left without a son and without treasure. He therefore had bestowed +it carefully out of sight of the king's spies and their borrowed troop, +whom he was now expecting to meet. He had said nothing about the +presence of Hugo at the castle and his great resemblance to Josceline; +for he was of a mind to deliver up Hugo and keep back Josceline, since, +by so doing, he might have hope of winning another reward from the king +in addition to the one he should receive from Sir Thomas. + +"It is a long head that I have," he said to himself with pride. "And +these knave spies shall find it not so easy to come to the bottom of my +mind. They think I am but Irish, and so to be despised. And what be +they but English? They shall find I will know how to have the better of +them." + +The sun was within half an hour of setting when he drew rein at the oak +which was the scene of their appointed meeting. If he had been eager, +the others had been no less so, and at once Sir Thomas and one of his +aids advanced to meet him, while, at a short distance, halted the troop +of men-at-arms. + +"Have ye the troop? And is all well?" asked Robert Sadler, his wide +mouth stretched in a treacherous smile. + +"Yea," responded Sir Thomas. + +"Walter Skinner and Richard Wood--do they still keep watch from the +tree?" asked Robert Sadler, smiling still more widely. + +"Why, what is that to thee?" demanded Sir Thomas, haughtily. "It is we +who do the king's business. Thou doest but ours." + +"Ay," answered Robert Sadler, with feigned humility; "I do but yours." + +"Thou sayest well. But think not to pry into the king's business as +thou dost into the affairs at the castle. From thine own showing thou +must have been a great meddler there." + +"And how could I have done thy business there if I had not meddled, as +thou callst it?" + +"I say not that thou couldst," returned Sir Thomas. "I do but warn thee +not to meddle with us. And now, where is the package?" + +"Package? Package?" mumbled Robert Sadler, in apparent bewilderment. + +"The package, sirrah, thou wert to deliver from Chester to her +ladyship. Hast forgotten the purpose of thy journey?" + +"Oh, ay, the package!" returned Robert Sadler, uneasily. "I am like to +be berated by her ladyship for returning without it." + +"We would not have thee so berated," said the aid, speaking for the +first time. "And so I come to thine help." And he reached beneath the +short cloak of Robert Sadler and drew forth the package. + +"I pray thee, return it to me," said Robert Sadler, humbly. "Without it +I am undone." + +"Do thou but parley as thou saidst with the warder on the bridge, and +thou wilt find there will be no upbraiding from her ladyship to cause +thee alarm," returned the aid. + +"And when wilt thou pay me the sum of money?" asked Robert Sadler, +anxiously, not liking either his reception or his subsequent treatment +at the hands of Sir Thomas's aid. + +"And what is that to thee?" demanded Sir Thomas, fiercely. "If I +withhold the sum altogether it is no more than what hath been done by +mightier men than I. Do thou parley on the bridge as thou saidst, or +thy head shall answer for it. Ride on now before us. We will await our +opportunity in the edge of the wood." + +"Thou didst not speak so to me," said the traitor, "when thou wouldst +have me do this deed. It was then, 'Good Robert Sadler,' and 'I will +reward thee well.' Naught didst thou say of my head answering my +failure to obey thy will." Then he rode on as he had been commanded. + +He now saw that he had betrayed her ladyship and her son for naught, +and his dejection thereat was plainly visible. But presently he sat +upright in triumph as he remembered his plan, which he had for the +moment forgotten,--to betray Hugo into their hands and keep back +Josceline for himself to deliver to the king. How he was to accomplish +this difficult thing he did not know, but, in his ignorance, he +imagined it might easily be done. + +Sir Thomas and his aid were watching him. "The knave meaneth to play us +false," observed the aid. "See how he sitteth and rideth in triumph." + +"His head answereth for it if he doth," returned Sir Thomas, fiercely. + +And now they had all arrived at the edge of the wood and the sun was +down. "Set forward across the open, sirrah," commanded Sir Thomas, "and +see that thou fail not in thine office." + +The traitor ground his teeth in rage, but outwardly he was calm as, +putting his horse to the trot, he advanced toward the great gate and +wound his horn. "Now may the old warder show more than his usual +caution," said Robert Sadler. "My head is likely to fall whether we get +in or whether we be kept out. And it were pleasant to see these +villains foiled in their desires." The old warder, obeying the +instructions of William Lorimer, beyond keeping the traitor waiting a +quarter of an hour, by which delay the darkness desired by William +Lorimer drew so much the nearer, having answered the summons, let down +the bridge with unaccustomed alacrity of motion. In accordance with the +same instructions, he kept his back to the direction from which the +troop were expected to come, and he seemed quite as ready to parley +after the bridge was down as even Sir Thomas could have desired. + +"The warder groweth doltish," observed Sir Thomas, as he prepared to +set forward. + +"Mayhap," answered the aid. + +"What meanest thou by 'mayhap'?" demanded Sir Thomas. + +But by this time the whole troop were in motion and making a rush for +the bridge. They gained it; they were across it, sweeping Robert Sadler +before them, and within the walls before the sluggish old warder had +seemed to see what was happening. They were well across the outer court +before they noticed the strange air of emptiness that seemed to have +fallen on the place. They stormed into the inner court; and here, too, +all was silence. And then they turned on Robert Sadler. "Art thou a +double traitor?" demanded Sir Thomas. + +But the vacant astonishment of Robert Sadler's face gave true answer. + +"He hath been made a dupe," said the aid. "He hath been sent to Chester +that the castle might be rid of him." + +"Nay," returned Sir Thomas. "Thou art ever unduly suspicious." Then +turning to Robert Sadler he said: "Where be the men-at-arms of the +castle? Where do they hide themselves because of us? And where bideth +her ladyship and her son?" Then catching sight of the open door of the +stairway tower, without awaiting Robert Sadler's reply, he led the way +thither and up the stair, dragging the reluctant Robert Sadler with +him, and was followed by the troop. + +The ladies' bower was empty. The treasure from the chests was also +gone. Down the troop rushed violently, and into the great hall and out +again. Everywhere silence. Darkness had now fallen, and with torches +the troop of men-at-arms, led by Sir Thomas and his aid, ran about the +inner court, peering into the empty stables and offices. Presently to +Robert Sadler the light of a torch revealed the postern gate ajar. +"They must have fled!" he cried. "See!" and he pointed to the postern +gate. + +"Mount and follow!" commanded Sir Thomas. + +"Nay, not in the darkness," objected the aid. "Wait for the moon to +rise." + +"Ay, wait!" exclaimed Sir Thomas, impatiently. "I believe thou wast +born with that word in thy mouth. Wouldst have them get a better start +of us than they have? Dost know that they did leave the treasure chests +empty, and then dost thou counsel us to wait on the tardy moon? 'Twas +rich treasure they took, or report speaketh false. And every moment +maketh our chance to seize it smaller." + +Every man was now astride his horse, and Sir Thomas, his hand on Robert +Sadler's bridle, dashed ahead. The rest followed, crowding through the +narrow gate and out into the darkness on the narrow bridge. Here and +there a torch gleamed, and its reflection shone full in the glassy +water of the ditch. Here was no shadowy depth of a ravine, but a broad +plain,--a watery plain, into which the heavily weighted horses and +riders sank, rising to cry for help and catch at straws. The cries of +the drowning only hurried those behind to the rescue, who, supposing +their fellows in advance to be assailed, rushed headlong on to the same +fate. The torches were extinguished, and none knew which way to turn to +escape. So perished the whole troop, Robert Sadler going down in the +grasp of Sir Thomas De Lany. + +[Illustration: None knew which way to turn to escape] + +Across the moat, ready mounted to ride, were William Lorimer and the +few men-at-arms left him by Lady De Aldithely on her departure. "So may +it be with all traitors and thieves," said he. "And now fare we +southward to France and our lord. We need not the light of the moon to +show us our path." + +The clatter of their horses' hoofs soon died away, and when the moon +rose it shone down on the deserted castle, and on the shining water of +the moat near the postern, but it shone not on horse or rider living or +dead. All night William Lorimer and his little troop rode, not +cautiously and shrinkingly, but boldly; and they went into camp in the +early morning in Sherwood Forest, more miles away from home than Hugo +and Humphrey had covered in all their journeying. + +And in the swamp Walter Skinner, who had finally extricated himself +from the mire, floundered about from bog to pool, and from pool to bog, +vowing vengeance on Humphrey, while Hugo and the faithful serving-man, +avoiding Gainsborough, pushed on toward Lincoln. + +"I did dream of being taken by the constable," said Humphrey, "which +betokeneth want of wit. I know not what were better to do. What sayest +thou?" And he looked questioningly at Hugo. + +The boy smiled. He could not help wondering if this were not the first +time in his life that Humphrey had acknowledged himself at a loss what +to do. A dream had caused him to doubt his own possession of sufficient +wit for all purposes,--something which no amount of argument could have +accomplished. But to-day Hugo felt no contempt for him. He smiled only +at the one weakness which was a foil to Humphrey's many excellent +qualities. And he said pleasantly, "Why, how now, Humphrey? Thou dost +need another dream to restore thy courage." + +Humphrey eyed him doubtfully. "Dost think so, lad?" he said. "Mayhap +thou art right. But I go not in the lead till I have it. Wit is not the +same at all times. Perchance something hath damaged mine for the time. +Do thou lead till I recover it; for thou art no more a stranger to me +as when we started." + +"Nor thou to me, good Humphrey," replied Hugo, with an affectionate +smile. "And I say, let us on with all courage to Lincoln." + +"And why, lad?" asked Humphrey. "Because thou wouldst see the place, +even as I would see Ferrybridge a while back?" + +"Partly," laughed Hugo. "And partly because it lieth very well in our +way." + +"Hast ever been there?" asked Humphrey, anxiously. + +"Nay, but mine uncle, the prior, hath often been. And I know the place +by report. We come to it by the north. Came we from the south, we could +see it some twenty miles off, because the country lieth flat around it, +and the city is set on a hill. Why, surely thou dost know the place. It +was a city under the Danes." + +"Yea, I have heard of it from my grandsire," acknowledged Humphrey; +"but I know not if king's men be like to flourish there. For us that is +the principal thing." + +Hugo laughed. "Ah, my brave Humphrey," he said, "why shouldst thou fear +king's men? Thou who canst lift up a king's man by the shoulders and +plant him like a rush in the miry pool!" + +At this Humphrey smiled slightly himself. "Well, lad," he said +presently, "I will not gainsay thee. Go we to Lincoln, and may good +come of it. But we stay not long?" + +"Why, that," answered Hugo, "is what no man can tell. We must be +cautious." + +"Ay, lad," assented Humphrey, approvingly. + +"Thou knowest of Bishop Hugh of Avalon?" inquired Hugo, chatting of +whatever came to his mind in the hope to bring back Humphrey's +confidence in himself. + +"Nay, lad," returned the serving-man. "I know no more of bishops than +thou of hedgehogs and other creatures of the wood." + +"This was a bishop, I have heard mine uncle say, that loved the birds. +He hath now been nine years dead, and another man is, in his stead, +bishop of Lincoln. But in his time he had many feathered pets, and one +a swan, so hath mine uncle said. And also, he never feared to face the +king." + +"Sayest thou so, lad?" responded Humphrey, with some degree of +interest. "Mayhap his spirit still may linger in the place, and so +king's men not flourish there. We will on to see." + +So in due time they came to the town, and entered through its old Roman +gate, and, looking down the long hill on the top of which they stood, +saw the city of Lincoln, which, when William the Conqueror came, had +eleven hundred and fifty houses. + +"It is a great place," remarked Humphrey, "and maketh a goodly show." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +In vain Richard Wood and his men had scoured the forest near Doncaster. +They found no trace of those they sought. "Did I believe, like some, in +witchcraft," declared Richard Wood, "so should I say there was +witchcraft in their escape. Why, what should a Saxon serving-man and a +boy of fourteen know, that they should foil good men on a chase?" + +"Ay," responded one of his men-at-arms, "but thou seest they have done +it. In this forest they are not. Mayhap they lie close in the town of +Doncaster." + +Richard Wood looked at him reflectively. "I had not thought on that," +he said. "Mayhap thou art right. Go we into the town and see. We need +rest, and bite, and sup, and the beasts also need the same." + +So the weary four entered the town of Doncaster and drew rein before +the Green Dragon Inn. And one of the grooms who took the horses was the +same vacant-faced, foolish fellow who had received the coin from Walter +Skinner. "Here be more king's men," he said to himself, "and mayhap +another coin for me. I will send them also to the Isle of Axholme, +where I judge sorrow hath met the other king's man, since the horseshoe +had of the Evil One did come galloping back without a rider." And he +smiled ingratiatingly at Richard Wood, who took no notice of him. +Whereat, somewhat crestfallen, he was fain to lead the horse away, the +others having been already taken care of by other grooms who had no +thought of the Isle of Axholme, and no hopeful expectation of coins. + +The morning that saw Hugo and Humphrey far on their way to Lincoln saw +Richard Wood rise refreshed at the Green Dragon with his determination +to continue the chase well renewed. And that same morning it had +occurred to the vacant-faced groom that he must speak now or never if +he expected any reward for his speech. So the instant Richard Wood +appeared in the inn yard he sidled up to him and began, at the same +time knocking his grooming tools, which he still held in his hands, +nervously together, an accompaniment to his speech, which seemed to +surprise the spy. "I did come from Gainsborough two nights agone," he +said. + +"That is naught to me, varlet," interrupted Richard Wood. "Get thee +back to thy grooming." + +"Yea, verily," insisted the groom; "but it is somewhat to thee," and he +knocked the tools together in his hands at a great rate. "I did come by +the Isle of Axholme. And the other king's man did accuse me of +drunkenness and revellings when I did begin to have speech with him of +the matter, but he did change his mind, and give me a coin. Do thou but +the same and thou also mayest hear what I did see." + +Richard Wood regarded him attentively. "Speak truth," he said, "and say +that I would hear, and thou shalt have two coins." + +The vacant-faced groom grinned a broad and foolish grin. "Said I not," +he cried joyfully, "that thou wert a better man than the other? For he +was but small and fierce and hath met sorrow, or his horse had not come +back riderless." + +Richard Wood smiled contemptuously at this reference to Walter Skinner. +Then he said: "Thou didst come by the Isle of Axholme. What sawest thou +there?" + +"Why, thou canst talk like an advocate," said the foolish groom, who +had never seen an advocate in his life. "Ay," he continued, "he that +giveth two coins is ever a better master than he that giveth one. And I +did see a young lord and his serving-man lie on a bed of rushes; and +ever and anon the serving-man did rise to feed the blazing fire of +reeds; and it was the fire I first did see, and, going to the fire, I +did see them." + +"The Isle of Axholme lieth eighteen miles long and five in breadth," +said Richard Wood. "Where didst thou see them?" and he held up three +coins. + +"Toward the south end on a little solid place which hath on it three +scrubby trees. There did they lie." And the groom left off speaking to +eye the money in ecstasy, for not often did such wealth come his way. + +Richard Wood tossed him the coins. "Make haste with the horses," he +said. "Hast thou no other marks to know the place?" + +"Why, nay," answered the groom, regretfully. "But thou wilt surely know +it when thou comest to it," and he smiled broadly. + +Ten minutes later the party was off, and, crossing the Don at the town, +found themselves in the Isle of Axholme. And then Richard Wood paused +to give his men instructions. "Here do we need caution," he said. "This +fellow is not easily to be caught, for I make naught of the young lord. +He is doubtless some trusty retainer sent with the lad by her ladyship +because he hath wit to hide and double on his track and so baffle +pursuit. But he hath not yet reached port to set sail for France, and +mayhap he will not. It remaineth now for us to hide and creep among the +rushes and reeds and scrubby trees, and so come up with him unseen." + +The men-at-arms listened respectfully, and the party separating +themselves so that each man rode alone at a little distance from his +fellows, they took the same general direction, and so advanced slowly +and carefully, taking advantage of every bit of cover in their way, and +often pausing to listen. They had proceeded in this manner some two +hours when Richard Wood saw the three scrub trees, and, waving the +signal to his men, the advance was made with renewed caution. At last +all were near enough to see the couch of rushes and the ashes of the +fire, but they saw nothing of serving-man or boy, who by this time had +reached Lincoln. Silently, at a signal from Richard Wood, the party +drew together. "Ye see," said he, pointing to the place, "that they be +not here. Either they be gone roaming about for the day in search of +food, or they be gone altogether. We may not know of a surety till +evening when, if they be not altogether gone, they will return. If they +be gone, we have lost a day and given them an added start of us. +Wherefore I counsel that we pursue the search warily through the Isle +in the hope that we come up with them. What say ye?" + +"We say well," responded the men. + +The party now separated again, and, going even more slowly than before +through the silent Isle, sought to be as noiseless as possible. But +every now and then some horse splashed suddenly and heavily into a +pool, or scrambling out of the water crunched and broke the reeds and +scared the water-fowl, which rose shrieking and flew noisily away. At +such mishaps Richard Wood restrained his impatience as well as he was +able, knowing that they were unavoidable and that his men were +faithful. Thus another hour went by and there was no trace of the +fugitives. They were now going due northwest, and a half-hour later one +of the men-at-arms gave the signal. Silently Richard Wood approached +him. "I did see one of them," said the man in a low tone. "He lieth +beneath a tree beyond this fringe of reeds on the next solid place." + +And now Richard Wood was all excitement. "Which was it?" he asked; "the +young lord or the serving-man?" + +"Why, thou knowest I did never see either," replied the man, "and I +could not draw very near. But the person I did see did seem too small +to be the stout Saxon serving-man of whom thou hast spoken." + +Without a word, but with his face expressing great triumph, Richard +Wood waved to the others to approach, which they did slowly and with +care. Having come up with him, he communicated to them the news he had +received, and, bidding them scatter in such a manner as to surround the +little place on which the fortunate man-at-arms had discovered the man +or boy lying, he waited with such patience as he could muster until the +time had elapsed necessary for the carrying out of his commands, and +then advanced to capture the young lord with his own hands. And what +was his disgust, when he came up with the sleeper under the tree, to +find Walter Skinner. + +"And is it thou, Walter Skinner?" he demanded when he had roused him. +"And what doest thou here?" + +[Illustration: Richard Wood finds Walter Skinner] + +"Ay, Richard Wood, it is I. And what I do here is no concern of thine. +Here have I been a day and a night and this second day. Little have I +had to eat, and my drinking-horn is but now empty. And I have been +planted in a miry pool. And I have lost my horse and my way also; and +have floundered into more bogs and out of them than can be found in all +Robert Sadler's Ireland. Were I king, I would have no Isle of Axholme +in all my dominions. Could I do no better, I would pull down the hill +of Lincoln and cart it hither to fill these vile water-holes. Do but +see my doublet and hose. Were I called suddenly to the palace would not +the king and the court despise me as a drunken ruffler from some +revel-rout that had fallen from his horse? When all the blame is to be +laid on this Isle of Axholme, which ought, by right, to belong to +France, since it is full of frogs." + +"Thou art crazed, as thou always art when thou drinkest," said Richard +Wood, coldly. + +"Dost thou say I have been drinking?" demanded Walter Skinner, starting +up. + +"Yea, I say it. Thou sayest it also. For thou didst say thy +drinking-horn was but now empty." + +"Yea, verily," answered Walter Skinner. "If thou be a true man do but +fill it for me again. Or lead me from this vile place, where one +heareth naught but the squawk of birds and the croak of frogs. I would +fain see the Green Dragon and the idiot groom that did send me here. I +warrant thee I will crack his pate for him." + +"Where is thy horse?" asked Richard Wood. + +"Ay, where is he? Who but that vile serving-man did bid the young lord +cut him loose?" + +"Thou dreamest," said Richard Wood, incredulously. "Would a serving-man +forget his station and bid his master do a task?" + +"Ay, would he, if he were this serving-man. I tell thee he would bid +the king himself do a task if he chose, and, moreover, the king would +obey. 'Twas he did plant me in the miry pool and say I did dance well +but somewhat slowly when I did try to unplant myself, and for every +foot I took up sunk the other deeper in the mire. And he did dub me +'Sir Stick-in-the-Mud,' moreover, for which I do owe him a grudge and +will requite him. I will meet him one day where there be no miry pools, +and then let him beware." This last he uttered with a look which was +intended to be fierce, but which was only silly. + +"Didst thou come after them alone with no man to help thee?" asked +Richard Wood, still more incredulously. + +"Oh, I did have help enough," was the answer, with a crafty look. "I +did have to my help a yew bow with a silken string that the king +himself need not despise, and a great store of arrows, moreover. And I +did hide and bide my time until the darkness of night came and the fire +blazed high. And then I did let my arrows fly. And what did the +serving-man? He did catch up the very fire and rush upon me. And later +he did break my arrows and cut my bow-string, and fling my bow into the +water, and then departed, I know not where." + +"Thou art but a sorry fool," declared Richard Wood, after some thought. +"And yet I cannot find it in my heart to leave thee here. Mount up +behind me, and at Gainsborough I will set thee down. There canst thou +shift for thyself, and chase or forbear to chase as thou choosest." + +"Ay, thou sayest truly," said the half-drunken Walter Skinner. "And +should I now forbear to chase, a dukedom would no more than reward me +for the perils I have seen. First in the lofty tree watching the +castle; and thou knowest that now, when, from the interdict, no bells +may ring to disperse the tempests, I might have died from the lightning +stroke, not once but many times. For there might have been a tempest +and lightning every day, and no thanks to the king that there was not. +Then, too, I did encounter perils from the boughs which might have +broken and did not. And wherefore did they not? Because they were too +tough and sound. And this, too, moreover, was no thanks to the king. +And two horses have I lost,--one mine own and one the gift of the prior +of St. Edmund's. And did the prior wish to give me the beast? Nay, he +did not, and would have refused it if he had dared. He made as if he +gave it because of the king, but he did not. He feared before me, as +well he might. For I had met a hedgehog, and when a man is in such a +case he is in no mind to have a horse refused him by a fat prior. And +all this also was no thanks to the king. And then I did meet that +varlet of a groom at the Green Dragon, and he did send me here. And +here have I met such misfortunes as would last a man his lifetime." + +To all this Richard Wood had lent but half an ear, being occupied in +turning over in his mind the fact that Hugo and Humphrey had been in +the Isle and had gone, and trying to decide what was best to do. He now +looked at him. "Mount up behind me and cease thy prating," he said. +Then turning to the men-at-arms he continued: "We go hence to +Gainsborough. From thence down to Sherwood Forest. It seemeth this +serving man loveth woods and wilds. Therefore it were waste of time to +seek for him in towns and beaten ways." + +All the while he was speaking Walter Skinner, with many groans, was +trying to mount behind his old companion; but, on account of the horse +shying his objections to such a proceeding, and the drunken clumsiness +of Walter Skinner himself, nothing had been accomplished. Richard Wood +therefore called on one of the men-at-arms to dismount and hoist him +up; which he did much as if the fierce little spy had been a bag of +meal, and much to Walter Skinner's discomfort, who suddenly found +himself heavily seated with one leg doubled up under him and with a +bumped face where he had struck against Richard Wood's shoulder. He +soon righted himself, however, and, clinging to his old friend, rode +away to Gainsborough. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +As Hugo and Humphrey with Fleetfoot in leash looked about them from the +backs of their horses, it suddenly occurred to the prudent serving-man +that to go to an inn was not the safest thing in the world for them to +do. "Thou art like our young lord Josceline, and Josceline is like his +father," said Humphrey. "And though they be few who would aid the king +against my lord now fled away to France, still there be a few +unprincipled knaves in every place. And though Lincoln had no longer +ago than nine years the good Hugh thou didst speak of for its bishop, +still, if some knave abiding here should look upon thee and say, +'Behold the son of De Aldithely! I will take him!' it might go ill with +thee. Wherefore I know not what were best to do. We be now come here, +and have no place to lay our heads. The woods and the fens be safer." + +Then Hugo smiled. "Thou speakest not of thyself, Humphrey," he said. +"How if some knave abiding here should think to take not only the son +of De Aldithely, but his brave serving-man also? Thou art more careful +of me than of thyself, and I shall call it to mind one day." + +"Ay, lad," said Humphrey, smiling in his turn. "Thou art as brave as +any De Aldithely thyself. For who but the brave taketh time to think of +another, and he only a serving-man, when himself is in danger? But all +this talk procureth us no safe place to lie, and methinks already there +be some in the streets that gape upon us." + +"No more than idlers ever do," responded Hugo, with assurance. "We be +two strangers, and Fleetfoot, moreover, is a fine hound and worth the +looking at." + +"Ay," said Humphrey, regretfully. "The hound is yet likely to get us +into trouble. But whither do we go? I would fain be out of the sight of +these gazers." + +"Not to an inn, good Humphrey. I have here a ring from mine uncle, the +prior, which, when I show it at certain places, will procure us +lodging, and Lincoln is one of them. We go not down the hill toward the +river. Our place is here near the cathedral in the house of the canon +Richard Durdent." + +Humphrey smiled. "It is good that thou hast for thine uncle a prior," +he said. + +"Ay," responded Hugo. "He is a kind uncle. Where I show his ring I get +not only lodging, but certain moneys to help me on my way. He thought +it not best that I should travel far with much gold about me, wherefore +he hath made these arrangements. He knoweth the canon Durdent of old." + +"I would see this ring," said Humphrey, curiously. + +"And so thou shalt," promised Hugo, "when we be safely lodged." + +"How far reacheth the ring?" inquired Humphrey. + +"Even to France," was the reply. + +"Then I would that thou wouldst trust it in my keeping," said Humphrey, +earnestly. + +The boy looked at him; once more he beheld him rushing upon the spy in +the Isle of Axholme; once more heard his indignant cry, "And wouldst +thou slay my dear lad?" His eyes shone, but all he said was, "I will +trust thee with the custody of the ring, Humphrey, save at such times +as I must have it to show." + +The serving-man smiled well pleased, though he said nothing; for there +was no time for words, since they had already come to the door of the +house they sought. + +"The ring is a powerful one," said Humphrey, when they had been well +received and lodged. "I would fain see it." + +Hugo smiled and handed it to him. The serving-man took it in his large +hand and regarded it narrowly. "After all it is but a carved fish on a +red stone," he said. + +"Thou dost not ask what it betokeneth?" + +Humphrey glanced up quickly. "Thou canst make merry over my dreams," he +said, "and what they betoken. And here thou comest with a circlet of +gold crowned with a red stone having the likeness of a fish on it. And +thou sayest it betokeneth somewhat. Thou mayest no more deride my +dreams." + +"Nay, nay, my good Humphrey," laughed the boy. "Thou shalt have thy +dreams if thou wilt. But my uncle's priory is dedicated to St. Wilfrid, +who taught the Sussex people to catch all fish, when before they knew +only how to catch eels. Therefore my uncle putteth a fish on the ring, +that whosoever of his friends that seeth it may know it is the ring of +Roger Aungerville, prior of St. Wilfrid's." + +"So doth the fish of thine uncle give us lodging and safety," observed +Humphrey, thoughtfully. "It is a good ring. I will hold it with all +care." And he drew forth the small pouch of gold pieces which Lady De +Aldithely had given him, and put the ring carefully inside it. "It +hangeth about my neck, thou seest," he said, as he replaced the pouch, +"and no man may take it unless he first taketh my head." + +"Or disableth thee with an arrow or a sword thrust," said Hugo. + +"Ay," answered Humphrey, gravely. "I had not spoken of arrows and sword +thrusts. I have the hope that we may meet with neither. And though the +way is long when one must creep and hide and crawl, and go to the south +one day, to the southwest another, and the southeast another, yet the +end cometh at last, and I have hope it be a good end. And now I ask +thee how long we bide and whence go we from here? Doth the ring +decide?" + +"Nay," replied Hugo. "Thou shalt have thy share of the making of plans. +But I would fain learn what we may of the region round about, and of +the safety or danger it holdeth for us ere we sally forth." + +"Why, now," said Humphrey, approvingly, "thou art learning craft. For +who but a fool would be careless of danger? Thou art like my lord, who +knoweth when to strike and when to flee. And for that it is that his +men follow him madly in battle. For, if there be risk, they do know it +to be necessary risk, with a certain gain to be obtained at the end of +it, if all go well. But if there be no gain in view, my lord leadeth +them not into unnecessary danger, and so it is that he is a power and +the king hateth him. Thou doest well to look ahead of thee, for there +is no gain to be had from lying in the king's dungeon, but mayhap thou +shalt lose thy head also, as well as thy liberty. But what doest thou +now?" + +"Why, I fain would sleep, having had no rest in the night. But the +canon knoweth naught of that, nor may I tell him. He must be busy till +even, and so he sendeth me to view the cathedral; and thou mayest go +with me." + +To this Humphrey made no reply, but followed his young master in +silence. + +The verger who took them in charge was an ancient man called Paulinus +of Mansfield, having been born in that place. And he soon saw that what +he had to show of the unfinished cathedral was lost on the heavy-lidded +boy who was half asleep, and upon the Saxon serving-man, who felt no +interest in such matters. Wherefore when he came from the chapter-house +into the cloisters he, being old and feeble, was fain to sit down on a +stone bench and rest; and he motioned Hugo to a seat beside him. + +Humphrey had the idea that, at all times and in all places, wisdom was +with the aged. Besides, the old verger reminded him, in certain +particulars, of his own grandsire, who was a great talker and who knew +more of all matters concerning the countryside than half a dozen other +men. + +And he now cast such an expressive glance upon Hugo and gave such a +meaning nod toward Paulinus, that the boy must perforce have +understood, even if he had not added in a tone too low to catch the +somewhat deaf ears of the old man, "Ask him what thou wouldest know." + +At once Hugo threw off his drowsiness and, in the most pleasing manner +he could summon, requested to be informed of the surrounding district. + +"It is easy to see thou art a stranger," said the gratified old man. +"And thou wouldest know the region round about Lincoln?" he repeated. +"Thou hast come to him who can tell thee of it, for I was born and +brought up in these parts. It is truly a noble region on all sides save +the east, where lieth the fen country. For here cometh the king +frequently to take his pleasure. And that is oft pleasure to him which +would be none to gentler minds." + +At this Hugo turned startled eyes on Humphrey, who stood at a little +distance, but who did not appear to notice his look. + +"Hast ever seen the king?" inquired Paulinus. + +"Nay," replied Hugo. + +"Nor need thou wish so to do," returned the aged Paulinus. "I speak to +thee in confidence, for surely thou art a worthy youth or thou wouldest +not be guest to the Canon Durdent. The king is the youngest and the +worst son of the wicked Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, who is now, by the +mercy of God, dead. I could tell thee tales of the king's cruelty that +would affright thee, but I will not. He loveth to hunt in the Forest of +Sherwood, and therefore hath he castles and lodges hereabout, which he +doth frequent as it pleaseth him. And he hath ever had a liking for that +castle at Newark which our bishop of Lincoln, Alexander the Magnificent, +did build. I could tell thee tales of the dungeons there--knowest thou +what they be like?" And he paused and looked at Hugo, who was somewhat +pale, for the word "dungeon" had come to have a fearsome meaning to him. + +"Nay," answered the boy, "I know not." + +"Thou goest in the castle through a passage to the northwest corner, +where is a door which is guarded. Here is the solid rock; and inside +that door be two dungeons scooped out of it. No stair descendeth to +them. Those who occupy them at the king's will are lowered into them by +a rope, and there is no chance by which they may escape. There they +abide in darkness, and no skill, or cunning, or bravery can avail them +so that they may escape." The old man paused. + +Presently Hugo asked, "And where lieth this castle from here?" + +"It lieth to the southwest, less than a score of miles away." + +Hugo said nothing, and, after a short silence, Paulinus began again: +"If thou shouldest journey hence a little south of west, then wouldest +thou come to Clipstone Palace, which lieth not far from Mansfield, +where I was born. Here the king doth sometimes frequent, and from +thence he goeth to hunt in the forest. But better men than he have +frequented it when his father, King Henry, and his brother, King +Richard, did sojourn there. Thinkest thou to journey that way?" + +"Nay," replied Hugo. "Methinks our way lieth not toward Clipstone." + +"Mayhap it were better to journey by Newark, where be the dungeons I +have told thee of; and so, when thou hast viewed that castle, journey +on southward to Nottingham, where the king hath another castle which +oft holdeth many prisoners. He keepeth there certain children, the +hostages he demandeth of their fathers. And no man knoweth when they +will die, for that is a matter of the king's pleasure." + +The old verger now seemed to fall into a reverie, in which he remained +so long that Hugo rose from the stone bench, thus rousing him. Slowly +he raised himself from his seat, having apparently forgotten all that +he had just been saying, and conducted them to the entrance, where he +bade them adieu. + +"I fear to bide here longer," said Humphrey, as they returned to the +canon's house. "Let us away to the fens on the east of this place, and, +through their wilds, make our way southward." + +Hugo reflected. Then he answered, "Thou art right, Humphrey. It were +not best to journey so near the king's castles and dungeons. We will +away to-morrow morn to the fens." + +This, however, they were unable to do. The canon desired not to part +with his friend's nephew so soon. Seeing which, Humphrey consoled +himself for the delay by buying ample stores of provisions, with which +he so loaded the horses that the canon wondered. "There be towns all +the way from hence to London, and inns in all the towns," he said. +"Thou mayest journey without that packhorse load." + +But Humphrey was obstinate. "The goods be bought," he said stubbornly. + +The canon who knew not that they intended to travel through the fens +and avoid the towns, looked pityingly at Hugo. "I see thou hast a +master in thy man," he observed. "I wonder thine Uncle Roger did not +choose for thee a more obedient servant." + +It was on the tip of the boy's tongue to tell him that his uncle's +prudence had furnished him with no servant at all. But, at a warning +glance from Humphrey, he kept silence. And then, with the blessing of +the canon, they set out down the hill through the narrow street toward +the river, which they crossed and found themselves outside the town. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +Having deposited Walter Skinner before the door of the Lion in +Gainsborough, Richard Wood and his men set off for Sherwood Forest in +the strong hope of coming up with the runaways they sought. And, in +nowise cast down by his recent discouraging experiences, Walter Skinner +held his head high and looked around him fiercely, as of yore. His +doublet and hose besplashed with mud and torn by briers seemed not to +give him any concern; neither did the condition of his shoes, which +were foul with the slimy mud of the swamp. + +"I will have breakfast, sirrah, and that immediately," he said to the +waiter when he had entered the inn. + +The waiter eyed him doubtfully. + +"Make haste. I command thee to it. Dally not with me. I serve the +king," said the fierce little man, loftily. + +"Thy service hath taken thee in strange paths," observed the innkeeper, +who had drawn near. + +"Not so strange as thine will take thee in if thou delay me," retorted +Walter Skinner, haughtily. + +There was in the bar a strange man of a crafty and evil face, and he +now drew near the imperious little spy, and humbly besought the honor +of taking his breakfast in Walter Skinner's company. + +"And so thou shalt," said the spy, condescendingly. "And mayhap, since +I have lost my horse, thou canst direct me where I can find another. I +have no time to go harrying a prior for one." + +The landlord now led the way obsequiously, and soon the strange pair +were seated in one of the several private rooms of the inn, with the +promise that breakfast should be served to them at once. + +Then said the stranger: "As to the matter of a horse, I have at this +moment one by me which I would fain dispose of. He is not gentle enough +to my liking." + +"I care not for gentleness in a horse," declared Walter Skinner. "I +warrant thee I can ride the beast whether he be gentle or not." + +"Thou lookest a bold rider," observed the stranger, craftily. + +"He that doeth the king's business hath need to be a bold rider," +returned Walter Skinner, with a look which was intended to convey the +information that he could unfold mysteries were he so disposed. + +"Thou art high in the king's counsels, then?" asked the stranger, with +a covert smile. + +"Not so high but I shall be higher when I have finished the business in +hand," returned Walter Skinner, patronizingly. The breakfast being now +brought he said no more, but ate like a starving man, and with a very +unfavorable memory of his late meals of wild berries in the swamp. The +crafty-eyed stranger ate more sparingly, and seemed to be mentally +measuring the fierce little man opposite him. At last he asked, "And +whence goest thou from here?" + +"What is that to thee?" demanded Walter Skinner. "Wouldst thou pry into +the king's business? Reach me the bottle." + +The stranger obeyed, and after taking a long drink Walter Skinner said: +"I will now tell thee what I would not tell to every man. First, from +here I go to the Green Dragon at Doncaster, there to crack the pate of +the groom that did send me into the Isle of Axholme, where I did have +all sorts of contumely heaped upon me. And after that I shall pursue my +course or not, as it pleaseth me. Richard Wood did give me permission +so to do. Knowest thou Richard Wood?" + +"Nay," answered the stranger. + +"He is well enough in his place, and that is in the high tree +overlooking the castle. But when he will ride abroad with men-at-arms +behind him to obey his word, then he thinketh that he may tell me also, +his old friend, what I may and may not do. He hath even bid me cease +prating. What thinkest thou of such a man?" + +"Why, he must be a bold man that would bid thee cease prating," replied +the stranger. + +Walter Skinner took another drink and then looked long and earnestly at +him. "Thou art a man of reason," he said; "yea, and of wisdom, +moreover. And come, now, show me thy ungentle horse. I promise thee I +will back him or--or--" He did not finish his sentence, and the two +went out to the inn yard, where stood a horse which did not seem to be +particularly vicious. And the animal was soon in the possession of the +spy for a very fair sum in exchange. + +"I will but fix his bridle for thee," said the man, "while thou payest +the reckoning, and then mayest thou ride with speed and safety. I may +not stay to see thee go, for I must instantly depart." + +"Ay, thou hast a hard master, no doubt," observed Walter Skinner, with +a shake of the head. + +"Necessity is my master," said the stranger. + +"Ay, ay, no doubt," returned Walter Skinner, going toward the bar. +"Necessity is not mine, however." + +A half-hour later, when the spy was ready to set out, the stranger had +disappeared. But he did not miss him, for the landlord himself had come +out into the yard to see him off, while all the grooms stood about, and +two or three maids looked on. + +"Good people, give back," said Walter Skinner, grandly. "Block not the +way of the king's man. Ye mean well and kindly, no doubt, but I would +have ye withdraw yourselves a little space." + +By the help of a groom he was mounted, and a moment later he was out of +the inn yard. But now a strange thing happened. He was no sooner out of +the town than the horse refused to be controlled. In vain the little +spy tried to head him toward Doncaster. The stranger had removed the +bit, putting in its place a wisp of straw, which the horse quickly +chewed to pieces, and then, with a shake of the head, he galloped off +to the south. + +[Illustration: Walter Skinner's horse refused to be controlled] + +"Thou beast!" cried the spy. "What meanest thou? Thou art held in by +bit and bridle. Dost not know it?" + +It seemed that the horse did not, for he went on at a faster pace. + +"Thou art worse than the prior's horse!" cried Walter Skinner, dropping +the reins and clinging round the animal's neck. "I would I had the +stranger that did sell thee to me! I would crack his pate also, even as +I will the pate of the groom at the Green Dragon." + +Giving no heed to the remonstrances of his rider or the unevenness of +the road, the horse kept on until he entered the gates of Lincoln, and +stopped before the Swan with a loud and joyous neigh. + +At the sound two grooms ran out. "Here he be!" cried one. "Here be +Black Tom that was stole but two nights agone," cried the other; while +in great amazement Walter Skinner sat up and gazed from one to the +other. + +"What meanest thou, sirrah?" he demanded of the second groom. "Sayest +thou a horse is stolen when I did pay good money for him but this +morning? And, moreover, who would steal such a beast that will mind not +the bridle and only runs his course the faster for the spur?" + +"Ay, thou knewest not that he was stolen, no doubt," retorted the +second groom, sarcastically. "But here cometh master, who will soon +pull thee down from thy high perch, thou little minute of a dirty man. +Thou hast slept in the swamp over night, I do be bound, and now comest +to brave it out, seeing thou canst not make way with the horse." + +"I would have thee know, villain, that I serve the king, and did buy +the horse in Gainsborough this morn to replace the one which the young +lord did cut loose. And whether I did sleep in the swamp or in a duke's +chamber is naught to thee or to thy master. I have been so shaken up +this morn over thy rough roads and by thy vile beast of a horse that +thou and thy master shall pay for it. What! is the servant of the king +to be sent into the Isle of Axholme by an idiot groom at the Green +Dragon? And, being there, is he to be planted in the mire like a rush +by a Saxon serving-man? And is his horse to be cut loose by the young +lord at the word of that same Saxon serving-man? And is he to be +carried behind Richard Wood to Gainsborough? And is he there to buy a +black horse from a vile stranger? And is he to be run away with to this +place when he would fain go elsewhere about his master's business, +which is to catch this young lord and the Saxon serving-man? And then +is he to be looked at as if he were a thief? Thou shalt repent, and so +I tell thee; yea, in sackcloth and ashes. And if thou canst find no +sackcloth, then thou shalt have a double portion of ashes, ye knaves, +and so I promise you." + +At these words the innkeeper and the grooms looked at each other. And +then the innkeeper said civilly that he and the grooms had meant no +offence, but that the horse had certainly been stolen from the Swan two +nights before. The second groom, equally desirous with his master to +conciliate, pressed forward to show him how the bit had been removed by +the rascal who sold the horse so that he would come straight home +again. + +"Which I did but now discover," said the second groom. + +And the first groom, not to be outdone, said: "If thou really seekest +the young lord and the Saxon serving-man we can put thee on their +track, for surely they did leave here but some three hours agone." + +Walter Skinner stared stupidly for a moment, while the innkeeper +reproved the groom for being beforehand with him in giving the +intelligence. Then the little spy sat up straighter and put on a +haughtier air than ever. "Aha, Fortune!" he cried, "thou art bound to +make a duke of me whether I will or not." Then turning to the +innkeeper he said: "I will enter thine inn, and do thou see that dinner +be promptly served. I will then procure a change of raiment. I will then +sleep over night. I will then breakfast. I will then take thy Black +Tom, which I did buy, and withhold him from me if thou darest. And I +will then set out after the young lord and the serving-man. I have now +given thee my confidence, which if thou betray thou shalt answer for +it. Why, they cannot escape me. Hath Richard Wood come up with them +three several times, as I now have? Nay. If he had he would have +captured them, which showeth that I be the abler man of the two; for, +while I have not captured them, he hath not even caught sight of them. +And now make haste with the dinner." + +All this time the spy had kept his seat on the horse. He now came down, +and the innkeeper, without a word, led the way to a private room, while +the grooms exchanged glances. "Yon be a madman," said the first, whose +name was Elfric. + +"Yea, or a drunken man, which is the same thing," responded the second. + +"He will catch not the young lord," declared Elfric. + +"I did not dream they fled as they rode down the street to the river," +observed the second. "They did go slowly enough, and the young lord +looked about him curiously and unafraid." + +"By that thou mayest know he was a lord, and this drunken fool speaketh +true," returned Elfric. "The better the blood, the less of fear; so +hath my grandsire said." + +Though Walter Skinner had commanded the innkeeper and the grooms to +keep what he called his confidence on pain of his vengeance, what he +had said flew abroad. And wherever the little spy appeared that +afternoon he seemed to arouse much curiosity. "The king must be put to +it for help when he employeth such a one," commented a cooper. + +"Tut, man!" was the reply. "What careth the king who doeth his pleasure +so it be done? It looketh not like to be done, though, with this man +for the doer of it. Why, who but a fool seeing those he sought had +three good hours the start of him would give them four and twenty +more?" + +The cooper shrugged his shoulders. "I tell thee, Peter of the forge," +he said, "that I care not if the king's will be never done, for it is a +bad will. Therefore the more fools like yon he setteth to do it the +better." + +Meanwhile the innkeeper was thinking ruefully of the guest he had on +his hands. "I may not anger him," he said to Elfric, the groom. + +"Nor needest thou," replied Elfric. + +"Talk not to me," said the innkeeper, impatiently. "Wouldst have me +lose Black Tom? For whether he did pay the thief for him or not, he +most certainly did not pay me. And thou knowest the value of Black +Tom." + +"Yea," answered Elfric, "I know it. But why shouldst thou lose Black +Tom?" + +"Why? Art thou gone daft? Didst thou hear him bid me refuse him the +beast if I dared? This it is to have a bad king who will set such +knaves upon his business." + +"If there be but one black horse in Lincoln," replied Elfric, "thou +doest well to fret. But if there be Black Dick that is broken-winded +and hath the spring-halt so that he be not worth more than one day's +reckoning at the Swan at the most; and if he looketh tolerably fair; +and if thou mayst buy him for a small sum; and if this drunken fool +knoweth not one horse from another; why needst thou worry?" + +The face of the innkeeper at once cleared. "The fraud is justifiable," +he said. "For why should he take my Black Tom and give me naught? I do +but protect myself when I give him instead Black Dick." + +"Ay, and thou doest no unfriendly turn to the young lord neither. I +have been to inquire, and there be those that say he is son to De +Aldithely. And doubtless he fleeth away to his brave father in France. +I did think he had a familiar look this morn. And when I heard, I did +repent that the Swan had put this knave upon his track. But with Black +Dick he cometh not up with him in a hurry." + +That night Walter Skinner found the Swan a most pleasant abiding-place, +where all were attentive to serve him. "Thou hast me for thy friend," +he told the innkeeper as he supped with him. "Thou hast me, I say, and +not Richard Wood. And I will speak a good word for thee to the king. +Not now, indeed, for it were not seemly that I should introduce thy +matters until I had brought mine own to a happy issue. But what sayest +thou? To pursue a young lord for many miles and capture +him,--single-handed,--were that not worth a dukedom? I have here this +good yew bow with a silken string and a goodly store of arrows. Oh, I +will capture him, if ever I come up with him. The serving-man cutteth +not this silken string nor breaketh these arrows, I warrant thee." + +And, clad in his new raiment, Walter Skinner sat back in his chair and +gazed pompously around. + +The innkeeper listened, and, supper being over, he sought Elfric, to +whom he related what had passed. "I would not that a hair of the young +son of De Aldithely should be harmed," he said. "And what I dare not +do, that thou must perform." + +"And what is that?" asked Elfric. + +"Thou must fray his bow-string so it will not be true, and thou must +injure his arrows likewise." + +"Right willingly will I do so," promised Elfric. "If he hit any mark he +aim at when I am done with the bow and arrows, then am I as great a +knave as he. And the damage shall be so small that he may not see it +neither." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + +Although there were those who had looked upon Hugo and Humphrey +curiously in the streets of Lincoln, there were none sufficiently +interested to observe what direction they took after they had left the +town. And none saw them leave the road and betake themselves to the +fens as safer for their journey. So east of the heights, which, to the +east of Lincoln, extend in a southeasterly direction, they rode, +picking their way as they might, and hopeful that now all enemies were +thrown off their track. + +"It is a weariness to be pursued so many days," said Hugo. "I would +fain breathe easily once more." + +"Ay, lad," returned Humphrey. "But that is what cannot be done in this +world. When thou art forty years old, as I am, thou wilt see that every +man hath his enemies and every bird and beast also, as we may perchance +see in this wild fen country. It is good, therefore, to breathe as +easily as one can and think no more about it. Knowest thou what these +fens be like?" + +"Nay; but mine uncle hath told me that they be vast, and that here and +there half-wild people live in huts along the reedy shores; and that +south lieth the goodly town of Peterborough, as well as the abbey of +Crowland." + +"Doth the ring avail at Peterborough?" + +"Yea, if I have need; but there will be none." And he glanced with a +smile at the heavily loaded horses they rode, and bethought himself of +his plentiful supply of gold pieces. "What hast thou in all these bags +and packs, Humphrey?" he asked. + +"Why, the answer to that question is not so simple," was the reply. "I +did but buy somewhat of all I saw, and did bestow it the best I could, +so as to leave room for our legs on the sides of the horses. Should the +spy pursue us, he would soon come up with us, for flee we could not, so +loaded down. But I look not for him. No doubt he still lodgeth in the +Isle of Axholme, and the other spy we have not of late heard from. If +we but keep clear of beaten paths, we be safe enough. I will hope to +have a dream to-night." + +Hugo did not reply; he was looking about him in much enjoyment. The day +chanced to be clear, and as far as he could see lay the level of the +fen-lands. Here were trees, some straight, others leaning over the +water; there were islands of reeds, and yonder the water shimmering on +its shallow, winding way, so sluggish as to be almost stagnant. The +whole region was alive with sound,--the cries of water-fowl, the songs +of birds, and the croak of frogs. And when he rode along the water's +brink, an occasional fin flashed out. Humphrey watched him with +approval. "Ay, lad," he said, "thou wilt soon be wise in fen lore, for +thou hast a heart to it. I will tell thee now that I have wherewith to +fish in one of these same packs. Mine ears were not idle in the town, +and I did learn that perch and red-eye and roach and bream frequent the +waters of the fen." + +"And didst thou ask what fish were in the fen?" asked Hugo, in alarm. + +"Nay, lad, most surely not. But when I did see fish for sale I did +praise their beauty, and they that had them did of themselves tell me +where they did catch them. There be more ways of finding out things +than by asking of questions." + +They were now come to a small, grassy isle fringed with reeds. "Here do +we get down," said Humphrey. "I would fain see if we do not catch some +of those same fish for our dinner. And here is grass, moreover, where +the horses can graze." + +Slowly and carefully boy and man disengaged themselves from the baggage +that almost encased them and dismounted. "If thou dost get a dream +to-night, Humphrey," said Hugo, laughingly, "I hope thou wilt discover +what we shall do with all this stuff." + +"I dream not to find out such a thing as that," returned the +serving-man, good-naturedly. + +The horses were soon tied out, and the fishing-lines and hooks +unpacked. Then Humphrey, going out on a fallen log which was half +submerged, carefully plumbed the water to see how deep it was, while +Hugo watched him in wonder. Next he took from another package some +ground bait consisting of meal, and balls made of bread and grain, +worked up in the hand. This he threw into the water, which was here but +two feet deep. Then in a whisper he said, "All this I did learn in +Lincoln." And he bade Hugo hold his line so that the bait on the hook +was about an inch from the bottom. + +Hugo obeyed, and in a moment was rewarded with a red-eye about a foot +long. At the same time Humphrey drew out another. And before long they +had half a dozen each, for the red-eye was always sure to be one of a +crowd, and it was so greedy that it took the bait readily. + +"No more to-day," said Humphrey, winding up his line, "for we already +have more than we can eat, and I hold it sin to slay what we cannot +eat. This was I taught by my grandsire, who ever said that evil was +sure to befall those who did so. And I would we could put the life back +into half we have taken; but they did bite so readily that we had too +many suddenly. Still, if we eat naught to speak of but fish, we may +make away with most and so be spared evil." + +While Humphrey dressed the too numerous fish, Hugo sought sufficient +fuel to cook them, and came back to find the serving-man well +satisfied. "Even as I did begin to dress the fish," he said, "there +came a sound of wings, and I looked up and did behold a glede. And I +did cease to move; so came he nearer, and did snatch a fish. Then came +another and did snatch a fish. In quietness I did wait. Then came the +first glede back and did take a fish, and the second did like-wise. +And, by waiting with patience, the gledes did take two more. And now we +have but six fish, and no evil will befall us, for those we can eat." + +Hugo smiled, for the big serving-man had spoken with the faith of a +child. + +Their noon rest taken, they went on again toward the south and came by +nightfall to what Humphrey decided to be a suitable place to pass the +night. "I mean not," he said, "that the place would please me were we +out of the fen. But being in the fen, why, there be worse places than +this to be found; for it is not a bog nor a slough, and there be reeds +in plenty near by." + +"Do we make a fire?" asked Hugo, mindful of their experience in the +Isle of Axholme. + +"Yea," answered the serving-man. "If we make the fire perchance some +evil person seeth us, perchance not. If we make not the fire, the chill +of the fen doth get into our bones. Seest thou how the mist arises? And +we be not like the holy hermits of these haunts to withstand chill and +vapors." + +Hugo looked at him in surprise. "How knowest thou of holy hermits?" he +asked. + +"I did even learn of them in Lincoln. It was the canon's servant who +did tell me of St. Guthlac and St. Godric. He did know more of the holy +hermits than of his master's service, I warrant thee. And that is an +evil knowledge for a servant that bids him talk to the neglect of his +master's good." + +The fire alight, the two lay down, Hugo to fall asleep and Humphrey to +rise at intervals through the night and throw on reeds that so the fen +mists might work no harm to the boy, to whom he was now as devotedly +attached as ever he was to Josceline. The morning's breakfast was from +the packs which Humphrey acknowledged were too full for prudent +carrying; and by the time Walter Skinner arose at the Swan they were +off again, still southward. They were now nearer the coast, and a great +fen eagle flew screaming over their heads. "To dream that eagles do fly +over your head doth betoken evil fortune," remarked Humphrey, gravely. +"But I think we need not fear those eagles which do not fly in dreams." + +And now in the yard of the Swan all was astir. Elfric had taken Black +Dick out and gently exercised him so that his spring-halt need not be +at once apparent, and there was no little anxiety on the part of the +host to get rid of his guest expeditiously. The spy, however, with his +usual dulness, did not perceive it, but took all this effusive service +as his rightful due. "I will requite thee later, worthy host," he said +grandly. "I will not fail to set thee before the king in the light of a +trusty innkeeper." With this farewell he rode pompously out of the yard +and slowly down the hill street to the river, and so passed out of the +town. And, being out, he paused to consider his course. + +"Shall I go to the fen in pursuit of them, or shall I go down +Nottingham way?" he said. "I will go Nottingham way. I will be no more +planted in mire like a rush. Nay, verily. Not to find all the young +lords and Saxon serving-men in creation. I serve the king; and will go +not into bogs and fens suitable for Saxon outcasts and no others. And +if they be wise they will do the same." + +Having come to this decision, he put spurs to Black Dick and was off +southwest, while slowly Hugo and Humphrey journeyed on southeast. +Presently the horse began to heave. "Why, where is thy speed of +yesterday, Black Tom?" cried Walter Skinner. "Thou didst not heave when +I clung round thy neck on the way to Lincoln town." He gave the bridle +a sharp jerk, suddenly turning the horse which now began to show the +spring-halt with which he was afflicted. "Why, what sort of a dance is +this?" cried Walter Skinner. "Thou art a strange beast. Verily, thou +art like some people--one thing yesterday and another to-day. I can say +this for thee--thou wert black yesterday, and thou art still black +to-day." + +He had not gone far when he came up with a man riding slowly along, and +decided to take him into his confidence so far as to ask if he had seen +those he sought. Accordingly he crowded Black Dick close alongside of +the stranger's horse, and, giving him a meaning glance, said, "Hast +thou seen a young lord this morn?" + +The stranger looked astonished, as well he might. + +"Ay," said Walter Skinner, much gratified. "I said a young lord. Mayhap +thou art not used to consort with such, but a young lord is not much +more to me than his Saxon serving-man. And that remindeth me--hast seen +the serving-man also?" + +"Nay," answered the stranger, mildly. "I have seen neither." + +"And that is strange, too," said Walter Skinner. "Why, bethink thee, +man! Thou must have seen them. They did leave Lincoln but yester morn. +And if they came not this way, which way did they go? Answer me truly, +for I warn thee, I serve the king." + +The stranger reaffirming that he had seen neither the young lord nor +his serving-man, Walter Skinner was obliged to be content. "They be as +slippery as eels," he cried. "And that remindeth me, I did eat eels for +breakfast at the Swan this morn." + +Then, without a word of leave-taking, he rode off, Black Dick doing his +afflicted best, and Walter Skinner wondering how he could have been so +mistaken in the animal. "The thief that stole him did well to be rid of +him," he said. "And that he should put him off on me is but another +indignity I have suffered on this chase. The king hath ever a +lengthening score to pay, and nothing but a dukedom will content me. +And why should I not be a duke? Let Richard Wood say what he likes, +worse men than I have been dukes. Ay, and more basely born." + +By noon he had come to Newark. "And here will I pause and search the +town for them," he said. "If they know not of them, why, their +ignorance is criminal. A loyal subject should know what concerneth his +king. And it concerneth the king that these two be found." + +Now it chanced that the king was then at Newark and about to set off +for Clipstone Palace. Which, when Walter Skinner heard, he declared +proudly, "I will have speech of him." + +"Thou have speech of him!" exclaimed an attendant. "Thou art mad." + +"Nay, verily, I am not mad. Am I not Walter Skinner, hired by the +king's minister to bide in a high tree that overlooketh De Aldithely +castle? I tell thee, I will see the king." And, the party now +approaching, he broke through all restraint and rode close up beside +the king. "May it please thy Majesty," he began, "there be those that +do keep me back from speech with thee. Ay, even though I do tell them +that I serve thee." + +The king looked at him, laughed rudely, and motioned one of his +attendants to remove him. But the little man waved the attendant off, +and cried out so that all might hear, "Didst not thy minister hire me +to bide in the tall tree that overlooketh De Aldithely Castle?" + +At the mention of the name De Aldithely the king paused, and seemed to +listen. Seeing which, Walter Skinner went on: "And, when all the rest +were gone to York, did I not see the young lord and his Saxon +serving-man ride forth? And did I not give chase? And do I not now seek +them on this wind-broken and spring-halt horse as best I may?" + +The king beckoned the little man nearer. + +"Where hast thou sought?" he asked. + +"In the wood, in the swamp, and in the town," was the proud answer. "I +be not like Richard Wood, who did set out to help me. For I have come +up with them three several times, and he not once." + +The king turned to one of his attendants. "Take thou the madman into +custody," he said. "We will presently send to De Aldithely castle to +see if these things be so." + + + + +CHAPTER XV + + +Richard Wood and his men had searched the forest of Sherwood thoroughly +enough to lead them to conclude that those they sought had taken +another route. And on this, the tenth day of his chase, Richard Wood +said decidedly: "We try the fen now to the east. They be not spirits to +vanish in the air. Here in this wood they are not, nor do I think they +would bide in any town. Therefore in the fen they must be." Thereupon, +leaving the forest, they rode southeast by the way of Grantham, and so +on into the fen country, striking it a few miles from where Hugo and +Humphrey were making their camp for the night, almost within sight of +Peterborough. The two were quite cheerful, and entirely unsuspicious +that danger might be nearer to them than usual. + +"Thinkest thou to stop at Peterborough?" asked Humphrey. + +"Nay," replied Hugo; "there is no need." + +"And yet," urged Humphrey, "a good lodging, were it but for one night, +were a happy change from the fens. Who is the canon that is thine +uncle's friend at Peterborough?" + +"Canon Thurstan," replied Hugo. + +"In the Canon Thurstan's house--" began Humphrey. + +"But the canon hath no house," interrupted Hugo, with a smile. + +"And how is that?" demanded Humphrey, with a puzzled air. + +"It happeneth because this cathedral is on another foundation, and the +canons here be regular and not secular, as they be in Lincoln." + +Humphrey reflected. "I understand not," he said at length. + +"At Peterborough the canons live all together in one house," explained +Hugo. "Were we to go there we should be taken to the hospitium, where +we should be lodged." + +"And there see the Canon Thurstan?" + +"Yea." + +Again Humphrey reflected. Then he said: "The ways of priests be many. +Mayhap I had known more of them, but in my forty years I have had to do +with other matters, like serving my lord and lady in troublous times. +The priest at the castle I did know, but not much of the ways of +priests in priests' houses. And now cometh the evening mist right +early. I will but make up the fire and then lead away the horses." + +The fire made, although it was not dark, Humphrey departed, leaving +Hugo to feed it. This the boy did generously, for he felt chilled. The +smoke did not rise high and the odor of it penetrated to some distance. + +In a little while Humphrey returned laden with a new supply of fuel +partly green and partly dry. He then spread out their evening meal, and +gave Fleetfoot his supper. And, all these things accomplished and the +supper eaten, he announced his intention to go again for fuel. + +"Have we not here enough?" asked Hugo. "Thou knowest we journey on in +the morning." + +"Mayhap," answered Humphrey. "I like not the look of this mist. My +grandsire hath told me of a mist that lay like a winding-sheet on +everything for two days, and this seemeth to me to be of that kind. It +were not wise to stir, mayhap, to-morrow morn." + +"Lest we encounter the other spy?" laughed Hugo. + +"Jest not, dear lad," replied Humphrey, soberly. "We may not know how +or whence danger cometh." + +"And dost thou fear, then?" asked Hugo. + +"Nay, I fear not. I cannot say I fear. But this moment a feeling hath +come to me which I had not before. I will away for more fuel." + +"I go with thee," said Hugo. + +"Ay, lad, come," was the reply. + +Two trips they made, each time returning heavily laden, and then Hugo +laughingly said, "Surely we have enough, even if the mist last two +days, for we had good store before thou didst look upon the mist with +suspicion." + +Humphrey smiled. "Yea, lad," he answered, "the fuel now seemeth +enough." + +While he spoke a wind sprang up and the mist grew lighter. It blew +harder, and the mist was gone. One might see the stars. Two hours this +lasted, during which Richard Wood and his men, as if guided, rode +straight for the small camp, picking their way with great good fortune +and making few missteps. Then the wind died down, the mist came back +enfolding everything, and the pursuers encamped where they were. But of +that Hugo and Humphrey knew nothing. + +It might have been two o'clock when the serving-man awoke with a shiver +and rose to renew the fire. He found it quite extinguished. As he felt +about in the darkness for his flint and steel he glanced anxiously +toward Hugo, though he could not see him. "I know not," he muttered, "I +know not. But I did dream of eagles and they did scream above our +heads. Some danger draweth near, or some heavy trouble." + +The fire now blazed, and the faithful serving-man saw that Hugo was +still asleep, resting as easily on his couch of reeds as he could have +done on the canon's bed. "It is a good lad," said Humphrey. "Were he a +De Aldithely he could not be better." + +Humphrey lay down no more that night. Restlessly he moved about, now +replenishing the fire, and now listening for some hostile sound. But he +heard nothing. + +It was late in the morning when Hugo awoke. "Surely this must be thy +grandsire's mist, Humphrey," he said. "It is heavy enough." + +"Yea," answered Humphrey, looking up from the breakfast he was +preparing. "It were best not to stir abroad to-day." + +And at that moment Richard Wood was saying: "I smell smoke within half +a mile of me. Ride we to see what that meaneth." Again, as if to aid +him, the wind sprang up so that through the lifting mist one might +easily pick his way, and Humphrey had just departed to look after the +horses when Richard Wood and his men-at-arms arrived at the camp. + +"Yield thee, Josceline De Aldithely!" commanded Richard Wood. "Yield +thee in the king's name!" and, dismounting, he laid his hand on the +astonished lad's arm. + +[Illustration: "Yield Thee in the King's Name"] + +A little later Humphrey, returning to the camp, paused in amazement, +for he heard voices. He crept around a fringe of reeds and peered, but +could not see clearly. He advanced further, still under cover, and then +he saw. + +"I did dream of eagles," he muttered, "and they did scream above our +heads." + +He listened, and from what he heard he learned that Hugo had not +revealed himself as Hugo, but that he allowed the spy to think him to +be Josceline. "Well did my lady trust in him!" exulted Humphrey. "And +my lord shall know of this when we be come to France, as we shall come, +though all the eagles in the fens do scream above our heads. And now I +will away to the Canon Thurstan, and see of what avail is the fish on +the circlet of gold." + +Creeping back as silently as he could, he mounted his horse and set out +for Peterborough. "May the spy and his men-at-arms be too weary to stir +till I come back," he said. "And if they be not weary, may the mist +come lower down and hold them. And now, horse, do thy best. Splash into +pools, wade, swim, do all but stick fast till we come to Peterborough +town." + +The horse, thus urged, did his sagacious best, and very shortly the +serving-man was knocking at the gate of the porter's lodge. Now +Humphrey knew nothing of how he ought to proceed. He only knew that he +was in haste and that his need was urgent. He therefore determined to +employ boldness and assurance, and push his way into the canon's +presence. + +"Canon Thurstan!" he cried boldly, attempting to push past the porter. +"Canon Thurstan, and at once! My lord demandeth it." + +"Thou mayest not push in past me thus," said the porter, stopping him. +"Hast thou no token to show?" + +"Yea, verily," answered Humphrey, hastily taking out his pouch and +producing the prior's ring. "Take this, and bid the canon see me +instantly." + +The porter, calling an attendant, sent the ring by him. And presently +an order came bidding Humphrey come into the presence of the canon. + +"Where is the prior's nephew?" asked the canon, with the ring in his +hand. + +"In the custody of knaves who did surprise our camp." + +"Knaves, sayest thou?" said the canon. "Wherefore hast thou a camp? +Wherefore lodgest thou not in towns? What doest thou wandering through +the fens?" + +"We be pursued," answered Humphrey. + +"Pursued? and by whom? Why, who should pursue the nephew of Roger +Aungerville?" + +"It is a king's man, and he hath with him three men-at-arms," answered +Humphrey. + +"A king's man, sayest thou? Nay, then, I meddle not in the king's +matters." And he made as if to hand back the ring. + +"And wilt thou not, then, aid me to rescue my young master?" + +"Nay," answered the canon. "I may not do such a thing except upon +compulsion. The dean is now absent, and I am in his place." + +Beside himself with impatience over what seemed to him needless delay, +and with disappointment over what seemed to promise failure altogether, +Humphrey cried out roughly: "Compulsion, sayest thou? Then, since 'tis +compulsion thou lackest, compulsion thou shalt have." And he laid hands +on him. + +At this two servants came running in. "Ye see," said the canon, turning +to them. "This is the ring of my friend, Roger Aungerville, prior of +St. Wilfrid's. It bindeth me to do all in reason for his nephew. This +is his nephew's servant, who hath come to me to seek my aid to rescue +his young master from the clutches of a king's man and three +men-at-arms. I tell him I may not do such a thing except upon +compulsion, and he layeth hands upon me." And he smiled upon them +whimsically. + +They understood the canon and his smile, and the first said: "If thou +be compelled to aid this fellow, were it not best that I call up +Herebald and Bernulf also? They be two, as thou knowest, swift of foot, +and long of wind, and strong of arm; and they have two good staves, +moreover." + +"Why," said the canon, whimsically, "it were doubtless wholly evil that +I should undergo compulsion in mine own domain by a strange +serving-man, and be compelled to render aid even against the king's +men. Still, since I be compelled to render aid, it were good to render +the best possible, and so take with ye Herebald and Bernulf; and spare +not for blows, so that ye bring off the young man safe." + +Then he handed the prior's ring to Humphrey, who returned it to its +pouch with great satisfaction. "I will ne'er say aught against a fish," +he thought, "when it surmounteth a circlet of gold and doth belong to a +prior. Methinks this canon liketh not the king nor his men, or he would +not be so easily compelled to go against them, and so all shall yet be +well with us." + +The two servants now withdrew from the canon's presence, taking +Humphrey with them, and, calling up Herebald and Bernulf, all four made +speed to depart with the impatient serving-man. + +"If the mist hold, we have them," said the first servant, as he rode +beside Humphrey. "And it be heavier now than it was two hours agone." + +"Ay, if we lose not our way," was the response. + +"That we cannot do with Herebald and Bernulf," was the confident +answer. "They were born and bred in these fens. And because they do +hate the king and all his men they will be swift on the track this +morn. If the king's man come not off with a broken pate, it will be a +wonder. And the same is like to be the fate of the three men-at-arms." + +The mist held, and, gleaming through it, as they neared the camp, they +saw the red fire. Cautiously they approached. Richard Wood and his +hungry men-at-arms had been making free with the packs so liberally +provided by Humphrey at Lincoln, and were now resting on the rushes, +with Hugo in their midst. They were in no mood to journey farther in +the dimness of the mist, and Richard Wood was putting question after +question to Hugo in the hope of eliciting some information which might +be valuable to him, while the men-at-arms listened. They were Le +Falconer's men, and they cared nothing for the fate of De Aldithely's +son. + +"Where hideth away thy mother?" asked Richard Wood. + +"Even in the tomb," answered Hugo, truthfully, for his mother was dead. + +For a moment Richard Wood was taken aback. "I had not heard of it," he +said at length. "I knew not that thy mother was dead. The king had +hoped to capture her also. But it seemeth death hath been beforehand +with him." + +And then the four servants of the canon, who had surrounded the little +group unseen, lifted their staves and struck as one man. Over rolled +Richard Wood and his three men-at-arms, stunned and unconscious. +Humphrey at once brought up Hugo's horse and Fleetfoot, and the +rescuers departed, leaving the four unconscious men to come to +themselves at their leisure. + +"Thou art to return to the hospitium," said the first servant to +Humphrey. "It is the canon's order. He will see this nephew of the +prior's and inquire more narrowly concerning his journey. And say thou +naught of this rescue to any man. We four do the canon's bidding at all +times, but our tongues wag not of the matter." + +"When the canon is compelled, thou doest his bidding?" asked Humphrey. + +"Ay, when he is compelled. He hath those of his kin who have suffered +wrong at the king's hands. Therefore is he often compelled, as thou +sayest, but he sayeth naught, and so the king knoweth naught. May he be +long ignorant." + +The first servant now withdrew himself from Humphrey's side, and in due +time, still under cover of the friendly mist which spread its curtain +over the streets of the town, the little party regained the hospitium +unseen. As soon as their arrival was known Hugo was summoned to the +presence of the canon; and the handsome, fearless youth, as he entered +the room where the canon awaited him, seemed to strike his host with +surprise. + +"Thou the nephew of Roger Aungerville!" he exclaimed, when they were +alone. "Thou shouldst be a De Aldithely." + +"I am Hugo Aungerville," answered the boy. And then, drawing nearer, he +half whispered something further to the canon, who seemed to find the +explanation satisfactory. + +"Why dost thou skulk and hide in this manner through the fens?" asked +the canon. "And why art thou pursued?" + +"I personate Josceline, son of Lord De Aldithely, and so draw pursuit +from him. When I am come to Lord De Aldithely in France, then I shall +make myself known, if need be." + +"There will be no need," said the canon, decidedly. "And now, though I +am glad to have succored the nephew of my friend, the prior, I am twice +glad to do a service to Lord De Aldithely. Thou hast my blessing. Go +now to thy rest, even though it be day. To-morrow morn I will send thee +forth, if it seem best." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + + +The king and his party rode on to Clipstone Palace. The attendant to +whom the spy had been consigned hastily summoned a bailiff, to whom he +made over his charge, and then galloped off to overtake the party. And +Walter Skinner, hardly understanding what had come to pass, was left +behind in Newark. + +The king had thought to spend a week of pleasure at Clipstone, but the +intelligence brought by the spy changed his plans. Of all his barons he +hated Lord De Aldithely most. He would have struck at him more quickly +and forcibly but for Lord De Aldithely's great popularity, and his own +somewhat cowardly fear. And now here was the son escaped. And suddenly +the evil temper of the king blazed forth so that his attendants, in so +far as they dared, shrank from him. + +The king waited not to reach Clipstone, but turning to two of his +attendants he said: "Go thou, De Skirlaw, and thou, De Kellaw, to De +Aldithely Castle. Put spurs to your horses and tarry not. See what is +come to pass and bring me word again." + +De Skirlaw and De Kellaw galloped off; and the king, shortly after +coming to Clipstone, entered his private apartments and excluded the +party from them. + +"There is treachery somewhere," he said to himself, aloud, "and the +guilty shall not escape me. Why, what is this Josceline but a boy of +fourteen? And what is his mother but a woman? And do they both bid +successful defiance to me, the king? I will have their castle down over +their heads, and no counsels shall longer prevent me from doing it. +Without the boy and his mother the father is sure aid to Louis. And +where De Aldithely goeth, there goeth victory." + +"Nay, not alway, my liege," responded a voice. + +The king started, and turned to see one of his courtiers, more bold +than the rest, who had quietly entered the chamber. + +"I knew not of thy presence, De Kirkham," he said. "What sayest thou?" + +"I say that victory is not alway with De Aldithely since he is a +fugitive and his son a wanderer, and his castle in thy power." + +"True. Thou sayest true," responded the king, after a pause. "Thou dost +ever bolster up my failing courage. And I will have this silly boy, if +the madman I did put in custody spake true. Yea, I will have him, +though I set half England on the chase. His father is my enemy. And +shall the son defy me? I will hale him to a dungeon, and so I tell +thee, De Kirkham." + +It was not a long ride to De Aldithely castle for those who need +neither skulk nor hide, and the messengers of the king were at Selby +ere nightfall. Here they determined to rest and go on the next morning. +They heard no news in the town; nor did they see anything until they +came to the castle itself. Birds of prey were screaming above the moat +near the postern, and there was a stillness about the place that would +have argued desertion if the flag had not still floated from one of the +towers. + +"I like not this stillness," said De Skirlaw. + +"It hath a menacing air," observed De Kellaw. + +A while the two waited in the outskirts of the wood near the cleared +place about the castle. Then said De Skirlaw, "I go forward boldly to +the bridge and summon the warder in the king's name." + +"I go with thee," agreed De Kellaw. + +So briskly the two rode forth from the shelter of the wood and up to +the entrance, where De Skirlaw loudly wound his horn. But there was no +response. He wound it again. And still there came no answer. + +"Seest thou no man upon the walls?" asked De Skirlaw, scanning the +heights with eyes somewhat near-sighted. + +"I see no one," responded the hawk-eyed De Kellaw. + +"Let us skirt the castle," proposed De Skirlaw, after a short pause. + +"I am ready," responded De Kellaw. + +Then together the two began their tour of examination. And the first +thing they noted was the dam which William Lorimer and his men had +constructed, and which the old warder had broken before he himself +wandered forth from the castle, thus letting the water which had filled +the rear part of the moat escape. From this point they rode back toward +the entrance and, looking down into the moat, saw that it was dry. +Turning again toward the postern, they noted the drawbridge there, and +wondered to see it down. "The postern gate is also ajar," observed De +Kellaw. The two now drew nearer and came even to the edge of the moat. +They looked in, but saw only bones and armor; for kites and eagles had +been at work, and nothing more remained of those who had perished there +in the waters. + +"Some strange thing hath happened here, and wind of it is not yet gone +abroad," said De Skirlaw. + +"Yea," agreed De Kellaw. "Darest thou venture across this bridge and in +at the postern gate?" + +"I dare," responded De Skirlaw. Dismounting, the two secured their +horses by stakes driven into the earth, and then, on foot, crossed the +bridge. + +Inside the baileys all was deserted. The stables were empty. No +footsteps but their own could be heard. No guard paced the walls. No +warder kept watch. There was only silence and emptiness in the great +hall, and no living creature was anywhere. + +"Here be a mystery," said De Skirlaw. "I will not be the one to try to +unravel it. Let us away to the king and say what we have seen." + +"Ay, and brave his wrath by so doing," returned De Kellaw; "for, since +he cannot lay hands on those that have disappointed him, he will lay +hands on us that bring him word of the matter. To be near to the king, +if thou be not a liar or a cajoler, is to stand in a dangerous place." + +"Yea," answered De Skirlaw, "thou art right; but we needs must return. +So let us set out." + +While the king raged, Walter Skinner, left behind at Newark in charge +of the bailiff, had speedily recovered his complacency. + +"I have seen the king and spoken with him," he thought. "True, he did +laugh right insultingly in my face, but that may be the way of kings; +and even so will I laugh in the face of Richard Wood when next I see +him, for he hath no hope of preferment and seeketh only his money +reward. Therefore is he a base cur and fit only to be laughed to +scorn." + +When the scullions served him his dinner in the room where he was held +prisoner, he looked upon them haughtily, and bade them mind what they +did and how they did it. "For I shall not alway be served here by such +as ye," he said. + +"Nay, verily," replied the first scullion, "thou sayest true. Thou art +more like to be served in one of the dungeons, if so be thou be served +at all." + +"Why, what meanest thou by that last, sirrah?" demanded the little man, +strutting up and down and frowning. + +"I did but mean that thou mayest shortly journey to that land where +there is neither eating nor drinking," was the reply. + +"Thou meanest that I may shortly die?" asked Walter Skinner, +contemptuously. + +"Yea," was the answer. + +"Why, so must thou. So must Richard Wood. So must the king himself," +said Walter Skinner. "But thou hast learned here so near the court to +speak Norman fashion, and go round about the matter; and so thou +speakest of journeys, and a land where there is neither eating nor +drinking. Moreover, thou didst speak of dungeons. I would have thee +know that they be no fit subjects of conversation in my presence. Have +I not served the king? And shall I not therefore have preferment? Speak +not of dungeons, and the country where there is neither eating nor +drinking to me." And, seating himself, the pompous little man began to +eat his dinner heartily. When he had finished, the first scullion came +alone to take away the dishes. + +"Thou art a very big little fool," he said, with a compassionate +glance, "and so I bid thee prepare thyself for any fate. Thou must know +that what thou saidst to the king did anger him. Thou didst bring him +ill news, and the bearer of ill news he will punish." + +Walter Skinner now showed some alarm; but he soon recovered himself. +"Why, how now, sirrah?" he said. "I did not bid the young lord +Josceline flee; but when he did flee I did give chase. And wherefore +should I be punished for that? Had I remained in the tree near the +castle, then indeed the king had had cause for anger." + +The scullion still looked at him pityingly. "By thine own showing," he +said, "thou art but the king's spy, hired by Sir Thomas De Lany, no +doubt. Spies have not preferment when their task is done, because, +though the king doth take their work, he hateth them that perform it." + +And now Walter Skinner stared in bewilderment. "Thou art but a +scullion," he said at last. "And how knowest thou of Sir Thomas?" + +"I am not what I seem," replied the scullion. "Wert thou sound in thy +wits I would have said naught to thee, because then thou wouldst not +have been here; but I like not to see one infirm of intellect run into +calamity." + +"And dost thou say of me that I be not sound in my wits?" demanded +Walter Skinner, indignantly. + +"Why, thou art either unsound of wit or a knave," was the calm +response. "Only fool or knave doeth dirty work for another, even though +that other be the king. And now, if thou wilt escape, I will help thee +to it." + +"I have had great toils," said Walter Skinner, with a manner which +would have been ponderous in a man twice his size. "I have met a +hedgehog. I have lost two horses. I have been planted in the mire like +a rush. I have now come hither on a wind-broken and spring-halt horse, +for which I did pay a price to a thief. And now thou sayest that for +all this which I have undergone in the service of the king I shall have +not preferment but a dungeon or death." + +"Yea," was the calm rejoinder, "I say it; for where is the young lord? +Knowest thou?" + +"Nay," answered Walter Skinner, slowly. + +"That is all that the king careth for of thee. That thou hast let him +escape thee is all that he will note. And thy life will, mayhap, answer +for it. All will depend on the greatness of his rage." + +The little man looked in fright at the scullion, whom even his +inexperienced eyes could now see was no scullion as he stood there in +dignity awaiting the decision of the prisoner. "I will go with thee," +he said, in a tremble. "But do I go on the wind-broken and spring-halt +Black Tom of Lincoln?" + +"That, Black Tom of Lincoln!" cried the mysterious scullion, laughing. +"Thou hast once more been made a fool of. I have many times seen Black +Tom. But thou shalt not go on the beast thou camest on. I will furnish +thee another, for it must seem that thou didst escape on foot. Seek no +more for the young lord. Flee into hiding and remain there. Dost thou +promise me so to do?" + +"Yea," was the prompt answer. "I promise." + +He in the disguise of the scullion smiled, and bidding Walter Skinner +follow him, led the way by secret passages until they came out unseen +into a small court, where stood a horse ready saddled and bridled. The +little man's guide bade him mount, and, opening a small door in the +wall, motioned him to ride through it and away. + +"My liege, the king," he said, as he watched the spy making all speed +on his way, "thou wilt learn nothing of the flight of Josceline De +Aldithely from thy late prisoner. And may confusion wait on all thy +plans." + +Walter Skinner had been gone over night, and the second day of his +flight was well begun when the king, impatient over the slowness of De +Skirlaw and De Kellaw, sent from Clipstone to Newark to have the spy +brought before him. In haste the bailiff went to the room where he had +placed him, and no prisoner was there. No prisoner was anywhere in the +castle or in the town, as the frightened officer discovered after a +diligent search. Only the afflicted horse upon which he had arrived +remained in one of the stables. And with this word the unfortunate +officer hastened on his way to the king. Near the gate, as he went out +of Newark, he met one of the courtiers who bore a strong resemblance to +him who had, in the guise of a scullion, set Walter Skinner at liberty. +"Thou art frightened, worthy bailiff," he said. "But do thou only put a +brave front on it and all may yet go well. Be careful to say and ever +repeat that the man was mad, and not only mad, but cunning, and so hath +made off, leaving his horse behind him." + +The bailiff responded with a grateful look. "Thou art ever kind, my +lord," he said. "And mayhap the man is dead. If he knew not the way, he +may be dead, or caught by robbers. I will say that he may be dead also, +and I hope he may be." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + + +On the morning when Hugo and Humphrey were to start, the canon summoned +them to his presence, and his face was grave. "I have but now learned," +he said, "that the king is at Clipstone Palace. When the knaves thou +didst leave stunned in the fen discover it also, they will at once +repair thither, and that maketh a new complication of troubles. Let us +consult together. I include the serving-man because he is such a +valiant compeller." And the canon, forgetting his gravity, laughed +heartily. And again he laughed. Then he grew grave again. "Pardon me," +he said to Hugo; "but one may laugh so seldom in these troublous times. +And erstwhile I was fond of laughing, and glad to have a merry heart. +Now merry hearts be few in England, for they who have not already +grief, have anxiety and dread for their portion." He paused and then +went on: "The same hand that did send me news of the king's +neighborhood did add something more thereto. A fierce little +swaggering, strutting man did come upon the king at Newark and did tell +him that Josceline, meaning thee, had fled, and that he had been +pursuing thee. Didst thou know of it?" + +"Yea," replied Hugo, with a smile. Then turning to the serving-man he +said, "Humphrey, since the canon loveth to be merry, tell thou him of +the hedgehog and the Isle of Axholme." + +Humphrey did as he was requested, and was amply rewarded by the +appreciation of his listener. "I see thou art worth a troop, my good +Humphrey," he said, when the serving-man had finished. "Lady De +Aldithely did well to trust thee with this lad. But now to my news once +more. The king, in his wrath, will scour the country roundabout, and +thou mayest not escape from him as thou didst from thine other +pursuers. What dost thou elect to do?" And he looked at Hugo. + +Hugo considered, and as he considered he grew pale. "I know not," he +said at last. "It seemeth not safe to move." + +"True," returned the canon. "Nor is it safe to remain here. The king +respecteth no religious foundation. And when these stunned knaves in +the fen make report to him, it will be known that thou wert seen close +to Peterborough, and not an inch of the town will be left unsearched. I +would my friend at Newark--but nay, I must not speak of that." + +There was a brief silence, and Humphrey's was the most anxious face in +the room. Not for himself did he feel anxiety, but for Hugo. If the +canon hardly knew what to do, how could he hope to succeed in +protecting the lad? + +The canon was the first to speak. "If it can be done," he said, "the +knaves in the fen must be kept from the king. I will have in to our +conference Herebald and Bernulf." And rising, he summoned them. + +They came in very promptly, and stood with cheerful faces before their +master. "I know thee, Herebald; I know thee, Bernulf," said the canon, +shaking his head at them in pretended reproof. "Ye be sad knaves both. +What! would ye leave the monastery and go forth into the fen on ponies +and armed with your staves? And would ye seek out once more the knaves +ye did stun, and try to lead them astray, even down into the Broads? +And all to keep them from the king?" + +The two servants grinned. + +"And would ye make believe to be on the trail of Hugo and Humphrey +here? And would ye lead them far from the trail? I see that ye would, +knaves that ye are. I have discovered ye. And there is no restraining +ye when once ye have set your minds upon a thing. Therefore get ye gone +to the fen. No man can say that I did send ye thither. And here be +coins for ye both, which, no doubt, ye will deserve later, if not now." + +The two joyfully withdrew and shortly afterward were in the streets of +the town jogging slowly along as if bent on a most unwelcome journey. +"See the Saxon sluggards!" commented a bystander. "Naught do they do +but eat, unless compelled." + +But once outside the town, the ponies were put to a good pace as the +two hastened eagerly into the fen to trace, if they might, Richard Wood +and his men-at-arms. The camp where they had come up with them before +was deserted, and Herebald and Bernulf now had for their task the +discovery of the direction the party had taken. Had they not been +fen-men they might not have succeeded. But by night they felt that they +were really on their trail. They had passed Peterborough and continued +on to the south, evidently going slowly, as became broken heads; and +Herebald and Bernulf came up with them by the side of Whittlesea Mere +early on the following day. As they came into view Richard Wood +evidently regarded the two Saxons with suspicion; but the men-at-arms +looked at them with nothing but indifference. + +Herebald and Bernulf appeared not to notice; but, withdrawing to a +little distance, seemed to confer together and examine narrowly the +leaves and twigs and rushes to see if they were bent or broken by the +passage of a recent traveller. As they went earnestly about on all +sides of the camp at the Mere, and keeping ever in sight of it, the +curiosity of Richard Wood overcame his suspicion, and he beckoned them +to approach. His summons they at first seemed inclined to disregard, +but, as he continued beckoning, they at last went toward him with +apparent reluctance. + +[Illustration: Richard Wood Beckoned the Saxons to Approach] + +"What seek ye?" demanded Richard Wood. + +The two Saxons kept silence, but exchanged a crafty look, as if to say +that they were not to be caught so easily. + +"What seek ye?" repeated the spy. + +"Hast thou seen aught of two runaways?" asked Herebald, gruffly. "Even +a young lord who hath to his serving-man a Saxon?" + +Then Richard Wood himself looked crafty. He did not like finding other +pursuers so near him who might claim part of the reward, at least, when +the search was successfully ended. But reflection came to his aid and +told him that these Saxons were ignorant hinds who might be made useful +on the search, and afterward cheated of their share of the reward. So +he said, "Ye be fen-men, I know, or ye would not look so narrowly for a +trail nor would ye find it. Which way do ye go?" And he looked at them +keenly. + +"Through the Broads toward Yarmouth," answered Herebald, slowly, after +a short pause, and speaking in a surly tone. + +"And wherefore?" demanded Richard Wood. + +"There is shipping to be got to France from thence, is there not?" + +"Yea, verily," cried Richard Wood. "It had not before entered my mind. +Thinkest thou they have gone thither?" + +Herebald frowned. "Thou art too ready with thy questions," he growled. +"But this I will say, we go thither." + +"Then we go with thee," said Richard Wood, firmly. "The way is open to +us as well as to thee, and thou mayest not gainsay it." + +"Oh, ay," returned Herebald, indifferently. + +All that day Richard Wood kept a sharp eye on his new acquaintances. +"Watch them narrowly," he said to his men. "They will seek to make this +catch without us and so obtain the reward. Therefore all that ye see +them do, do ye likewise, and I will also do the same." + +Herebald and Bernulf saw and understood, and laughed together unseen. +"They have not good wit, or they would not be so led by us when we be +strangers," observed Herebald. + +"It is ever thus with knaves," said Bernulf. "Though they seem sharp, +there is a place where they be dull, and an honest man can often find +it, and so outwit them." + +Then they turned back to Richard Wood and his companions. "Go ye slowly +and softly," growled Herebald. "Ye go lunging and splashing so that ye +may be heard a long way off. Moreover, ye have scared up all the +water-fowl hereabouts, and they go screaming over our heads. What think +ye? If there be travellers near will they not hide close in the reeds +till ye and your noise be past?" + +At this rebuke Richard Wood drew rein suddenly and gazed sharply about +him on all sides. Then he said, "Your caution shall be obeyed." And he +gave the command to his followers to be careful. + +Herebald now returned to the side of Bernulf, and the two, gazing with +mirthful eyes into each other's faces, separated themselves a little +distance and pretended to examine the way narrowly. It was not for +nothing that they had served the merry Canon Thurstan for seven years. + +That night, when all the camp was still, Bernulf slipped quietly forth +in the darkness. He was gone three hours, and in that time he blazed +such a trail as a madman might have taken. A bit of every fringe of +rush or reed he came to he broke; and he stamped with his foot in the +slimy mud on the edges of ponds and pools. "These fools," said he, +"know naught of the fens or the Broads, and they will believe all that +they see; for the broken bits and the footprints will speak to them of +the young lord and his serving-man, and they will listen and hasten on. +It is easy to lead a fool a chase." + +The next morning Richard Wood was early awake, and, while all the rest +were apparently asleep, he, in his turn, stole forth to look about him. +"I trust not these knave Saxons entirely," he said to himself. "Though +we all ride together now, they will seek to outwit us at the end, and +gain the reward for themselves." + +He had not gone far when he came upon the evidences of a recent passage +along that way, and, in great excitement, he returned to the camp and +roused up his followers, and, incidentally, the two Saxons. "Lie not +here sleeping," he said, "when we be close on the trail. Let us be off +speedily!" His men rose eagerly, and the Saxons also seemed to be +stirred up at his words. And very soon, after half a breakfast, they +all mounted and rode off, Richard Wood keeping in the advance. Soon he +struck the trail blazed the night before by Bernulf, and eagerly he +followed it, though he was obliged to do so slowly; for the trail went +on ahead for three miles, then doubled, then zigzagged, then went +straight east three miles, and bent round till it went due west again. + +"The young lord is lost," declared Richard Wood, positively, "else +would he never ride such a crazy track as this." + +At last, when it was too late to travel further that day, the track +turned eastward again, and the party went into camp for the night about +one mile from where they had camped the night before. But to Richard +Wood it seemed that they must be at least ten miles advanced on their +way, for, to him, all the marsh looked the same. + +"Did I not do well, Herebald?" asked Bernulf. "Here have we kept them +busy in the marsh for a whole day, and that giveth the lad with the +canon so much the better a start." + +"Yea," said Herebald. "To-night rest thou, and I will start the trail +for them to-morrow." + +Accordingly, as soon as the weary Richard Wood and his men had sunk +into a heavy sleep, which they did almost as soon as they lay down, +Herebald set out. He was extremely swift of foot and knew the region +well. He was gone four hours. "The knave king's man and his followers +will sleep soundly to-morrow night also if they follow my trail," he +said, when he had returned and lay down. + +The next morning a late awakening of the men gave a late start. The +enthusiasm of the day before was gone; but it came back when Richard +Wood, riding in advance, struck the trail once more. This was more +difficult to follow than the one of the day before. It led through +places where the party almost mired, but not quite; through places +where the horses splashed heavily along, scaring the water-fowl up in +all directions; through patches of reeds; through tangles of tough +grass; through shallow water; through deep water; and ever on with few +seeming deviations. But the course was much slower than that of the day +before, and that had been slow enough. + +Night came and the fagged party in disappointment once more lay down. + +"Thou hast done well, Herebald," said Bernulf. "To-night it is my turn. +But think ye not it were better now to lead straight on to Yarmouth?" + +"Yea," answered Herebald. + +"It seemeth to me that it were best to put them there to search the +town. What thinkest thou?" + +"Even as thou thinkest," returned Herebald, grinning. + +"And then," continued Bernulf, "methinks it would be seemly to entice +them aboard a fishing-vessel and ship them off for France, and so be +rid of them." + +"Yea," agreed Herebald. "I would all the knaves in England were shipped +off to France, and it were a good beginning to ship these four." + +Another morning dawned, and slowly and heavily the men arose. Such +weary days followed by nights spent in the marsh had sapped their +energy. For the first time the men-at-arms looked sullen, and one went +to Richard Wood and spoke for all. "We be neither fish nor water-fowl," +he said, "to spend our days in the marsh. We go this one day more with +thee; then, if we come not out of the marsh and into the town of +Yarmouth, we leave thee and return to our master." + +The heavy-eyed Richard Wood counselled patience. "Would ye have these +Saxon knaves get the better of us just when the quarry is all but run +to earth? They be not so weary as we, and a plague upon their +endurance. If ye stand not by me, the game is lost." + +But the man-at-arms answered sullenly: "I have said. Lead us out of +this vile marsh." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + + +"And now," said the canon, when Herebald and Bernulf had gone, "thou +mayest remain no longer here. It is too near the king, and moreover, +delay taketh thee not forward toward France. Since thou knowest not +what to do, Hugo, I will plan for thee. And first, thou must leave here +with me thy dog, Fleetfoot." + +Hugo opened his mouth to object, seeing which the canon at once +continued, "Nay, do not speak. It must be done. Thee I can disguise and +thy man Humphrey I can disguise, but what disguise availeth for thy +dog? To take Fleetfoot is to endanger thy life unnecessarily. Shouldst +thou take him, even if thou didst win safely through, which is a very +doubtful thing, thou wouldst find him but an unwelcome encumbrance to +Lord De Aldithely. Leave the dog, therefore, with me, and I will care +for him." + +Hugo reflected. Then he looked up into the canon's face, and he saw +that, though he might have a merry heart, he had also a determined +will. He yielded, therefore, and consented to leave Fleetfoot behind. +At this decision the canon smiled well satisfied, and Humphrey's face +also showed the relief he felt at being rid of the dog's company. + +"And next," continued the canon, "I counsel thee to go no more through +the fens, for there will they seek for thee. Thou hast gone skulking +and hiding so far on thy course, and they that pursue thee will be too +dull to think that thou mayest change. The time is come for thee to +proceed boldly and on the highway. I will send thee first to Oundle, +which lieth southwest from hence, and with a token I will procure thee +safe lodging there. From thence I can do no more for thee till thou +come to St. Albans, twenty miles away from London. But from Oundle thou +must take thy course still southwest till thou come to the Watling +Street. Then follow that southeast down to St. Albans. And in this +jaunt Humphrey must lead, and thou must follow; for I shall make of +Humphrey a priest, and of thee a novice." + +He ceased, and there was no reply to what he had said. Both Hugo and +Humphrey would have preferred to ride clad as they were, and to choose +their own route and stopping-places. But they were sensible of how much +they already owed the canon, and dangers were now so thick about them +that they feared to refuse to do as he bade them. Therefore they +permitted themselves to be properly robed, and took meekly the +instructions he gave them as to their speech and manner of behaviour. + +"This I do not for thee only, but for my friend, Roger Aungerville, and +for the brave Lord De Aldithely," he said in parting from them. "Forget +not to call me to their minds when thou dost meet them, and say that I +be ever ready to serve them as best I may." + +Hugo promised, and thanked the canon on the part of himself and +Humphrey for the cheer and aid they had received at his hands; and, +with a heavy heart, rode away behind the serving-man, who was now +turned into a priest. He thought not on the dangers of the way, but on +Fleetfoot, left at Peterborough. + +"Fret not, dear lad," said Humphrey. "In the king's dungeon there would +be no room for Fleetfoot, and mayhap he would be put to death. Now is +he in good hands, even in the merry-hearted canon's hands, and no evil +will befall him. He hath such a care to please thine uncle and my lord +that he will look well to thy dog." + +By nightfall the two were safely lodged at Oundle. + +"Ye be safe," said the priest of the parish when he had received them. +"Here will no man seek for ye this night, and, on the morrow, ye shall +speed away. I may not suffer ye to tarry longer." + +Meanwhile the unlucky bailiff had proceeded to Clipstone with the news +that Walter Skinner was fled, and no man knew what had become of him. +He had just delivered it and the king was still in his rage when De +Skirlaw and De Kellaw arrived. "Admit them," he gave order. "I will +hear what hath come to pass there. Mayhap the castle hath stolen away, +even as this prisoner hath done." + +As De Skirlaw and De Kellaw entered, the king, scanning their faces, +read that they bore him no welcome news, and his rage broke out afresh. +"What land is this that I be king of?" he exclaimed. "A land of rebels +and disobedience. A land of dull skies and duller fortunes. What saw ye +that ye come before me with glum faces and serious looks? Speak, if ye +can. Is the castle gone?" + +"Nay, Your Majesty," said De Skirlaw. "The castle we found, but--" + +"Ye mean that the prisoner spake true," burst out the king, "and that +the young lord is escaped?" + +"Yea," answered De Skirlaw. "No human being inhabiteth the castle. And +in the moat at the rear kites and eagles have fed." + +"What mean ye? What hath chanced there?" + +"Your Majesty, no man knoweth," was the answer. + +"But there be only bones and armor in the dry moat, and no living thing +in the castle." + +For a little the king stared straight before him. Then he said, "Bring +the rascal bailiff before me." + +With haste the unhappy officer was brought. + +"Wretch!" broke out the king. "Go find me the prisoner that thou hast +let escape thee. If thou find him not, thy life shall answer for it." +In great fear the bailiff retired from the royal presence, and the king +went on as if to himself: "Mayhap he knew what hath chanced. Mayhap he +knoweth now the whereabouts of the young lord." + +As the bailiff reentered Newark he met again the courtier by the gate. +"What news, worthy bailiff?" he asked. + +"Why, this," answered the bailiff, in despair. "The prisoner must be +found or my life is forfeit. And I know not where to look." + +The courtier kept silence for a few moments. "The prisoner must not be +found," he thought, "or mayhap the young lord, Josceline De Aldithely, +will be undone; and for the friendship I do bear his father, this may +not be. But neither must the worthy bailiff die." Then he spoke. + +"Worthy bailiff," he said, "what is done cannot be undone. The prisoner +is gone, no man knoweth whither. Thy only hope is in flight. And to +that, seeing thou art a worthy man, I will help thee. Go thou +apparently to seek for the prisoner, but flee for thy life, and tell me +not where. Thou knowest a place of safety, I warrant thee." + +"Yea," replied the bailiff, after a little thought, "I know." + +"Proceed, then, with thine helpers to the search for the prisoner; +contrive shortly to give them the slip, and thou art saved. I will do +what I can in baffling pursuit of thee. For this our king is, as thou +knowest, a tyrant who, though he greatly feareth death for himself, +doth not hesitate to measure it out to us his subjects. Therefore are +we bound to help each other. When thou canst protect another, do so; +and so farewell." Speaking in these general terms he not only gained +from the bailiff a belief in his own benevolence, but effectually +concealed from him the real reason of his helping him, which was to +protect, so far as possible, the young Josceline De Aldithely. + +"It is well for a lad when his father hath many friends," mused the +courtier. "For then, even the malice and hatred of the king may be +foiled. I will now away to Clipstone and see what passeth there." And, +summoning two attendants, he set out. + +Upon arriving, he found but a gloomy air about the place. The king's +rage was not yet spent and no man knew upon whom he would take occasion +to visit his displeasure. But the courtier who, in the guise of a +scullion, had himself set the prisoner free, moved calmly about, and +alone of all seemed to feel no anxiety. Toward nightfall the word was +whispered about that, on the morrow, the king would himself proceed +with a party to De Aldithely castle. + +The morrow came and at an early hour there was everywhere bustle and +confusion, for all that the royal party would need for their brief +absence from Clipstone must be taken with them: food, dishes, bedding, +and servants. + +At length all was ready and the train set out. It was a gloomy ride, +for the king's temper was not yet recovered and no man ventured to say +aught in his presence. + +Leaving the baggage and servants far in the rear, the impatient king +with his attendants rode on and on until they came to Cawood castle +beyond Selby and but a few miles distant from De Aldithely castle. Here +the king stopped for the night, and the servants and baggage not having +yet come up, his temper was not improved by the lack of their service. +It was a great castle to which he had come, being one of the largest +and strongest in the north of England. + +"And Cawood shall have no more for a neighbor the castle of De +Aldithely," said the king the next morning, when, after a somewhat +uncomfortable night owing to the late arrival of the servants, he rode +forth from its gate on his way to the home of the great and popular +baron. + +Artisans from Selby who had been sent by the king's order, were already +on their way thither also. And these having risen very early and made +good speed, John found already arrived when he himself appeared. But no +one had ventured to set foot within the walls without the royal word. + +As John drew near, he looked upon the castle in scowling silence. Still +in silence he rode to the edge of the moat and looked down. And there +he saw the armor and the bones as De Skirlaw had said. An attendant now +spoke to him, and he nodded his head in assent. At once three of the +artisans were hurried across the postern bridge and through the gate +with instructions to hasten to the front entrance and let down the +bridge and open the great gate for the king. + +[Illustration: He rode to the edge of the moat and looked down] + +Still speaking no word the monarch rode to the great gate, crossed the +bridge, and entered, and once within the outer bailey, looked about +him. He rode into the inner bailey, and, dismounting, began a personal +examination of the castle; and as he proceeded his frown grew blacker +and blacker, for everywhere he saw evidences of premeditated and +deliberate flight. The treasure chests were empty, and everything of +value removed. + +At last he spoke. "What hath chanced here I know not," he said. "But +this I know, these traitor walls shall stand no longer. Bid the +artisans in to begin their destruction." Then turning to De Skirlaw he +added: "Go thou to the moat and examine the armor. See, if thou canst, +to what troop it belongeth." + +But before De Skirlaw could execute this commission there appeared upon +the scene two men-at-arms from Hubert le Falconer, in search of certain +of their companions, and they were at once brought before the king. To +him they related how, for a certain sum, a certain knight in the +service of the king had hired them to assist him in entering the +castle, through the treachery of one Robert Sadler, and in carrying off +the young lord, Josceline De Aldithely, to the direct custody of the +king. + +"And this knight was--" interrupted John. + +"Sir Thomas De Lany," said the man-at-arms. + +"Came thy companions to the castle here?" demanded the king. + +"Yea, Your Majesty, some ten days now agone. My master having need of +them hath sent us to call them to him again." + +"It is a call they will not answer," said John. "Nor will the brave +knight, Sir Thomas De Lany, answer to my call. De Kirkham, take these +men-at-arms to view the moat by the postern. Now know we who sleep +there. Could we but know the whereabouts of the wife of this traitor, +De Aldithely, and the whereabouts of his son, we were better satisfied. +And now depart we from this place. Raze the walls. Let not one stone +remain upon another. + +"And thou, De Skirlaw, and thou, De Kellaw, haste ye both to Newark and +see if the rascal bailiff hath yet found the prisoner. He can speak if +he will, and he must be found." + +With feigned zeal the two set out, but, once beyond the view of the +king, their fiery pace lagged to a slow one as they rode toward Selby, +where they were determined to halt for a night's rest. "I care not if +the prisoner be not found," said De Kellaw. "I be tired of this +tyranny; this imprisoning and slaying of children taken as hostages +from their fathers; this razing of castles. John will not be king +forever, and it behooveth us not to make ourselves odious to all men by +helping him to his desires too much. I haste not on this enterprise, +and so I tell thee." + +"Nor I neither," declared De Skirlaw. + +The king now set out on his return to Cawood, from whence, on the +morrow, he would go on to Clipstone again. + +"Yea, and I will go even to Newark," he said to himself as he rode +along. "I will be at hand to put heart into this search, which seemeth +to lag. But have the prisoner I will; and when I have found him, I will +open his mouth for him to some purpose." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + + +To the great joy of Richard Wood, the way seemed to lead across the +wide, flat, marshy country straight in the direction of Yarmouth. "If +the young lord and his serving-man be as weary of the marsh as I and my +companions be," he said, "they have gone directly out of it to +Yarmouth, and there shall we catch them." + +But though the way seemed not to deviate in direction, that of the day +before was easy in comparison with it. + +"Were I but journeying through this vile stretch of country I could +pick a better course," grumbled Richard Wood as he went forward. "But +being on chase of these two, I must even be content to follow. Behold +me now when the day is but half gone, slopped with water and besplashed +with mud till no man may know the color of my garments. It must be that +the young lord hath small wit to take such a course. Or mayhap he +looketh more behind him than before as he rideth, fearing pursuit." + +And now they were come to the Yare; and it seemed that they would be +obliged to swim across it. "Never swam I in my life," declared Richard +Wood, "and I will not now begin." + +"Canst thou not swim on thy horse's back?" demanded one of the +men-at-arms, impatiently. + +"Ay; but how if the beast goeth down in the stream?" said Richard Wood. +"I tell thee, I fear water." + +Then came one of the Saxons to the rescue. "Near here dwelleth a fen-man," +he said, "and he hath a boat. I will e'en call him to take thee +over, and thou canst let thy horse swim." + +Upon hearing this all three of the weary men-at-arms clamored for +places in the boat which Herebald, after a conference with Bernulf, +promised them. + +"Hearest thou not, Herebald," said Bernulf, "that the king's man +feareth the water? We must put him and his men across softly and +bolster up their valor, else shall we fail to entice them aboard the +fishing-vessel, and so fail to ship them off to France; and thus +England is so much the worse off by having still here the vile knaves." + +"Yea, Bernulf, thou art right," was the answer. "And surely we have led +them through toils enough, for they be weary to fainting. This it is +for a vile spy to go round the country with some lumbering men-at-arms, +seeking to entrap a poor young lad to his destruction." + +"Yea," replied Bernulf; "but thou hast left out one thing. Thou +shouldst have said, 'This it is when two Saxons get him and them in the +toils.' They had not been one-half so weary without us. Do but remember +that." + +"Ay," agreed Herebald. "I do think we have some blame for their aching +bones; but they can rest when they be tossing on that good old North +Sea, for I promise them it will take more than a load of herring to +hold the ship steady." + +All this time Richard Wood and his men were impatiently waiting. "Why +tarry ye so long?" called the spy in a loud voice, as he looked in +their direction. + +"We did but talk of what 'twere best to do and a few other matters," +replied Herebald, advancing. "And we think we may promise places to ye +all in the boat. Run, Bernulf; make speed and bring the man and his +boat." + +Away went Bernulf, leaping lightly across a pool here, picking his way +skilfully over long grass and among reeds there, to the amazement of +Richard Wood, who watched. "I would my horse had but the nimbleness and +speed of the knave's legs," he said. "But our toils be almost over, and +so I complain not. I make no doubt we lay hold of the young lord and +the serving-man in Yarmouth." + +At this Herebald looked sceptical. + +"What meanest thou by that look?" asked Richard Wood. + +"Why, nothing," returned Herebald. "Only I did call to mind that there +be many fishing-vessels in the harbor." + +"And what hath that to do with it?" asked Richard Wood. + +"And through the North Sea one may go to France." + +"Why, thou didst say that long ago when we were toiling through the +marsh. Thinkest thou I shall forget to search the ships when I have +searched the town? I forget not so easily, I promise thee." + +The fen-man seemed not to be readily persuaded to bring his boat, for +an hour elapsed before he was seen rowing toward them with Bernulf +lolling lazily in the stern. + +At last he reached the little party, and Richard Wood and his men were +safely embarked. Then the two Saxons, mounting their ponies, directed +them into the stream, and they were off, the fen-man glancing curiously +every now and then at his passengers. He made no remarks, however, but +managed his boat so skilfully that Richard Wood hardly realized that he +was on the water, and, in due time, found himself set ashore with his +men on the other side. + +"And yonder be Yarmouth," said Herebald, cheerfully. "We come to it +surely by set of sun." + +There was no more marks of passage before them, and Richard Wood, +picking his own path, travelled more easily than he had before, and had +also to help him an enlarged appreciation of his own powers, to which +he speedily added a large increase of hope that now the end of his +troubles had come. He therefore went forward with renewed animation, +and when, at set of sun, he stopped before a little Yarmouth inn, he +was well satisfied with himself. + +"Do ye also lodge here?" he asked the Saxons. + +Herebald affected to be uncertain. + +"Surely it were better that ye do so," urged Richard Wood, "that we may +search the town and the ships together on the morrow." + +"Nay," put in Bernulf. "We lodge not here. I do know a cheaper place; +and we be not Normans that we have money to waste." + +Richard Wood frowned. "Speak not against the Normans," he said. "The +king is a Norman." + +"Oh, ay," answered Bernulf, indifferently. And then he added with +determination in his tone, "We lodge not here." + +Herebald now drew Richard Wood aside. + +"Heed him not," he said, "lest he turn surly on our hands and get us +into trouble. I will go with him elsewhere to lodge, and to-morrow morn +will I bring him back to help thee on thy search." + +"Thou art not so sad a knave as he," returned Richard Wood, "and I +thank thee. See that ye both come, and that right early." + +Herebald reiterated his promise to do so, and then went away with +Bernulf, while Richard Wood followed his men into the bar, where they +were already drinking. + +"What meanest thou, Bernulf? Why wouldst thou not lodge here?" asked +Herebald as they rode along. + +"Why, this, Herebald," was the answer. "We have much to do ere we go to +rest. We must find the ship that is loaded and ready to weigh anchor +to-morrow toward noon when the wind and tide will serve. And we must +bespeak the help of the captain to get these knaves aboard." + +"True, Bernulf," responded Herebald. "Thou hast a wit that would match +with the canon's." + +"Yea, I be not so dull as some Normans, though I be counted but a +slow-witted Saxon," returned Bernulf, with complacency. "And now let us +first to our supper and the putting away of the ponies, and then do we +take boat and visit the ships." + +They found an inn suited to their tastes in one of the Rows, and before +the dark had really come down over the harbor they were out on a tour +of the ships. The tour, however, was destined to be a short one, since +the second ship they visited proved to have among her sailors two men +that they knew. And, moreover, they discovered the captain to be one +Eric, whose mother was cousin to Bernulf's father. + +"Here have we luck," said Bernulf. "To Eric may I speak freely." + +"Yea, verily," answered Herebald. "And she is loaded with herring also +and saileth on the morrow toward noon. Go, then, and speak freely, as +thou sayest." + +Bernulf did so; and the Captain Eric entered heartily into his plans as +Bernulf laid them before him. "The loons!" he exclaimed with a hearty +laugh, as he heard of the journey through the fens. "The witless geese! +And thou hast not once told them that the young lord and his serving-man +came in this direction?" + +"Nay, not once. We did but break branches, and make tracks on the edges +of the pools, and ruffle the long grass, and they did read for +themselves that those they sought were just ahead of them. We have hope +that the young lord be, by this time, well and safely sped on his +journey." + +"Ay, and by to-morrow at this time will his pursuers be upon their +journey," said Eric. "I am to refuse to let them come aboard, sayest +thou, until they demand permission in the king's name? And then the +moment they be down the companionway I am to hoist the anchor and be +off?" + +"Yea," answered Bernulf, "that is it." + +"So be it," returned Eric. "And it is a small thing to do for a kinsman +also moreover." + +"And now go we ashore," said Bernulf. "To-morrow morn we aid the king's +spy to search the town. He will have a merry run up and down the Rows, +he and his men." And, with a hearty farewell to the skipper, Herebald +and Bernulf climbed down the side of the vessel to their little boat +gently rocking alongside. + +"The business in hand hath an early end when luck goeth with a man," +observed Bernulf, with satisfaction. + +"Yea," responded Herebald. "And luck most often goeth with the man that +hath good wit of his own." + +Their strong arms made light of the short distance they had to row, and +they were soon back at the little inn and at rest. + +As for Richard Wood, weary as he was, he was long in finding sleep. For +ever he would be wondering in which part of the little town it were +best to begin the search. And how it were best to conduct it so that no +outsider could manage to claim part of the reward when the runaways +were captured. At last, undecided, he fell asleep, and Herebald and +Bernulf were awaiting him when he awoke rather late in the morning. In +haste he and his men ate their breakfast, and in still greater haste +they set off on the search, only to be brought to a standstill before +it was well begun; for there fronting the sea were one hundred and +forty-five little narrow streets called the Rows, and their combined +length made a distance of seven miles. + +"This be a foolish way to build a town," grumbled Richard Wood, "and +none but Saxons would have done it. Why, here be a street only two feet +wide at one end of it. And up and down one hundred and forty-five +streets we must chase, to say nothing of looking in the better parts of +the town." + +"Thou hast well said," observed Herebald, gravely. "It is not an easy +thing, this search. But where dost thou begin? And how wilt thou go +about it?" + +"Why, why," stammered Richard Wood, "I did never search a town before, +and that is but the truth." + +"Were it not best to proceed boldly?" asked Herebald, slyly. + +"Boldly, sayest thou? And what meanest thou by boldly?" + +"Why, by boldly, I mean boldly. Surely thou knowest what boldly is? +Walk into the house with a 'by your leave,' which is, after all, no +leave, since it is done without leave; there look through all, and then +out and away again into the next house, or the next but one, as it +pleaseth thee." + +Richard Wood looked at him in displeasure. "It is easy to see thou art +but a Saxon churl," he said. "And moreover, where is thy sense of time? +This day were gone; ay, and the next before we had entered every house +in one hundred and forty-five little streets." + +"Ay, thou art right. Perchance it were better not to take so much time, +for there be the ships, and some of them do sail to-day." + +"To-day!" exclaimed Richard Wood, in alarm. "And when?" + +"Toward noon," was the reply; "for then wind and tide will serve." + +A look of resolution came over the face of Richard Wood. He turned to +his men-at-arms. + +"Take each of thee a street," he said, "and I will take another. Search +as well and thoroughly as ye can for one hour, and then come to this +point to go with me to the ships. We have had many toils to catch them. +They must not escape us now." + +"And what do we?" asked Herebald. + +Now Richard Wood was quite determined that the Saxons should not share +in the reward, so he answered: "Stand ye here, and watch all who pass. +Let none escape ye." + +"That were an easy task," growled Bernulf. "But why may we not also +take each man his street, and knock and 'by-your-leave' with the rest +of ye? It is because we be Saxons that ye put this slight upon us." And +he affected to be greatly displeased. + +"Peace, man!" said Richard Wood, more pacifically. "It is true ye be +Saxons, but that is by the will of heaven. And ye be in nowise to blame +therefor. So should ye bear with patience the lot of Saxons." + +"Which is to wait on Normans, as ye would say," retorted Bernulf, +scornfully. "But we bide here, as thou hast said." + +"The hinds be jealous," said Richard Wood, as he hastened up the little +street he had chosen, looking narrowly about him for the house, in his +judgment, most likely to be the hiding-place of the runaways. About +half-way up the street he espied it, but when, in the king's name, he +entered, he found nothing to reward him for his pains. Wherever he +stopped he fared no better, and he was fain to believe, at last, the +asseverations of the inhabitants that there were not only no runaways +in that street, but that none were to be found in all Yarmouth,--a town +which, according to them, was a most proper place, where those who +could not give a good account of themselves never ventured. Unless, +indeed, it might be a few Frenchmen now and then, and, as they told him +with much garrulity, every Englishman knew what to expect from the +French. And then they asked him if those he sought were French. And +when he said that they were not, they began at the beginning and went +all over the subject again, telling him what a discreet and proper +place Yarmouth was, and how none such as he was seeking ever ventured +there, until he was like to go distracted, and had not completed the +search of even that one little Row when the hour was up, and he +hastened to the place appointed to meet his men-at-arms. He found that +his experience had been theirs, and, in his disappointment and disgust, +he said some harsh things about Yarmouth tongues, which he estimated as +entirely too nimble. + +The two Saxons heard his comments with covert smiles, and followed +along toward the ships. + +That morning the ship of Eric had slightly changed her position, and +Bernulf so managed that, when the small row-boat he was bidden to hire +was about to put off from land, Eric's ship would naturally be the +first one boarded. + +"Do we go with thee?" asked Herebald. + +"Nay," answered Richard Wood. "Here be two men who will row for us. Do +ye stay where ye be and watch." + +Then they all climbed into the small row-boat and were pulled away +toward Eric's ship. + +"Ay, we will watch," said Herebald to Bernulf. + +A little later the boat went alongside, and the spy and his men-at-arms +climbed heavily and clumsily aboard, after a brief parley with skipper +Eric, in which he had at first refused them permission to do so. + +"They be here!" exulted Richard Wood in his thought, "else why should +we be forbidden to come aboard?" + +"What seek ye?" demanded the skipper, in a gruff tone when they were +safely on deck. + +"Two runaways," answered Richard Wood, loudly, for already the anchor +was being lifted. + +"There be no runaways here," returned the skipper, positively. + +"We will see, we will see," returned Richard Wood. And laying firm hold +of the rail he lunged down the steep companionway, followed by his +men-at-arms and one of the seamen, whom the captain by a nod of his head +bade to follow them. Once down, they gazed about them and knew not +which way to turn. + +"Where is the captain?" said Richard Wood, sternly. "Bid him come down +and show us all parts of the ship at once." + +"Skipper may not come. He is busy," answered the seaman. "But I can +show thee. Thou wilt see all?" + +"Yea, all." + +Then the seaman very obligingly began to do as he was bid. There was +very little to see in the close quarters; but he, being loquacious, was +a long time in showing it, and more than half an hour had elapsed +before Richard Wood was thoroughly persuaded that there was nobody +secreted on board. And all this time, in his eagerness, he had not +noticed that the ship was moving. He now turned to the companionway. + +"What motion is this?" he asked, turning pale. "Hath the ship gone +adrift from her moorings?" + +"Nay," answered the seaman; "the ship is not gone adrift." + +Laying fast hold on the rail, the spy managed to climb up to the deck. +He looked about him, but no row-boat was alongside. He then turned to +the skipper. + +"Surely we be gone adrift from our moorings," he said. + +"Nay," answered the skipper, calmly. "I did forbid thee to come aboard, +but thou wouldst come. Now are we under sail." + + + + +CHAPTER XX + + +The priest of the parish at Oundle had Hugo and Humphrey up and off +betimes the next morning, as he had said. "It must be he liketh not our +company over well," observed Humphrey, as they jogged on after a very +brief and hasty leave-taking. + +"Perhaps he taketh thee for a wolf in sheep's clothing," said Hugo, +with a meaning glance at the priest's habit in which the stalwart +Humphrey was engulfed. + +"And thee for the cub, dear lad," retorted Humphrey. "But it may be +after all that he looketh but to his own safety, and desireth not to +fall into disgrace with the king by harboring us. But hark! Let us +withdraw ourselves into the wood. Here come travellers this way. And I +cannot feel safe in the priest's garb. The wood, methinks, were a +better protection." + +With the celerity of practice the two concealed themselves in the wood +in such a position that they could see the path. And presently there +came into view a small party of knights on their way northward. + +"They look not so dangerous," commented Hugo. + +"Nay," agreed Humphrey. "I would liefer see them than king's spies. But +bide we here a bit and see if more will come." + +It was very still in the wood that morning and a little sound seemed a +great one. So the two, while they waited, talked together in low tones. +"The merry-hearted canon is in most things wise, I do suppose," +observed Humphrey. "But I feel not like a priest though I wear his +garb. And I fear to do something which will betray me to be but the +Saxon serving-man which I am. Still, I must wear it?" And he looked +inquiringly at Hugo. + +"Yea," replied the boy. "The land is so full of priests that few scan +them closely. And, moreover, there be Saxons among them. He was born +but a Saxon serf who was the great pope Adrian IV." + +"Sayest thou so?" said Humphrey. "I will e'en take courage and wear the +priest's garb as well as I can. I suppose thou knowest all this from +thine uncle, the prior?" + +[Illustration: Humphrey in Priest's Garb] + +"Yea," answered Hugo, with a smile. + +A while there was silence, while both listened. Then Humphrey said, +"But I like not the canon's plan that we go to St. Albans." + +"And wherefore?" asked Hugo. + +"That I cannot tell. I do but know that I like it not. It were better +to go straight to London. So think I, and so do I say." + +Hugo reflected. He knew that the way was not particularly safe for them +anywhere. "If it should be discovered that we have been at +Peterborough," he said at length. + +"Yea, lad," broke in Humphrey. "I had not thought of that. But would +they not straight seek for us at St. Albans, where the merry-hearted +canon hath sent us? And neither did I like the parish priest at Oundle. +He did speed us too gladly. And he knoweth that we go to St. Albans." + +"Thou mayest be right, Humphrey," said Hugo. "It will doubtless cost +the monks at St. Albans small grief if they do not see us. We will go +to London as thou sayest." + +Humphrey regarded him approvingly. "It is easy to see that thou art far +from being a fool," he said. "Hiding and skulking through wood and fen +are making thee wary." + +The two now resumed their journey, and Humphrey asked, "Hast ever been +on this Watling Street?" + +"Nay," replied Hugo. "I was bred up, as thou knowest, by mine uncle, +the prior, and all my travels have been by ear. What I did hear him +speak of I know, but not much else." + +"And he did never speak of the Watling Street?" + +"Yea, he hath oft spoken of it. But it is a long road, and here in +England since the time of the Romans. I know that it goeth to London." + +"Then we go to St. Albans after all?" + +"Why, St. Albans lieth on the Watling Street. So said the Canon +Thurstan. But we need not stop long there." + +"Unless we be stopped," said Humphrey. "I would we need not go nigh the +place." He now halted and looked about him carefully. "Said the priest +at Oundle where we should first come to the Watling Street?" he asked. +"Nay," replied Hugo. "He did say only, 'Go till thou come to it,' even +as the Canon Thurstan said." + +"I hope we be on the right way," observed Humphrey. "I would fain find +not only the Watling Street, but a town and an inn also. For the +breakfast of the priest at Oundle was more of a fast than a feast." + +They were now traversing an undulating country and going in a southerly +direction. + +"We may not ask our way," said Humphrey, decidedly. "It is as much as I +can do to wear the priest's garb and speak when I be spoken to. Were I +to speak of myself, it would speedily be known that I was no priest, +for I have not the mind of a priest." + +Hugo smiled. He had already learned that, although one might turn the +mind of Humphrey for a little from its accustomed track, yet it +speedily turned back. He had taken a little courage at the mention of +the Saxon pope, Adrian IV, but now he was as fearful as ever. + +"I wear this garb only till we be through London," resumed Humphrey. +"The Canon Thurstan bid me wear it only so far. He said naught of what +should be done later. And once we leave London I will be again Humphrey +the serving-man, and no make-believe priest. I like not make-believes." + +Hugo smiled again. "How likest thou my being a make-believe Josceline, +and no Hugo?" he asked. + +"That be a different matter," was the decided answer. "Thou hast saved +our young lord's life, and thou art a brave lad. But I would rather +skulk and hide in the fen than in the priest's garb. How likest thou to +be a novice?" + +"Why, very well," replied Hugo, "so that it serve my turn and help me +on my way in safety. I should have been a true novice had I heeded my +uncle. But, as thou knowest, I will be a knight." + +"Ay, and a bold one thou wilt be," was the response; "as bold as our +lord who is in France." + +All day they held slowly on their way, and, though they frequently met +other travellers, they attracted no more attention than an occasional +curious glance. And toward sundown they came to the town of Dunstable. + +"Now," cried Humphrey, joyfully, "here be a town. Let us make haste to +enter before the curfew and find an inn. We have had a long fast." + +"Shall we not rather go to the priory?" asked Hugo. + +"Nay, verily," answered Humphrey. "I go to no priory to-night. I will +go to an inn, and I will have there a mighty supper, and a good bed, +and no priestly duties to perform. I know not how to perform them if I +would. And I proclaim to no man that we be counterfeits. And moreover, +the priests here may be even as the parish priest of Oundle. Mayhap he +will not set the pursuers on our track, but I trust him not. I trust no +man who sendeth forth travellers with such a breakfast." So saying, he +rode boldly down the main street which he had entered till he came to +where it intersected another main street at right angles. There he +stopped. "Here be inns in plenty," he said. "It must be this town is on +the Watling Street." And he questioned the groom who came to take their +tired horses. + +"Yea," answered the groom. "This be the town of Dunstable. And here it +is that the Watling Street crosseth the Icknield Street." + +"_Pax vobiscum_," said Humphrey. "I will in to the fire and my supper. +Do thou care well for the beasts." And, followed by Hugo, he strode off +with a gait which was not often seen on a priest. + +The inn which Humphrey had chosen displayed the sign of the Shorn Lamb, +and was one of the smallest in the neighborhood; it made its patrons at +home in its large kitchen while they waited for the meal to be served. +There was but one other guest in the room when Hugo and Humphrey +entered, and the moment the faithful serving-man saw him he was +grateful for his priest's garb; for the fierce little man who was +giving orders in a peremptory manner was none other than Walter +Skinner. + +In great fear he had fled from Newark at the instance of the courtier, +but his courage, after three days of wandering, had returned to him; +for his hope of one day being a duke died hard. "Though I be the king's +spy no longer," he had said to himself, "I have been the king's spy. +Therefore I have had a certain measure of preferment and may hope for +more." And in this humor he had come into Dunstable by way of the +Icknield Street, and by chance had chosen the very inn Humphrey had +selected. That he had fled from Newark and was no longer in pursuit of +them Humphrey did not know; and he, accordingly, withdrew deeper into +the concealment of his hood, while Hugo did the same. + +As for Walter Skinner, he looked at them with contempt. "Here cometh a +beggarly priest and a novice," he thought, "to keep company at the +table with me. I will none of it." And he said haughtily to the +innkeeper: "Worthy host, I have no liking to priests. Seat them not at +the table with me. Give me thy company, if it please thee, but serve +the priest and his novice elsewhere." + +The innkeeper happened to be in a surly humor. Certain affairs had gone +contrary and vexed him. Therefore he made answer: "I keep but one table. +There may ye all feed or ye may look elsewhere. There be other inns." +And he added slowly and impressively, "They--be--all--full--also." + +"Why, here be a circumstance!" cried Walter Skinner. "The inns of this +town be full, sayest thou? Why, all the inns in London be not full, I +warrant thee. And why should they be full here in this bit of a town, +with one street running this way, and one another way, like a cross? I +would have thee to know that I have been servant to the king, and am +used to be served accordingly." + +"And what service hast thou done the king?" demanded the surly +innkeeper, unbelievingly. + +"I did watch from the top of the high tree the De Aldithely castle," +was the boastingly given answer. "I did see the young lord and his +serving-man flee through the postern and enter the wood." He was about +to rehearse all the particulars of his pursuit of the runaways when the +innkeeper interrupted him. + +"Thou must, then," said he, "be the spy for whom the king is looking, +and I will give thee to him." + +"Nay, nay," said Walter Skinner, his fierceness all gone as he suddenly +remembered the warning given him in Newark by the courtier who had set +him free. "That thou mayest not do. I do journey toward the south. Thou +mayest not delay me." + +"I could if I would," returned the innkeeper, his surly mood vanishing +as he saw before him the opportunity of enjoying himself by tormenting +somebody. "But thou art such a sprat of a man that my compassion +forbids me. The king looketh for thee to hear thee tell what thou +knowest of the whereabouts of the young lord and his companion. If thou +canst not tell, he will have thy head; so hath he sworn. For he is in +an evil rage, and heads are as nothing to him when he rageth, as thou +knowest. He searcheth also for the bailiff who had thee in charge and +let thee escape. I warrant thee the bailiff hath a wit too sound to go +proclaiming how he was some great man, even a bailiff in the town of +Newark." + +All this was lost on Walter Skinner, however, who grasped but one +thought, that he was in danger, and had but one anxiety, how to escape +it. He turned now with some degree of humility to Humphrey. + +"What!" said the innkeeper. "Dost thou turn to the beggarly priest whom +thou erstwhile didst despise? But it shall not avail thee. It is with +me that thou must deal. Knowest thou that I might lose my head for +harboring thee, if I give thee not up? But I will hide thee, my little +sprat, so that the king himself would not know thee. Come with me." + +The little spy, his importance all gone, did as the burly innkeeper +bade him, and Hugo and Humphrey were left alone in the kitchen with the +servants. + +"What do we?" asked Humphrey, in a low tone. "Flee?" + +"Nay," replied Hugo. "That were to invite pursuit." + +"This innkeeper is a knave," said Humphrey. + +"The more reason for caution," answered Hugo. + +"I have heard that some priests be great sleepers and great eaters," +said Humphrey a few moments later. + +"Some priests be," agreed Hugo. + +"Then I be one of them. I do now drowse in my chair, and naught but the +call to supper shall awake me. And then will I play so busily with my +food that no words can escape me save _pax vobiscum_. This rascal +innkeeper learns naught of me." + +Presently back came the innkeeper with Walter Skinner in his turn +playing scullion. "Here, sir priest," cried the innkeeper. "Here is he +who shall serve thee at thy meal." + +But there was no response. The priest's head was sunk on his breast, +and he seemed asleep. His novice also appeared to sleep. + +The innkeeper, emboldened, now gazed openly and curiously at the two. +"They have not come far," he said to himself. "Their garments be not +travel-stained enough for that. They be some dullards of small wit on +their first journey, for the groom did say they knew not that this was +Dunstable." + +His observations were here cut short by the appearance of three other +travellers; but their entrance failed to arouse the priest and his +novice, who remained, as before, apparently asleep. + +"Yea, verily," thought the innkeeper, as he slowly advanced to meet the +newcomers, "they be but two dullards. There is neither game nor gain to +be made of them as there is of this Walter Skinner, from whom I will +take his horse before I let him go. I will e'en bid priest and novice +pack to make room for these newcomers, from whom I may win something, +and to save room for others who may come." + +Accordingly he set to work, but it was with great difficulty that he +roused the two. "_Pax vobiscum_," murmured Humphrey, sleepily. "Is the +supper ready?" + +"Yea, but at some other inn," returned the innkeeper. "Here be three +worthy people just come in. There is not room for them and ye. The +groom bringeth your horses, and ye must go." Without a word of +objection Hugo and Humphrey rose to do the innkeeper's bidding and +depart. But they walked like men half awake, and followed the innkeeper +stumblingly; and mounted their horses clumsily, to the great merriment +of the groom. It was now dark, and they knew not which way to turn. "I +choose not another inn," said Humphrey, "though we bide supperless in +the streets." + +"Then choose I," returned Hugo. And he rode off down the street with +Humphrey close beside him. + +"Lad, lad!" cried the serving-man, "thou must not lead. It will betray +us." + +At once Hugo fell behind, and the two rode on until, at a little inn +called the Blue Bell, the boy bade the serving-man stop. The two +alighted, gave their horses to the groom, went in, were promptly served +a good supper, and, in due time, were shown to their beds. + +"There be dangers on the Watling Street as well as in the fen," said +Humphrey. + +In the meanwhile the keeper of the Shorn Lamb was having his enjoyment +at the expense of Walter Skinner. He bade him serve the three strangers +and fear nothing, as no one would recognize him in the guise of a +scullion. + +"Why, here didst thou come strutting it finely," said the innkeeper, in +a mocking tone. "And dost thou strut now? Nay, verily; but thou art as +meek as any whipped cock. And since it was by thy strut that men did +recognize thee, how shall they make thee out when thy fine strut is +gone? Wherefore serve the strangers, and be not afraid." + +In spite of this exhortation the manner of Walter Skinner still +betrayed doubt, and even timidity. And at last he made the innkeeper +understand that it was he whom he feared and not the strangers. + +The innkeeper laughed. "Dost fear me?" he said. "Why, thou needst +not--that is, thou needst not if thou observest my conditions. Thou +hast a horse that thou needest not, since thou hast legs of thine own. +Somewhat short they be, and somewhat stiff in the joints, being more +made to strut with than for the common gait of mankind. Still I doubt +not they will carry thee whither thou wouldst go after I have dismissed +thee. Serve the strangers, therefore, and afterward thou shalt sup." + +In great meekness Walter Skinner obeyed, and the innkeeper, observing +him, sat down later with satisfaction to his own meal. + +Now it chanced that the strangers had ordered liquor, and Walter +Skinner paused in the bringing of it long enough to take a drink of it +and fill up the measure again with water. And in a few moments his +fears were gone. He surreptitiously drank again, and yet again, for the +strangers were convivial. And, by the time they were served and his +task done, he had forgotten his danger and remembered only the +injustice of the innkeeper. + +"What!" he said to himself. "Here be a degradation! Here be a putting +of fine metal to base uses! I who have been servant to the king am made +a scullion to traveling strangers who be drunken, moreover, and fit +only to be served by this rascal innkeeper who hath made a scullion of +me. And shall he have my horse also? Nay, he shall not. I will away to +the stables this moment and set out and gain my liberty." + +Nobody noticed him as he went out the kitchen door, and nobody saw him +as he entered the stable and prepared his horse for the journey. And, +still unnoticed, he mounted, after many a crazy lurch, and set off down +the street. In due time he came to the gate, and the watchman +challenged him. + +"Dost stop me, sirrah!" demanded the half-drunken Walter Skinner. "I be +the servant of the king; and, moreover, I be but just come from the inn +of the Shorn Lamb. Pass me outside the walls." + +The watchman, at the mention of the Shorn Lamb, made haste to lead the +horse through the narrow side gate, for he and the innkeeper were +confederates in villany; and away went Walter Skinner at a great pace +toward London. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + + +Knowing nothing of the escape of their old enemy, Hugo and Humphrey +arose the next morning and, after paying their reckoning, departed +without having incurred the suspicion of any one in the town. + +"This cometh of leaving the inn of the Shorn Lamb in good season," +observed Humphrey, with satisfaction. + +"I did think we were put out of the inn," said Hugo, demurely. + +"Ay, lad," agreed Humphrey; "thou art right. If all who go to the Shorn +Lamb were thus put out, and so did leave in good season, there would be +fewer lambs abroad without their fleece. Didst see Walter Skinner in +the guise of the scullion?" + +"Yea," answered Hugo. + +"If I be so good a priest as he is a scullion, I fear detection from no +man. Why, he doth look to be a good scullion, whereas when he is clad +as the king's spy, he looketh a very poor spy; and he doth act the part +moreover very lamentably. We had come badly off had he been as good a +spy as he is a scullion." + +"Ay, and had he been less drunken," said Hugo. + +"Thou hast well said, lad," agreed Humphrey. "Let a man that would have +ill success in what he undertaketh but befuddle his wit with drink, and +ill success he will have, and that in good measure. And the scorn and +contempt of his fellows, moreover, even as hath this little spy." + +"And yet," observed Hugo, thoughtfully, "it were hard to find a man who +is not at some time drunken." + +"Hadst thou that from thine uncle, the prior?" asked Humphrey, quickly. +"Or didst thou gain it from thine own very ancient experience?" + +"Now I have angered thee," said Hugo, frankly. + +"Yea, lad, thou hast. This is a time of great drinking, that I know; +but never have I seen my lord drunken. And never hath any man seen me +drunken, nor my father, nor my grandsire. There be ever enough sober +ones in the worst of times to keep the world right side uppermost. And +that thou wilt find when thou hast lived to be forty years old. But +thou art but fourteen, and I am foolish to be angered with thee for +what is, after all, but lack of experience. How soon come we to this +St. Albans?" + +"Why, it is but thirteen miles from Dunstable," answered Hugo, +pleasantly. + +"Then may we pass it by without stopping," cried Humphrey, joyfully. +"And how much farther on lieth London?" + +"Twenty miles," replied Hugo. + +"Then do we rest in London to-night, if we may," said Humphrey. "Our +horses be not of the best, but neither are they of the worst; and it +were an ill beast that could not go thirty-three miles before sunset on +the Watling Street." + +"Ay," agreed Hugo. "But we may not ride too fast, else shall we arouse +wonder." + +Humphrey sighed. "Thou art right, lad," he said. "And wonder might lead +to questions, and questions to a stopping of our journey. For how know +I what answer to make to questions that I be not looking for? I will +therefore go more slowly." + +The road was now by no means empty of passengers. Trains of packhorses +were going down to London. And just as they reached St. Albans came a +nobleman with his retinue, going down to his town house in London. "So +might my lord ride, but for the wicked king," said Humphrey, in a low +tone, as they stood aside. Then passing into the city of St. Albans, +they at once sought an inn and made the early hour suit them for dinner +that so they might journey on the sooner. + +They had entered St. Albans in the rear of the nobleman's party. They +passed out of it an hour later unnoticed in a throng of people. "And +now," said Humphrey, looking back at the town on the slope, "let the +priest at Oundle play us false if he like; we be safely through the +town." + +"It was near here that the Saxon pope, Adrian IV, was born," observed +Hugo. + +"Ay, lad," answered Humphrey, indifferently. "But I be nearing the +place where I be a priest no longer. If we may not make too much haste, +let us turn aside in the wood and find a hut where they will take us in +for the night, and where, perchance, I may get a dream. 'Tis a mighty +place, this London, and I would fain see what 'twere best to do." + +Hugo made no objection, and when they were within ten miles of the +great city they turned their horses to the left and sought shelter in +Epping Forest. + +"I like the wood," observed Humphrey, with satisfaction. "It seemeth a +safer place than the Watling Street; for who knoweth what rascals ride +thereon, and who be no more what they seem than we be ourselves?" + +"Why, so they be no worse than we, we need not fear," returned Hugo, +with a smile. + +But Humphrey was not to be convinced. "I be forty years old," he said, +"and what be safer than a tree but many trees? And the grass is under +foot, and the sky above, and naught worse than robbers and wardens to +be feared in the wood." + +Hugo laughed. "And what worse than robbers on the Watling Street?" he +asked. + +"King's men, lad, king's men. A good honest robber of the woods will +take but thy purse or other goods; but the king's man will take thee, +and the king will take, perchance, thy life. I like not the Watling +Street, nor care to see it more." + +They were now going slowly through the wood in a bridle-path, one +behind the other. Presently they came out into a glade, and across it, +peeping from amid the trees, they descried a hut. "That be our inn for +the night, if they will take us," said Humphrey, decisively. And, +crossing the glade, he rode boldly up to the door and knocked. + +The hut was very small and was made of wattle and daub. A faint line of +smoke was coming from a hole in the roof. The knock with the end of +Humphrey's stick was a vigorous one. Nevertheless it went so long +without answer that he knocked again, and this time with better +success. The door opened slowly a little way, and through the aperture +thus made an old and withered face looked out. + +"What wilt thou?" asked a cracked, high voice. + +"Entrance and shelter for the night," replied Humphrey, promptly and +concisely. + +The door opened a little wider and the man within stepping outside, his +person was revealed. He was of medium height and spare, and he wore a +long gray tunic of wool reaching to his knees. Beneath this garment his +lean legs were bare, while on his feet he wore shoes of skin which +reached to the ankle, and which were secured by thongs. Such as he Hugo +and Humphrey had often seen, but never before a face like his, in which +craftiness and credulity were strangely mingled. For several minutes he +stood there, first scrutinizing Humphrey and then Hugo. + +At last Humphrey grew impatient. "Do we come in, or do we stay out?" he +demanded. + +"Why, that I hardly know," was the slow answer. "There be many rogues +about; some in priests' robes and some not." + +"Yea, verily," responded Humphrey, fervently; "but we be not of the +number. _Pax vobiscum_," he added, hastily. "I had well nigh forgot +that," he said in an aside to Hugo. + +But the old man's ears were keen, and he caught the aside meant for +Hugo's ears alone. "Thou be but a sorry priest to forget thy _pax +vobiscum_," he said with a crafty look. "Perchance thou art no priest," +he added, coming closer and peering into Humphrey's face. + +He looked so long that Humphrey again grew impatient. "What seest thou +on my face?" he asked. + +"Why, I do see a mole on thy nose. It is a very small one, and of scant +size, but because thou hast it thou mayest come down from thy horse, +thou and the lad with thee, and I will give thee lodging for the +night." + +Instinctively Humphrey raised his hand and touched a tiny mole on the +side and near the end of his nose. The man of the hut watched him. "I +see thou knowest that a mole near the end of the nose is lucky," he +said. + +"Not I," declared Humphrey. "I had not before heard of such a thing." + +The man of the hut regarded him pityingly. Then he said: "Come down +from thy horse, thou unwitting lucky one, and come thou and the lad +within while I do hide thy horses in a thick, for I would share thy +luck. Dost not know that to show kindness to a lucky one is to share +his fortune? Thou hadst not come within the hut but for thy mole, I +warrant thee. For I do know that thou art the false priest and the +young lord from Oundle that stopped not at St. Albans as ye were bid." + +Hugo and Humphrey looked at each other. Then Humphrey said, "I know +not, after all, whether to come in or not." + +"Come in! come in!" cried the old man, eagerly. "I must share thy luck, +and that could I not do if I played thee false. Come in!" + +Still hesitating, Humphrey glanced about him. He knew not who might be +on his track. And then he decided to go in. + +"No matter who knocketh while I be gone," said the old man, earnestly, +"give heed to none. Only when I come and knock four times: one for +thee, one time for the lad, and two times for the two horses, which +signifieth that I know ye; listen close. And when I say 'mole,' open +the door softly and not over wide." + +Humphrey, who with Hugo was now within the hut, promised to obey, and +the old man, closing the door after him, departed with the horses. + +At once Humphrey put out the smoking embers of the fire burning on the +earthen floor in the centre of the hut. "If any knock and see the smoke +and hear no answer, will they not break in the door?" he said. + +The old man had been gone but a short time when a tramp of horses was +heard. The riders paused before the door of the hut as Humphrey had +done, and one of them knocked heavily upon it with his stick. But there +was no answer. Again there came a knock and a cry, "Open, old +Bartlemy!" + +Meanwhile, old Bartlemy had come creeping cautiously back, and from +behind a screen of vines which hung from an oak beheld them. "Ay, ye +may knock and cry," he muttered craftily; "but which one of ye hath a +mole near the end of his nose? Not one of ye. Therefore I will have +none of ye. And ye may be gone." + +"The old rascal groweth deaf," said one of the riders. + +"Nay," answered the second. "There cometh no smoke out of the roof. He +is doubtless from home for the night." + +Old Bartlemy hastily glanced toward the roof of the hut. He had left a +smouldering fire, and now no fire was there. "The false priest hath put +it out," he said joyfully. "Now know I that he hath luck with him, and +I will serve him faithfully. Ay, knock!" he continued. "Knock thy fill. +I did but now hear thee call me 'old rascal,' though I have helped thee +to thy desires many times, for which thou didst pay me by ever +threatening to bring the ranger upon me for the game I take to keep me +alive. Thou wantest naught of old Bartlemy but to further thine own +schemes." + +There was silence a moment, and then the first speaker said, "The +priest of Oundle hath cheaply bought his altar cloth if we find not +these two. We know they be between St. Albans and London. And we do +know they be, for the present, gone from the Watling Street, for the +carter from London whom we did meet did tell us that he had met them +not on the way. Therefore go thou to London by way of the Ermine +Street, while I go down by the Watling Street. They may be now straying +about in the wood, but we shall have them on one road or the other as +they go into the city. The false priest rideth a gray, and the young +lord a black. We shall have them without Bartlemy's aid, fear not." + +Then the riders withdrew, each going his way, and Bartlemy a few +moments later knocked on the door of the hut and was admitted by +Humphrey. At once the old man made up the fire in the centre of the hut +again. + +"What doest thou?" demanded Humphrey. "Wouldst have other visitors?" + +"Do not thou fear," responded Bartlemy. "Am I not here? And can I not +hide thee and the lad beneath yon heap of rushes if a stranger come? No +man will look for thee here. They that seek thee think that Bartlemy +will aid them; and so he would but for thy mole. I be an old man, and +never yet hath fortune come my way, and all because I did not before +meet thee. For it hath been foretold me that a man having a mole near +the end of his nose would bring me fortune. Wherefore I cleave to thee, +and will protect thee with my life, if need be." So saying, he threw +another fagot on the fire and, from a hidden cupboard, brought out a +substantial meal of venison and bread. When the meal was finished he +commanded: "Lie down and rest now, thou and the lad, while I keep +watch. Thou wilt need thy wits on the morrow." + +Humphrey reflected. Then he turned to Hugo. "Lie down, lad," he said +kindly. "The old man is crazed when he talketh of moles, but he is +right when he saith we have need of our wits on the morrow. And that +meaneth we must rest in faith to-night." + +The old man smiled triumphantly. "I be not so crazed as thou thinkest, +neither," he said. "Thy mole is not only thy good fortune, but mine +also." With that he put the remains of the meal back in the cupboard, +shut the door, and replenished the fire. He then threw himself down on +the earthen floor beside it, and lay there grinning and grimacing at +the flames till Hugo and Humphrey fell asleep. A dozen times before +dawn old Bartlemy rose to bend over the two, grinning and grimacing as +he did so, and clasping his hands in ecstasy. But when the two awoke he +was gone. + +Humphrey, when he discovered Bartlemy's absence, started up in alarm. +"I did get no dream, lad," he said to Hugo, whom his movements had +aroused; "and the old man is gone. I know not what to do." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + + +An hour went by and still old Bartlemy did not come; an hour of silence +broken only by occasional whispers between Hugo and Humphrey. + +Then the old man softly opened the door and stood smiling before them. + +"Thou didst think me false, is it not so?" he said, addressing Humphrey +and casting an affectionate glance as he did so on the small mole near +the end of the Saxon's nose. + +Great as was his anxiety, Hugo could but laugh to see how the serving-man +was placed before himself, and all on account of an unfortunate +blemish on his countenance. And his enjoyment was heightened by the +embarrassment and half-concealed irritation it occasioned Humphrey. + +But old Bartlemy paid no attention to Hugo and his merry mood. He +proceeded with despatch to set out the morning meal from the hidden +cupboard. "Eat well and heartily," he exhorted both his guests; "for so +shall ye be able to set your enemies at defiance. A full stomach giveth +a man courage and taketh him through many dangers. But why," he +continued, addressing Humphrey solicitously, "why shouldest thou have +many dangers? Why dost thou not let the young lord ride forth alone?" + +Humphrey's answer was a look so full of indignation that the old man +ventured to say nothing more, except, "I see that thou art not to be +persuaded, and I will e'en help ye both." + +So saying, he went outside and brought in a bundle or pack which he +had, on his return to the hut, secreted in a convenient hiding-place. +"I have been to a spot I wot of," he began, "and there did I borrow +this raiment. I did borrow it, I say, and ye must put it on. When ye +have no further need of it, then I will return it to its owner." + +[Illustration: Bartlemy Bore Garments for Disguise] + +Humphrey gazed at him in astonishment. At last he said, "Thou knowest +that we journey hence this morn and shall see thee no more. What +meanest thou?" + +"Why, this," was the response. "I go with thee." + +"Thou goest with me!" repeated Humphrey. + + +"Ay," was the stubborn answer. "Thinkest thou I will lightly part with +him who is decreed to make my fortune? Thou art the man the +fortune-teller spake to me of. 'Cleave to him that hath a mole near the +end of his nose,' saith the fortune-teller, and I will of a surety do +so. But tell me truly, should the young lord be captured, would thy +ability to make my fortune be diminished?" + +"Yea, verily," answered Humphrey, positively. "Were my dear lad +captured, I could do nothing for thee." + +"Thou needst say no more," said the old man, for the first time that +morning looking full at Hugo. "He seemeth a good lad. I will protect +him also with my life, if need be. For what will a man not do if he may +thereby escape the marring of his fortune?" + +Old Bartlemy now ceased speaking and devoted all his energies to +hastily undoing the bundle he had brought in, and sorting out a portion +of what it contained. + +"What hast thou there?" asked Humphrey, contemptuously, as he pointed +to a woman's robe, tunic, and hood of green. "Here be no fine ladies." + +"Nay, speak not so fast," replied old Bartlemy, stubbornly. "Thy young +lord will don these things, and then shalt thou see a fair lady on a +journey bent." + +Hugo flushed. "I wear no woman's dress," he said with determination. + +"Why, how now?" demanded old Bartlemy. "Art thou better than Longchamp, +bishop of Ely? When he did flee he fled as a woman, and in a green +tunic and hood, moreover. When thou art as old as thou now art young, +thou wilt welcome the means that helpeth thee safely on." The old man's +manner was so changed from that of the night before, and he displayed +so much energy, foresight, and knowledge, that Hugo and Humphrey looked +at each other in wonder. He was still old, but he was no longer senile. + +"Knowest thou not," he continued, "that the king's men look for thee +either as the young lord or as the false priest's novice? Dally no +longer, but put on this woman's garb." + +"Yea, lad," counselled Humphrey, "put it on. It will suit thee better +than the king's dungeon." + +Thus urged, Hugo obeyed, and presently was stepping about the hut most +discontentedly in the guise of a woman. "Stride not so manfully or we +be undone," cried old Bartlemy. "Canst thou not mince thy gait? There! +That hath a more seemly look." + +The pack he had brought in was very large, and from it he now took the +garments and armor of an esquire, which he handed to Humphrey. "When +thou shalt don these," he said, "it will come to pass that thou hast +been sent to bring thy young lady safe to London town." + +With alacrity Humphrey tossed aside his priest's robe and clad himself +in what old Bartlemy offered him. "Now may I forget my _pax vobiscum_ +and no harm be done," he exclaimed joyfully. + +Hugo could but smile at the pride and pleasure of Humphrey's manner as +he arrayed himself. "Ah, my good Humphrey!" he cried; "I have found +thee out. Thou wouldst be an esquire, even as I would be a knight." + +Humphrey sighed. "Yea, lad," he confessed, "but I am but a Saxon +serving-man." + +Like a hawk the little old man was watching both. "And I have found +thee out," he said, turning to Hugo. "The mole on his nose doth signify +the good fortune thou wilt bring him, even as it signifieth what he +will do for me. Be sure, gentle lady, I shall serve thee well." + +Hugo laughed and, in his character of lady, inclined his head +courteously. + +Humphrey, who could not for a moment forget the business in hand, +ignored this pleasantry and inquired curtly: "But how goest thou with +us, Bartlemy? Will not the men who were here last night know thee?" + +"Nay, verily," replied Bartlemy. "I have a friend to my counsel that +they know not of. 'Tis he who did lend these disguises, and did +instruct me, moreover, in many matters. He did bid me overcome the +young lord's objections to wearing woman's dress by naming Longchamp +and his green tunic and hood. And many other matters he hath helped me +to, even the whole conduct of the journey, as thou shalt presently +see." With one last look at Humphrey's nose he backed out of the hut +and made off in a surprisingly agile manner for one of his age. + +"Now a plague upon his foolishness!" exclaimed Humphrey. "I had all but +forgotten my nose, but he will be ever bringing it to my mind. Yet, if +the mole on it take us safely through London, I complain not. And I do +hope he forget not his instructions and become again upon our hands the +witless old man of last night." He advanced to the door and glanced +out. "But here come two horses and a mule," he continued. "Whose they +be, I know not, nor what hath been done with ours." + +Hugo at this also looked out the door. "In size and in gait these +horses be ours," he said. + +"Yea, lad; but what should be thy black is a rusty brown with a star in +his forehead and one white foot. And what should be my gray is that +same rusty brown with two white feet and a patch on his side. And the +tails of both be bobbed, and the manes cropped, and the saddles and +housings be different. This is more of Bartlemy's 'friend to his +counsel,' perchance. And I hope his friend be not the Evil One." He +paused a moment. "Seest thou the old woman on the mule that leadeth the +horses?" he continued. + +"That is Bartlemy," replied Hugo. + +"Ay," agreed Humphrey. "But we had not known it had we not been made +ready for mysteries. He looketh like an ancient crone, and will be thy +old nurse, no doubt, going with thee on thy journey. Well, they be wise +men that would know the five of us." + +"Five?" questioned Hugo. + +"Ay, lad. Thou and Bartlemy and I and the two horses. Perchance the +mule is honest and what he seemeth to be." + +Bartlemy, having tied the animals, now came up to the door of the hut +in great exultation. "What thinkest thou of these strange horses, +Humphrey?" he asked. + +"I do think they lack their tails," answered Humphrey, gravely, "which +is a sad lack in summer." + +The old man grinned. "And what more thinkest thou?" he asked. + +"I do think they have need of manes also," was the reply. + +With an air of pride the old man, clad in his woman's dress, consisting +of a long, loose, blue robe surmounted by a long, red head-rail which +reached to his knees, walked back to the horses. "Come hither," he said +to Humphrey. "It were not well to cut off what one may need before it +grow again. Seest thou how only the outside of the tail is cut so as to +bush out over what is braided fine in many strands and caught up +cunningly beneath? And come hither. Seest thou how the mane is +cunningly looped and gummed, so that it seemeth to be short, when a dip +in the stream will make it long again? And this brown is but a stain, +and the white patches a bleach that will last but till the horse sheds +again." + +"This is the work of thy friend?" inquired Humphrey, gravely. + +"Yea," answered old Bartlemy, jubilantly. + +"And he is an honest man?" + +Old Bartlemy frowned. "He is my friend. And he hath served thee well, +if he hath kept thee and the lad from the hands of the king. Ask no +more. He had not done so much, but that I did tell him it was to make +my fortune. And now mount, my esquire! mount, my gentle lady! and I, +thy nurse, will mount. And we will all away to London town." +"By which road?" asked Humphrey, reining in his stained and bleached +horse. + +"By the Watling Street," was the confident answer. + +Humphrey seemed dissatisfied. Seeing which the old man said: "Why, we +must e'en go by the Watling Street or the Ermine Street, since we have +the young lady here in charge. Such is the custom of travellers to go +by one or the other." + +"I like not the Watling Street," objected Humphrey. + +"Didst hear the men at the door of my hut?" asked old Bartlemy, +earnestly. + +"Yea," replied Humphrey, briefly. + +"Didst note how he who watcheth for us on the Watling Street did tell +his plans in a voice that all might hear?" + +"Yea." + +"Therefore I go by the Watling Street and not by the Ermine Street," +said old Bartlemy, with determination. "He that hath so little +discretion that he telleth his plans in the ears of all who may listen +is less to be feared than he that sayeth little. He that watcheth for +us on the Ermine Street hath keen eyes and a silent tongue. Therefore +go we by the Watling Street and, moreover, the friend to my counsel +hath bid me so to do. I warrant thee more than one priest will be +stopped there, while the esquire and the young lady and the nurse +escape notice." + +"Mayhap thou art right," agreed Humphrey, after some reflection. + +Bartlemy did not wait to answer, but, giving his mule a slap with the +reins, set forward, and in a moment all three were crossing the glade, +whence they followed the same bridle-path by which Hugo and Humphrey +had come the day before, and so gained the Watling Street. Many people +were upon it, and Bartlemy, following the instructions of him who had +planned for him, managed to ride near enough to a merchant's party to +be mistaken as members of it by an unthinking observer. + +In his garb of esquire Humphrey was more at home than in that of the +priest, and he looked boldly about him. "Here be a strange thing, lad," +he said. "As we did come upon this road I did see a priest with his +novice pass by. Seest thou that other near at hand? And looking back I +see yet another. He that watcheth for us is like to have his hands +full." + +"Many priests be abroad," replied Hugo, with a smile. "It was to that +the Canon Thurstan trusted when he sent us forth." + +"He should, then, not have sent us to that rascally one at Oundle," +growled Humphrey. "Speak not o'er much with the lady," cautioned old +Bartlemy, riding up. "It is not seemly. Let her stay by me, her nurse. +So hath the friend to my counsel instructed me." + +At once Hugo fell back, reining his horse alongside the mule and a half +pace in advance; whereat old Bartlemy smiled in approbation. + +"Where go we in London?" asked Hugo, curiously. + +"Thou shalt see in good time," answered Bartlemy. "It may be one place, +it may be another. I can tell when we have passed him who watcheth for +us. I know many places." + +The old man, turning his face away, Hugo saw that he did not wish to +talk further, so he contented himself by seeing as much as he could +with his keen young eyes of what went on before him, old Bartlemy +having previously cautioned him against gazing about over much. + +As they drew nearer the city the crowd became more dense, being swelled +by those who were coming out of it on their way north. A little party +of knights, esquires, pages, and ladies travelling at a faster pace +overtook them, and so they were still better protected from observation +than before, as the new party were now obliged, by the throng, to go +forward slowly. So on they went till they came to the church of St. +Andrew, and the Fleet River, and, crossing the bridge, found +themselves, as old Bartlemy said, not far from the New Gate, through +which they must enter the city. They had no sooner entered than old +Bartlemy said to Hugo, + +"Thou didst not see the man at the hut?" + +"Nay," answered Hugo, with a nervous start. + +"Yon at the entrance to the meat market opposite the Grey Friars is he. +Seem not to notice him, but mark him well. He hath a bailiff to his +help, and it will go hard with somebody." + +"He stoppeth not that priest and his novice," observed Hugo. + +"That is because the bailiff knoweth both and hath instructed him," +answered Bartlemy. "Look downward now right modestly till we be safely +past, for thou hast a speaking eye. Thou art not lucky like the good +Humphrey, to have a dull eye, which seeth much and seemeth to see +naught." + +Hugo glanced down as he was bid, and soon they were past in safety. But +Humphrey, half turning in his saddle and gazing back, saw a priest and +his novice stopped. "And the priest rideth a gray and the novice a +black," mused Humphrey, "which is a wonderful thing, and not to be +accounted for except by chance." + +[Illustration: Humphrey Half Turning in His Saddle Saw the Priest] + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + + +The pace at which Walter Skinner had left Dunstable for London he kept +up for some two miles, when he slackened his rein at the bidding of his +half-drunken fancy. + +"I be for London town," he said to himself with a serious look. "And +other men than I have been there before now. Yea, verily, and have got +them safe home again into the bargain. But not so will I do. For in +London will I bide, either till the king make a duke of me or till I +become the Lord Mayor. For I be resolved to rise in the world. And the +first step toward it is to be resolved; yea, and to be determined; and +to look Dame Fortune full in the face and to say to her, 'Play no +tricks on me.'" + +By this time he was come up with a belated carrier who, since his cart +was empty and he upon his return journey, dared to be upon the road at +night. There was no moon, and in the starlight Walter Skinner could see +but imperfectly. "And who art thou?" he demanded loftily, "that thou +shouldest creak and rumble along over the road and block the way of a +rising man? The sun doth rise, and why not I? Only the sun riseth not +in the middle of the night, and neither will I. Nay, verily, but I will +wait to rise till I be come to London town. And so I bid thee, whoever +thou art, make place for me that I may pass thee upon the road." + +The carter, wondering much who this drunken madman might be, made no +answer but drove his creaking vehicle forward slowly as before, and in +the middle of the highway. Behind him, and at the tail of the cart, +followed Walter Skinner with equal slowness. For some moments he said +nothing more as, with closed eyes and heavily nodding head, he rode +along. Then he roused himself. "Stop!" he called fiercely. "Stop, I +say. I will go to bed in thy wagon or cart or whatever it may be, which +I cannot see for want of light." + +"I carry not passengers for naught," observed the carter, civilly. + +"Yea, but thou wilt carry me," retorted Walter Skinner. "I tell thee I +serve the king. Why, the prior of St. Edmund's did give me a horse when +mine own was gone, and wilt thou refuse me a bed? It shall go hard with +thee, varlet that thou art, if thou dost. I be ready to sink from +weariness. Lend me a hand down and into thy cart; lead thou my horse, +and so shall we proceed, I at rest as becometh the king's man, and thou +serving me, thy proper master." + +The carter was slow of wit, and, as most men did, he trembled at the +mention of the king. He therefore did as he was requested, and Walter +Skinner was soon bumping along the road, oblivious to all his +surroundings. In the cart he might have remained until he reached St. +Albans, but that, just at dawn, he had a frightful dream. He was again +at Dunstable, and the landlord of the Shorn Lamb was about to deliver +him to the king who stood, in his dream, a hideous monster with horns +upon his head. In a shiver of dread he awoke. The cart was standing +still, and, at the side of the road, reposed the carter overcome by +sleep. By his side lay his drinking-horn. With trembling limbs Walter +Skinner climbed down from the cart. Then, seizing the carter's horn, he +untied his horse, which was fastened to the tail of the cart, and +mounted; took from the horn a long drink, and once more set out at a +furious pace which shortly became once more a slow one. Pausing only +long enough at St. Albans to procure breakfast for himself and a feed +for his horse, he continued on to London which he reached late in the +afternoon. But he did not go in at New Gate, for, making a sharp turn +at St. Andrew's, he went south till he came to Fleet street, when, +turning to the left, he entered the city through Lud Gate. Clad in his +scullion's garb, and with his face flushed from drink he presented a +strange appearance as he permitted his horse to carry him whither he +would through the narrow streets. + +"Here be people enough," he said to himself, "and yea, verily, here be +noise enough. But I will stop all that when I be Lord Mayor. What! +shall mine ears ring with vile din? If so be I would speak to my horse +could he hear me? Nay, that he could not. When I be Lord Mayor no smith +shall strike on anvil in my presence. And when I pass by, let the +carpenters cease to drive their nails; let all the armorers cease their +hammering; let the coopers forbear to hoop their casks; and then can I +gather my wits together, which is more than I can now do." +He was right as to the din; for here in these narrow lanes the +craftsmen lived and worked. Each one had his tenement of one room above +and one below. In the one below he worked, or in the street, and in the +room above he dwelt with his family. + +As he went uncertainly up one of these narrow lanes and down another, +leading north or south out of Cheapside, as the case might be, the +rabble began to gather about him and to bait him with jeers of various +sorts. + +"Why, how now!" he exclaimed, when he had once more come into +Cheapside. And he put on his fiercest air, which sat strangely enough +on one clad as a scullion. "Do ye gibe and jeer at me who am servant to +the king? What know ye of young runaway lords and Saxon serving-men? +And the perils of a long way, and the keeper of the Shorn Lamb? I could +open your eyes for ye, if I thought it worth my while. But ye be all +base-born knaves--" + +The last words were but out of his mouth when a strong hand jerked him +to the ground. And, not seeing what he did, as he struck fiercely out, +his clenched fist landed on the chest of the warden who was passing, +and Walter Skinner was promptly seized and about to be haled off to +punishment. + +Cheapside was the principal market-place of London. It was broad, and +bordered on each side by booths or sheds for the sale of merchandise. A +sudden disturbance attracted the attention of the bailiff who held +Walter Skinner. And, even as he turned his head to look, the very man +that had dragged Walter Skinner from his horse detached the little man +from the grasp of the careless officer, and bade him flee. "Flee away, +thou half-drunken scullion," said his liberator. "Thou dost lack thy +wits, and so I would not have thee also lack thy liberty." + +Now Walter Skinner was in that condition when, although he could not +walk straight, he could run. And away he went, his first impetus +carrying him well down into Bow Lane, which opened from Cheapside to +the south, where he speedily brought up against a curb post and fell +into the gutter. His appearance was not improved when he rose, but he +started again, and took this time, not the curb post, but a stout +farmer. The farmer instinctively bracing himself to meet the shock of +Walter Skinner's fall against him, no harm was done; but he whirled +round, grasped the little terrified rascal by the shoulder, and hurried +him into the adjacent inn yard. "Had I been an old woman or a young +child I might have been sprawling in the gutter," he began severely, +"and all because of thee. What account givest thou of thyself?" + +"Thou art but a yeoman," returned Walter Skinner, disdainfully. "And +dost thou ask me to account to thee? Account thou to me, sirrah. What +didst thou in the street standing there like a gutter post to obstruct +the way of passengers in haste? But for thee I had been well sped on my +way." + +The farmer heard him in amazement. Then he said: "I do perceive that +thou art a fool; and with fools I never meddle." And seizing him once +more by the shoulder, he thrust him into the street. "Speed on thy way, +little braggart," he said, "even till thou comest to thy master, who +must be the Evil One himself." + +Walter Skinner sped away, by degrees slacking his pace till, after much +wandering, he came to a low public house on Thames Street, where he +slipped in, hid himself in a corner, and went fast asleep. It was noon +of the next day before he was discovered and routed out by a tapster. +"This be no place for a scullion," said the tapster. "Get to thy +duties." + +"I be no scullion," retorted Walter Skinner, indignantly. "Till now I +was the king's man with good hope to be a duke or the mayor of London." + +"I go to tell master of thee," returned the tapster. "And he will set +thee to scour knives in a trice." + +The tapster was as good as his word, and Walter Skinner, much against +his will, was soon at work. "Here be another degradation," he muttered +over his knife blades, "and I stand it not. I be not so mean-spirited +as to labor, nor to do the bidding of other men who should do mine." So +saying, he stole from the kitchen and the house into the streets, where +he became a vagabond, and so remained, along with thousands of others +like unto him. + +Meanwhile Hugo and Humphrey and old Bartlemy were having troubles of +their own. The places in London suitable for them to stop at which old +Bartlemy knew proved to be known to him by report only. And, lacking +the present help of him whom Humphrey was pleased to call Bartlemy's +"friend to his counsel," the whole party soon knew not where to go; for +the old man had lost the energy with which he had escorted them to +London, and seemed to have sunk back into the semi-helpless mixture of +shrewdness and credulity which he appeared when Hugo and Humphrey had +first met him. One thing, and one only, seemed to engross most of his +attention, and that was Humphrey's mole. And he was ever prating of the +fortune it was sure to bring him. + +"Lad," said Humphrey at last, when they had been two days in the town, +"if we are to come safely off we must be rid of him. The gumming up of +the horses' manes and the braiding of their tails have already made the +innkeeper look strangely at us. Had he not set it down as the trick of +some malicious groom, it had been worse for us. And I do fear the old +man's babbling tongue. I will sound him to see how much will content +him, and perchance from thy pouch and mine the sum may be made up." + +Old Bartlemy was growing weary of his woman's dress, and weary of +hovering around Hugo in the assumed capacity of his nurse. He was not +in his apartment when Humphrey went to seek him, and further search +revealed the fact that he was not in the house. So, somewhat disturbed, +Humphrey went forth to find him, taking with him in his bosom Hugo's +pouch as well as his own. The inn where they were now stopping was the +White Horse in Lombard Street, and as Humphrey issued forth into the +street he knew not which way to turn. "The old nurse did go south +toward the waterside," volunteered a groom, who observed Humphrey's +hesitation. "She seemeth like one that lacketh wit, and so I did keep a +watch upon her till she went beyond my sight." + +Humphrey flung the groom a penny and went south himself at a good gait. +"If he be not at some public house I shall find him at a cock-fighting, +no doubt," said Humphrey to himself. It was now the second day of July +and clear and warm. The streets were full of hucksters having for sale, +besides their usual wares, summer fruits and vegetables. But to all +their cries Humphrey turned a deaf ear as he pushed impatiently on, +keeping a sharp lookout for old Bartlemy. And what was his amazement to +come upon him at last at the river side clad, not as the nurse, but in +his own proper character. + +"How now!" exclaimed Humphrey, with a frown. "Where is thy woman's +garb? And what meanest thou to cast it aside in this manner?" + +The old man peered up at him with a sly look on his face. "Ay, thou +mayest storm," he said; "but if I be tired of woman's garb, what is +that to thee?" + +"Why, this," returned Humphrey. "Thou dost endanger our heads by this +change." + +The old man shook his head and smiled a silly smile. "Nay," he made +answer. "I would not endanger thy head, for that would endanger the +mole upon thy nose, and so my fortune. Thou doest me wrong." + +Humphrey looked at him attentively and saw that a temporary weakness of +mind due to his age had overtaken him. So he said in a soothing tone: +"Where didst thou leave thy nurse's garb? I pray thee put it on again." + +Again there came the sly look over the old man's withered face. "I do +know where I did leave it," he said; "but I put it not on again. The +friend I have to my counsel did bid me put it on, and I did obey him, +for he is a magician. But I like it not, and I will wear it no more. +Why, look thou," he continued earnestly. "When I wear it I must remain +with the young lord, and be not free to consort with other men, and see +and hear all that goeth on. Wherefore I will wear it no more." + +Humphrey looked at him in despair. Then he said with assumed +cheerfulness: "I will now make thy fortune for thee. So mayest thou +return to the wood while we journey on." + +Old Bartlemy, as he listened, smiled with the delight of a child. "Said +not the fortune-teller truly?" he cried. "And how much is my fortune +that thou wilt make?" + +"Why, that I hardly can tell," returned Humphrey. "What callest thou a +fortune?" + +Old Bartlemy looked at him craftily. "The friend to my counsel did say +one hundred and fifty gold pieces, and that will pay for the +disguises." + +"No less?" asked Humphrey. + +"Nay," returned old Bartlemy. "If thou dost leave me, I may never see +the mole upon thy nose again. Therefore pay to me the one hundred and +fifty gold pieces before I ask thee more. For the friend to my counsel +did say, 'Take no less, and as much more as thou canst get.'" + +"Thou art hard to content," said Humphrey. "But come thou to the +nearest reputable inn, where we may be unwatched, and I will pay to +thee the one hundred and fifty gold pieces which thou dost require. +Should they of the street see thee receive it, thou wouldst not keep it +long." + +The old man, with a crafty shake of the head, followed along in +Humphrey's wake. "I have the wit to keep my fortune," he said. "No man +may wrest it from me." + +Without further words Humphrey led the way, his mind full of anxious +thoughts as to how he was to get himself, Hugo, and the horses away +from the White Horse in Lombard Street without rousing suspicion when +the mule of old Bartlemy was left behind and the old man himself in his +character of nurse was missing. He was still busily thinking when they +came to a respectable little inn called the Hart. Turning to old +Bartlemy, who was following close behind, he said, "Here do we stop +till I pay thee what thou hast asked." + +Old Bartlemy said nothing, but he rubbed his hands together in delight, +and kept so close to Humphrey that he almost trod on his heels. + +"Now," said Humphrey, when they were alone and the old man had been +paid, "I ask thee this grace, Bartlemy. Wilt thou not once more put on +the nurse's garb and come back with me to the White Horse till I can +pay the reckoning and get away? After that thou mayest cast it aside +and wear it no more." + +"Nay," replied old Bartlemy, jingling the gold pieces and looking at +them with gloating eyes. "Nay, I will put on woman's dress no more." + +"Not if I pay thee to do so?" + +"Nay. I have here my fortune. What have I need of more?" And he sat +down obstinately and became at once absorbed in counting over his gold +pieces. + +Humphrey, seeing that nothing was to be gained, and anxious for Hugo's +welfare, at once left the room and the house and set out for the White +Horse. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + + +Through the same crowded streets, and entirely unmindful of the people +who jostled him, Humphrey mechanically pushed his way on his return +journey. How should he and Hugo get away from the White Horse? He knew +very little of the world, but this much he knew, that for them to +attempt to leave with the old nurse missing would be to thoroughly +arouse the suspicion which, so far, was half dormant. + +"I will pay the reckoning now," he said to himself as he entered the +inn yard. "And then we must do as we can to give them the slip. I know +not why, but dreams be slow to come in this town. I would we were +safely out of it." + +He had but just paid it, and the innkeeper was about to inquire +concerning his departure, when a great excitement arose. One of the +frequent fires, for which the London of that day was noted, had broken +out. + +"A fire, sayest thou?" cried Humphrey. + +"Yea," answered a groom, bursting into the bar. "A fire, master! a +fire!" + +Away ran the groom followed by the master. And Hugo coming down at this +moment, Humphrey hurried to him. "Make haste, lad!" he cried. "Come +with me to the stables. We must e'en serve ourselves and get out the +horses and be off, ere the fire abate and the innkeeper and the grooms +come back." + +Hugo wondered, but said nothing, for he saw that Humphrey was greatly +excited. And with despatch the horses were saddled and led out. "I +would not that people lose their homes unless they must," said +Humphrey, when they were safely away; "but the fire hath saved us, and +I warrant thee we pay not one hundred and fifty gold pieces for the +saving neither." + +"Didst pay so much?" asked Hugo. + +"Yea, lad," answered Humphrey. "It seemeth the 'friend to his counsel' +did set the price he was to ask, and nothing less would content him. He +did even hint at more." + +"And how much remaineth?" asked Hugo. + +"But fifty gold pieces, lad. We be now near our journey's end. Mayhap +they be enough." + +"Yea," replied Hugo, thoughtfully. "I must not go to the priory of the +Holy Trinity unless I have great need. So said my uncle to me." + +"And where is that, lad?" + +"Here in London. It is a powerful and wealthy priory, but my uncle did +say it is as well to pass it by if I can." + +"Mind thou thine uncle, lad. But whither go we now?" + +"To Dover. Then do we take ship to France." + +They had now come to the new London bridge which was of stone. Over it +they went, and had just started on their journey from its southern end +when, in haste, old Bartlemy, clad as the nurse, arrived at the White +Horse. He had slowly and laboriously counted his gold pieces three +times before it occurred to him that one hundred and fifty of these +treasures was no great sum. And that, if he did as Humphrey had +requested, he would be able to add other gold pieces to his store. Thus +thinking, he had repaired to the hiding-place of his disguise, put it +on, and set out. + +At the same moment of his arrival the innkeeper came back, and a little +later the grooms began to straggle in. + +Old Bartlemy, however, paid no attention to who came in or who went +out. His sole concern was to find Humphrey. Not succeeding, he appealed +to the innkeeper to know what was become of him. + +"Why, that I know not," replied the innkeeper, indifferently. "Most +like he hath not yet returned from the fire." + +Impatiently old Bartlemy, forgetting that he was a woman, and nurse to +a young lady of the better sort, sat down in the inn yard upon a bench. +And ever and anon as no Humphrey appeared he got up and mingled with +the knots of other men standing about, only to return to his seat. +Finally he could restrain himself no longer, but eagerly began to +inquire of all newcomers as to the whereabouts of Humphrey. Now while +his were questions which no man could answer, they were put in such a +manner as to make men stare curiously upon him. For they were such +questions as one man would ask of another, and not the timid inquiries +of an ignorant old woman. Finally, one of the bystanders more daring +than the rest advanced, and boldly turned back the hood of the head-rail, +letting it hang down over his shoulders, and the head of an old +man was revealed. A murmur of surprise and expectation now ran through +the crowd, and the same bold hand bodily removed the head-rail and the +robe beneath it; and there stood old Bartlemy in his gray woollen +tunic, his legs bare from the knees down, and his feet encased in skin +shoes reaching to his ankles. + +"Well done, mother!" cried the bold revealer of his identity. "And now +do thou tell us speedily who is this esquire Humphrey whom thou +seekest. Mayhap he is as little an esquire as thou art an old woman." + +Bartlemy looked from face to face, but he answered nothing. + +At this moment a groom came running from the stables. "Master! master!" +he cried, addressing the innkeeper, "the horse of the esquire Humphrey +be gone." + +"Gone, sirrah!" repeated the innkeeper. "And whither is he gone?" + +"Why, that I know not, master. I only know that the horse of the young +lady did bear him company. But the mule of the nurse is still there, +wherefore there is no thievery, since he did take but his own." + +The bystanders now crowded more closely around Bartlemy, with the +innkeeper at the front as questioner. "Tell us truly, old man," said +the innkeeper, threateningly; "who is this esquire Humphrey, and who +is the young lady that beareth him company? Make haste with thine +answer, or it shall be worse for thee." + +"Why," replied old Bartlemy, slowly, as his gaze wandered from face to +face, "the esquire is the false priest from Oundle, and the young lady +is his novice." + +At this reply a man from the rear elbowed his way to the side of the +innkeeper. "I know not how it may please thee," he said, "but, on the +Watling Street by the meat market two days and more agone, a man with a +bailiff to his help did stop a priest and his novice. And he did act +like a madman when he did discover that he had stopped the wrong +persons, and prated of a reward from the king which he must lose." + +Old Bartlemy grinned as he listened. Seeing which the innkeeper pounced +upon him. "Were these the priest and his novice?" he asked fiercely. + +"Yea, verily," answered old Bartlemy, proudly. "And they would have +been caught but for me. And now I know not whither they be gone," he +added disconsolately. "And perchance I shall see them no more; nor +shall I see the mole on the nose of the good Humphrey more; and so, +farewell to the fortune it might bring me." + +"And who is the young lady?" said the innkeeper, with a fierce look. + +"Why, she be a fine lad," replied old Bartlemy. + +The innkeeper reflected amid a low hum of comment. Then he turned on +the man who had told him of the priest and his novice. "Thou sayest the +king hath a reward for this priest and his novice?" he asked. + +"Yea." + +"And who be they?" asked the innkeeper. + +"They are like to be as little priest and his novice as they be esquire +and young lady. Who be they, I say?" + +"I had speech later with the bailiff, and he did say that the priest +was a Saxon serving-man, and the novice was the young lord, Josceline +De Aldithely, escaping to his father." + +"After them! after them!" cried the innkeeper, furiously. "They be a +prize!" + +In the hurly-burly and din that now arose old Bartlemy slipped out to +the stables, got possession of his mule, and rode off unnoticed. + +There were in the London of this time many great town houses of the +nobles. And that of Lord De Launay was situated in Lombard Street, not +far from the White Horse. To it he went riding, at this moment, with a +small retinue in livery. He looked in surprise at the commotion before +the White Horse, and beckoning a retainer he said, "Find me the meaning +of this uproar." Then he rode slowly on to his home. + +He had but entered the great square courtyard when the retainer came in +on a gallop. "Your lordship, it be this," he said. "They have but just +struck the trail of the young Lord De Aldithely and will presently run +him to earth, hoping for the reward offered by the king. He rideth now +disguised as a lady, and the serving-man rideth as his esquire." + +Now Lord De Launay was he who in the guise of a scullion had set Walter +Skinner free, and all for the friendship he bore Josceline's father. So +calling up twenty of his men-at-arms he sent them in pursuit. "No doubt +they ride to Dover," he said. "Make haste to come up with them. Bid the +young lord cast aside his woman's garb, and stay ye by them as an +escort on the road. Leave them not till they be safely aboard ship and +off to France." + +The men-at-arms of Lord De Launay were of the best of that time, being +both bold and faithful, and their master stood but little in awe of the +king. Not that he openly flouted the king's authority, but that, at all +times, he dared to pursue the course that seemed to him best. And this +he could do for two reasons; he pursued it quietly, and the king felt a +little fear of him. Moreover, the king did not discover how much he +owed to him for the thwarting of his plans. Else, powerful noble though +he was, Lord De Launay would have been punished. + +Meanwhile, Hugo and Humphrey were making the best of their way, and +stopping not to look to the right hand nor to the left. After them +galloped the men-at-arms, and not many miles out of the city they +overtook them. + +Upon their approach the fugitives gave themselves up as lost. "Lad," +said Humphrey, despairingly, "we have done our best, and we be taken at +last. No doubt these be the king's men-at-arms that ride so swiftly +upon our track. See how they be armed, and how their horses stride!" + +Hugo looked over his shoulder, and his face was pale. But there was no +regret in his heart for the attempt he had made to save Josceline, even +though the king's dungeon seemed now to open before him. He said +nothing, and a moment later the men-at-arms swept up and surrounded +them, their leader saluting Hugo, much to the boy's surprise. "My lord +bids thee cast aside thy woman's dress," said he, "and ride in thine +own character." + +"And who art thou? And who is thy lord? And wherefore art thou come?" +demanded Humphrey, bravely, as he spurred his horse between Hugo and +the man-at-arms who had spoken. + +The man-at-arms laughed. "I see thou hast cause to dread pursuit," he +said. "And, in truth, we did pass some vile knaves riding fast to +overtake ye. One and all they do hope for the king's reward, for the +old man at the White Horse hath betrayed ye." + +Closer to Hugo's side Humphrey reined his horse, and the captain of the +men-at-arms laughed louder than before. "Why, what couldst thou do for +the lad against us?" he said. "And yet, thou art brave to try. But put +away thy fears. Lord De Launay is, as thou shouldst know, the sworn +friend of Lord De Aldithely, and he hath sent us to overtake ye and to +carry ye safe to the ship at Dover. So let us on and set a merry pace +for these knaves that would follow us. But first, off with that woman's +robe, my young lord Josceline." + +"Willingly!" cried Hugo, who did not even now betray the secret that he +was not Josceline, not knowing what might come of it. And he threw off +hood, cloak, and robe while Humphrey looked from the captain to the boy +and back again. But without a word to the faithful serving-man, the +captain gave the command to the troop, and immediately all were in +swift motion. + +A mile was left behind them,--two miles,--and now Humphrey looked at +Hugo amazed. Among these men-at-arms who treated him with a respect +which was like an elixir to him, the boy sat transformed. He held +himself proudly, and seemed, as he sat, a part of his horse. His +handsome eyes shone, and a genial smile parted his lips. + +"Who art thou, dear lad?" thought Humphrey. "And though that I cannot +tell, yet this I know, thou art the equal of any De Aldithely." And +then Hugo's eyes fell upon him, and they filled with a most kindly +light. + +Meanwhile the motley crowd that had started in pursuit from the White +Horse had become appreciably thinned upon the road. For one was no +rider, and was promptly pitched over his horse's head. Another, in his +haste, had but imperfectly saddled his horse, so that he was speedily +at the side of the road with his horse gone. Others had chosen poor +mounts that could go but slowly, being waggoners' horses and not +accustomed to any but a slow motion. + +All these, with disappointment, saw the hope of the king's reward +slipping from them, and looked with envy upon the few who passed them +and vanished from their sight, with determination written on their +faces. Yet even these were destined to failure and, before Rochester +was reached, were fain to turn back, having seen nothing of those whom +they sought. + +But the troop of men-at-arms with Hugo and Humphrey still sped, halting +for the night in a safe spot, and rising betimes in the morning to +hurry on, until, their duty done, and the two safely aboard, they +turned back at their leisure. + +And all this time, upon the sea going down from Scotland was a ship +which bore Lady De Aldithely and Josceline. Even in the wilds of +Scotland she could not rest, knowing that no spot would remain +unsearched if it should be discovered that it was Hugo Aungerville and +not Josceline who had fled to France. So she and her son had embarked, +and, two days before Hugo and Humphrey, they reached Lord De Aldithely. +And there they found William Lorimer and his men-at-arms, but, to Lady +De Aldithely's distress, no Hugo nor tidings of him. + +"What lad is this thou speakest of?" asked Lord De Aldithely. + +And then Lady De Aldithely told him all. "And his name," she ended, "is +Hugo Aungerville. Knowest thou aught of him?" + +"I should," replied Lord De Aldithely. "Though I have never seen him, I +do know he must be the son of my cousin, Eleanor De Aldithely; for he +hath her brave spirit, and her husband was Hugo Aungerville. And the +lad shall be knighted or ever he arrive. For if he elude the king +successfully and on such an errand, risking his own life to save that +of another, he hath won his spurs." + +Thus it was that when Hugo came welcome was waiting for him in the warm +hearts of his kinsfolk. And when he had received his spurs, and Lord De +Aldithely asked him what reward he could give him for saving Josceline +from the king's hands, the boy smiled archly upon the faithful Humphrey +who stood by. "I do ask thee," he said, "that Humphrey may be my +esquire." + +And from that day Humphrey, a serving-man no longer, followed his dear +lad, not only in France, but later in England, when Magna Charta had +been signed, and it was safe for them all to return. + +THE END + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Boy's Ride, by Gulielma Zollinger + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A BOY'S RIDE *** + +***** This file should be named 7806.txt or 7806.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/7/8/0/7806/ + +Produced by Patricia L. Ehler, Suzanne L. Shell, Charles +Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at + www.gutenberg.org/license. + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at 809 +North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email +contact links and up to date contact information can be found at the +Foundation's web site and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For forty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/7806.zip b/7806.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..556f405 --- /dev/null +++ b/7806.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..dee1583 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #7806 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/7806) diff --git a/old/bride10.txt b/old/bride10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..56f5e97 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/bride10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7590 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Boy's Ride, by Gulielma Zollinger + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: A Boy's Ride + +Author: Gulielma Zollinger + +Release Date: March, 2005 [EBook #7806] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on May 18, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A BOY'S RIDE *** + + + + +Produced by Patricia L. Ehler, Suzanne L. Shell, Charles Franks +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + +[Illustration: "Yield Thee in the King's Name"] + + + + +A BOY'S RIDE + + + + +BY +GULIELMA ZOLLINGER + +1909 + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS AND COVER DESIGN +BY FANNY M. CHAMBERS + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + +"Yield thee in the king's name!" + +Hugo seeks shelter within the walls + +"Thou art welcome, my lad," said Lady De Aldithely + +"It is well thou hast me to lead thee" + +Humphrey and Hugo in the oak tree + +The little spy and Humphrey + +Hugo looked about him with interest + +Humphrey started up, snatching a great bunch of long, flaming reeds + +None knew which way to turn to escape + +Richard Wood finds Walter Skinner + +Walter Skinner's horse refused to be controlled + +Richard Wood beckoned the Saxons to approach + +He rode to the edge of the moat and looked down + +Humphrey in priest's garb + +Bartlemy bore garments for disguise + +Humphrey, half turning in his saddle, saw a priest + + + + +A BOY'S RIDE + + + + +CHAPTER I + + +It was the last of May in the north of England, in the year 1209. A +very different England from what any boy of to-day has seen. A chilly +east wind was blowing. The trees of the vast forests were all in leaf +but the ash trees, and they were unfolding their buds. And along a +bridle-path a few miles southwest of York a lad of fourteen was riding, +while behind him followed a handsome deerhound. A boy of fourteen, at +that age of the world, was an older and more important personage than +he is to-day. If he were well-born he had, generally, by this time, +served his time as a page and was become an esquire in the train of +some noble lord. That this lad had not done so was because his uncle, a +prior in whose charge he had been reared since the early death of his +parents, had designed him for a priest. Priest, however, he had +declined to be, and his uncle had now permitted him to go forth +unattended to attach himself as page to some lord, if he could. + +To-day he seemed very much at home in the great wood as he glanced +about him fearlessly, but so he would have been anywhere. Apparently he +was unprotected from assault save by the bow he carried. In reality he +wore a shirt of chain mail beneath his doublet, a precaution which he +the more willingly took because of his good hope one day to be a +knight, when not only the shirt of mail, but the helmet, shield, sword, +and lance would be his as well. + +It was not far from noon when he came to the great open place cleared +of all timber and undergrowth which announced the presence of a castle. +And looking up, he saw the flag of the De Aldithelys flying from its +turrets. + +There was a rustle in the thicket, horse and deerhound pricked up their +ears, and then ran pursued by flying arrows. And now ride! ride, my +brave boy, and seek shelter within the walls! For till thou reach them, +thy shirt of mail must be thy salvation. + +The drawbridge was yet down, for a small party of men-at-arms had just +been admitted, and across it rushed boy, and horse, and dog before the +warder had time to wind his horn: the horse and rider unharmed, but the +deerhound wounded. + +[Illustration: Hugo Seeks Shelter within the Walls] + +The warder stared upon the strange boy, and the boy stared back at him. +And then the warder crossed himself. "'Tis some witchcraft," he +muttered. "Here cometh the young lord, and all the time I know that the +young lord is safe within the walls." + +The grooms also crossed themselves before they drew up the bridge. But +the boy, unconcerned, rode on across the outer court and passed into +the inner one followed by the wounded dog. Here the men-at-arms were +dismounting, horses were neighing, and grooms running about. The boy, +too, dismounted, and bent anxiously over his dog. + +Presently a young voice demanded, "Whence comest thou?" + +The boy looked up to see his counterpart, the son of the lord of the +castle, standing imperiously before him. + +"From York," answered the stranger, briefly. "Hast thou a leech that +can care for my dog? See how he bleeds." + +"Oh, ay," was the answer. "But how came he wounded? He hath been +deer-stealing, perchance, and the ranger hath discovered him." + +"Nay," replied the strange lad, in tones the echo of his questioner's. +"Thou doest Fleetfoot wrong. We were but pursuing our way when from +yonder thicket to the north and adjoining the open, a flight of arrows +came. I had been sped myself but for my shirt of mail." + +The leech had now advanced and was caring skilfully for the dog while +the strange lad looked on, now and then laying a caressing hand on the +hound's head. + +Meanwhile the men-at-arms conferred together and exchanged wise looks +while a stout and clumsy Saxon serving-man of about forty shook his +head. "I did dream of an earthquake no longer ago than night before +last," he said, "which is a dream that doth ever warn the dreamer and +all concerned with him to be cautious and careful. Here cometh riding +the twin of our young lord: and the Evil One only knoweth how this +stranger hath the nose, the eyes, the mouth, the complexion, the gait, +the size, and the voice of our young lord, Josceline De Aldithely. +Thinkest thou not, William Lorimer, it were cautious and careful to put +him and his hound outside the walls, to say nothing of his horse?" + +William Lorimer, the captain of the men-at-arms, smiled in derision. A +great belief in dreams and omens was abroad in the land: and nowhere +had it a more devoted adherent than in Humphrey, the Saxon serving-man, +and nowhere a greater scoffer than in William Lorimer. + +"I see thou scoffest, William Lorimer," pursued Humphrey. "But were he +put out, then might those minions of the king shoot at him once more, +and spare to shoot at our young lord. I will away to our lady, and see +what she ordereth." + +There had always been times in England when no man who stood in the way +of another was safe, but these were the times when women and children +were not safe. For perhaps the wickedest king who ever sat upon the +English throne occupied it now, and his name was John. + +This king had tried to snatch the kingdom from his brother, Richard +Coeur de Lion, and had failed. When Richard was dead, and John was made +king in his stead, there was still another claimant to the throne,--his +nephew Arthur,--and him the king in 1204 had murdered, so report said, +with his own hand. This was the deed that lost him Normandy and all his +other French possessions, and shut him up to rule in England alone. And +the English soon had enough of him. He was now in a conflict with the +Pope, who had commanded him to receive Stephen Langton as Archbishop of +Canterbury. This John had refused to do. Now, the kingdom, on account +of the king's disobedience, was under the papal interdict, and the king +was threatened with excommunication. + +England had at this time many, many churches, and their bells, before +this unfortunate situation, had seemed to be ringing all day long. They +rang to call the people to the ordinary church services; they rang to +call them to work, and to bid them cease from work. They rang when a +baby was born, and when there was a death. And for many other things +they rang. Now, under the interdict, no bell rang. There were no usual +church services, and everywhere was fasting. A strange England it +seemed. + +The king had never gotten on well with his barons, and they hated him. +Nevertheless they would have stood by him if he had been at all just to +them. And surely he needed them to stand by him, for all the world was +against him. The French were eager to fight him, and the Church was +arrayed against him. But all these things only made the king harder and +more unjust to the barons because just now they were the only ones in +his power, and his wicked heart was full of rage. He had hit upon one +means of punishing them which they all could feel,--he struck them +through their wives and children. Some of the barons were obliged to +flee from England for their lives. Many were obliged to give the king +their sons as pledges of their loyalty. In every man's knowledge was +the sad case of one baron who had been obliged to flee with his wife +and son into hiding. The king, through his officers, had pursued them, +ferreted them out of their hiding-place, taken the wife and son +captive, shut them up in prison, and starved them to death. Lord De +Aldithely himself had been obliged to flee, but his son would never be +delivered up peaceably to the king's messengers, for De Aldithely +castle was strong and well defended. + +This was the meaning of the arrows shot at the strange boy. The king's +messengers, who were constantly spying on the castle from the wood in +the hope of gaining possession of the person of the young lord by +stratagem, had taken him for Josceline, the young heir of the De +Aldithelys. + +And now came a summons for both lads to come to the ladies' bower, for +Humphrey had not been idle. + +"My change of raiment?" said the strange lad, inquiringly. + +"Shall be in thy chamber presently," answered Josceline. + +"I would that Fleetfoot also might be conveyed thither," said the +stranger, with an engaging smile. + +"It shall be done," promised Josceline. + +He gave the necessary commands to two grooms, and the lads, each the +counterpart of the other, waited a few moments and then started toward +the tower stairway, followed by the grooms bearing the huge dog between +them on a stretcher. The stair was steep, narrow, and winding, and +built of stone. Josceline went first, and was followed by the stranger, +who every now and then glanced back to speak a reassuring word to his +dog. At the entrance to the ladies' bower Josceline paused. "Thou +mayest, if thou like, lay the dog for a while on a skin by my mother's +fire," he said, and looked inquiringly at his guest. + +"That would I be glad to do," was the grateful reply. "See how he +shivers from the loss of blood and the chill air." + +For answer Josceline waved his hand toward his mother's parlor, and the +grooms, conveying the dog, obediently entered. For all but Humphrey, +the Saxon serving-man, were accustomed to obey the young heir +unquestioningly. But Humphrey obeyed no one without question. It was +often necessary to convince his rather slow reason and his active and +many superstitions before his obedience could be secured. No one else +in the castle would have dared to take his course, but Humphrey was +thus favored and trusted because he was born a servant in Lord De +Aldithely's father's house, and was ten years older than the mistress +of the castle, whose master was now gone. He had already told Lady De +Aldithely all that he knew of the strange lad, and had advised her, +with his accustomed frankness, to put lad, horse, and hound at once +without the castle walls. Lady De Aldithely had listened, and when he +had finished, without any comment, she had commanded him to send the +two lads to her. + +For a moment Humphrey had seemed disappointed. Then recovering himself +he had made answer, "Oh, ay. It will no doubt be best to see for +yourself first, and there is no denying that the three can then be put +outside the walls." + +Receiving no reply, he had withdrawn and delivered his message. + +Lady De Aldithely was standing evidently in deep thought when the +little group entered. The strange lad looked at her curiously. He saw a +slight figure clad in a green robe, and as she turned he caught the +gleam of a jewel in the golden fillet that bound her wimple on the +forehead. Her eyes were blue, and her look one of high courage shadowed +somewhat by an expression of anxiety. One could well believe that, +however anxious and worried she might be, she would still dare to do +what seemed to her best. She now diligently and eagerly compared the +two lads, glancing quickly from one to the other, and their exceeding +great likeness to each other seemed to strike her with astonishment. At +last she smiled and spoke to the stranger. "Thou art welcome, my lad," +she said kindly. "But whence comest thou? and what is thy name?" + +[Illustration: "Thou Art Welcome My Lad" Said Lady De Aldithely] + +"I am to-day from York, and I am called Hugo Aungerville," was the +frank reply with an answering smile. + +"To-day," repeated Lady De Aldithely. "That argueth that thy residence +is not there, as doth also thy name, which is strange to me." + +"Thou art right," replied Hugo. "I come from beyond Durham, from the +priory of St. Wilfrid, the prior whereof is my uncle, I having no other +kin so near as he." + +"And whither dost thou journey?" asked Lady De Aldithely. + +"South," was the answer. "My uncle, the prior, would have had me bred a +priest, but I would be a knight. Therefore he hath at last given me his +blessing and bid me fare forth to attach myself to the train of some +nobleman." + +"Why did he not secure thee a place himself?" asked Lady De Aldithely +in surprise. + +"Because he hath too great caution," was the answer. "These be +troublous times. Few be true to the king, and no man knoweth who those +few be. Should he choose for me a place and use his influence to secure +it, perchance the next week the noble lord might be fleeing, and all in +his service, under the hatred of the king. And there might be those who +would say, 'Here is Hugo Aungerville, the page to my lord, and the +nephew of the prior of St. Wilfrid.' And then might the king pull down +the priory about my uncle's ears,--that is, I mean he would set my +uncle packing. For the priory is fat, and with the prior gone--why, the +king is so much the richer. Thou knowest the king." + +"Too well," rejoined Lady De Aldithely, with a sigh. "The Archbishop of +York is 'gone packing,' as thou sayest, and the king is all the richer +therefor. And this is thy dog that hath the arrow wound," she +continued, as she advanced a few steps and laid her hand on the hound's +head. "I have here a medicament of wonderful power." She turned to a +little casket on a table and unlocked it. Then taking out a small +flask, she opened it and, stooping over the dog, poured a few drops on +the bandage of his wound. "He is now as good as well," she said +smilingly. "That is, with our good leech's care, which he shall have. +Nay, thou needst not speak thy thanks. They are written in thy face. I +see thou lovest thy dog." + +"Yea, my lady, right well. I have naught else to love." + +"Except thine uncle, the prior," said Lady De Aldithely. + +"Except my uncle," agreed Hugo. + +All this time Josceline had waited with impatience and he now spoke. +"He is not to be put outside the walls, mother, is he?" + +"Nay, my son. That were poor hospitality. He may bide here so long as +he likes." + + + + +CHAPTER II + + +Life was rather monotonous at the castle, as Hugo found. Occasionally +the men-at-arms sallied out, but there were no guests, for Lady De +Aldithely was determined to keep her son, if possible, and would trust +few strangers. It was a mystery to Humphrey why she had trusted Hugo. + +"I may have dreams of earthquakes," he grumbled, "and what doth it +count? Naught. Here cometh a lad, most like sent by the Evil One, and +he is taken in, and housed and fed, and his hound leeched; and he goeth +often to my lady's bower to chat with her; and often into the tilt-yard +to practise with our young lord Josceline; and often lieth on the +rushes in the great hall at the evening time before the fire with the +men-at-arms; and he goeth to the gates with the warder and the grooms; +and on the walls with William Lorimer; and Robert Sadler followeth him +about to have speech with him and to hear what he will say; and he is +as good as if he were My Lord Hugo with everybody, when he is but Hugo, +a strange lad, and no lord at all." + +It was as Humphrey had said. Hugo was a favorite with all in the +castle. His company was a great solace to Lady De Aldithely in +particular. She was drawn to trust him, and every day confided more and +more to him concerning her painful and perilous situation. "I am +convinced," she said one day when two weeks had passed, "that there is +mischief brewing. I fear that I shall lose my boy, and it will break +his father's heart." + +Hugo looked sympathetic. + +"Thou knowest that fathers' hearts can break," she said. "Our first +King Henry fell senseless when his son was lost." + +"What fearest thou, Lady De Aldithely?" asked Hugo. + +"Treachery," was the answer. "There is some one within the castle walls +who will ere long betray us." + +Hugo was silent a while. He was old for his years, very daring, and +fond of adventure. And he loved Lady De Aldithely not only for her +kindness to him, but for the attention she had given to Fleetfoot. At +last he spoke. "I have a plan. But, perchance, thou mistakest and there +is no traitor within the walls." + +Lady De Aldithely looked at him quickly. "Nay, I am not mistaken," she +said. + +"Then this is my plan," announced Hugo. "Josceline and I be alike. I +will personate him. In a week Fleetfoot will be quite recovered. We +will go forth. They who watch will think they see Josceline and pursue +me. I will lead them a merry chase, I warrant thee." + +"But, my boy!" cried Lady De Aldithely. "What wild plan is this? Thou +lead such evil men a merry chase? Speak rather of the dove leading the +hawk a merry chase." + +"Even so I will lead them," declared Hugo. "If they catch me, they +shall do well." + +Lady De Aldithely smiled at the boyish presumption. "My poor lad!" she +said. "How if they catch thee with an arrow as they caught Fleetfoot? +Thou mightest find no castle then to give thee shelter, no leech to +salve thy wound." + +"For thee, because of thy kindness, I will risk that," declared Hugo, +after a pause. + +Lady De Aldithely put up her hand. "Hush!" she said. "Speak no more at +present to me, and nothing on the subject at any time to any but me. I +hear footsteps." + +The footsteps, bounding and light, drew nearer, and presently Josceline +looked in at the door. "Come, Hugo!" he cried. "Let us away to the +tilt-yard and do our exercise." + +Josceline was already an esquire, and very diligent in the exercises +required of an esquire as a part of his training for knighthood. But +not more diligent than Hugo had been during his stay at the castle. For +Hugo felt himself at a disadvantage on account of having been bred up +at the priory, and was eager to make up for his shortcomings. In all +their practice Robert Sadler, one of the men-at-arms, was present. And +both boys liked him very well. He was not a young man, being some sixty +years old, and gray and withered. He was of Irish parentage, and short +in stature; and he had a tongue to which falsehood was not so much a +stranger as the truth. He was also as inquisitive as a magpie, and +ready to put his own ignorant construction on all that he saw and +heard. The two boys, however, had never stopped to think of his +character. He was always praising their performances in the tilt-yard, +and always deferring to them, so that they regarded him very favorably +and were quite ready to abide by his judgment. To-day he was waiting +for them with a tall horse which he held by the bridle. "I would fain +see both of you vault over him," he said. + +Josceline advanced, put one hand on the saddlebow and the other on the +horse's neck, and vaulted over fairly well. After him came Hugo, whose +performance was about equal to Josceline's. + +"It was the cousin to the king that could not do so well as that," +commented Robert Sadler. + +"And how knowest thou that?" asked Josceline, complacently. "Didst thou +see him?" + +"See him!" exclaimed Robert Sadler. "I have seen him more times than +thou art years old. And never did he do so well as thou and Hugo." + +With hearts full of pride the two went from vaulting over the horse to +striking heavy blows with a battle axe. + +"Ah!" cried Robert Sadler. "Could the cousin to the king see the +strokes that ye make, he were fit to die from shame. He can strike not +much better than a baby. I could wish that all mine enemies might +strike me no more heavily than the cousin to the king." + +"This cousin to the king must be worthless," observed Josceline, his +face red from the exertion of striking. + +"Worthless!" exclaimed Robert Sadler. "It were not well that the king +heard that word, but a true word it is. Worthless he is." + +"I knew not that the king had a cousin," observed Hugo, with uplifted +axe. + +"There was never a man born," declared Robert Sadler, recklessly, "who +had not a cousin. And would the king that hath everything else be +lacking in a common thing like a cousin? Thy speech is well nigh +treasonable. But strike thou on. I will not stay to see thee put the +king's cousin to shame, and then hear thee deny there is such a one." +And he stalked off to the stables leading the horse. + +"I fear thou hast angered him," said Josceline. "But no matter. He will +not harbor anger long." And so it proved. For before the two had +finished striking he had returned to the tilt-yard apparently full of +good humor. + +Two days went by. Then Lady De Aldithely spoke again to Hugo of his +project. "Hast abandoned thy plan?" she asked. + +"Nay, my lady," he replied. "How should I abandon it? Is it not a good +one?" + +"Good for my son," admitted Lady De Aldithely, "but bad for thee." + +"Thou wilt find it will be bad for neither," said Hugo, stoutly. "I am +resolved." + +Lady De Aldithely sighed in relief. "Come nearer," she said. "I would +confide in thee, and none but thou must hear. I have discovered the +traitor within our walls. For a sum of money he will deliver my son to +the king. Ask me not how. I have discovered it." + +Hugo looked at her and his eyes flashed indignation. "Deliver +Josceline, he shall not!" he cried. + +"He could but for thee, for we are powerless." + +"Then again I say, he shall not." + +"Come nearer still," said Lady De Aldithely. "I would tell thee the +man's name. What sayest thou to Robert Sadler?" + +Hugo stared. "Robert Sadler!" he repeated. "Why, 'tis he of all the +men-at-arms, save William Lorimer, who is kindest to Josceline and me. +He will be ever with us; in the tilt-yard, in the stables, in the hall, +everywhere." + +"To watch you," said Lady De Aldithely. "To mark what you say. To catch +your plans." + +"He shall catch no more plans from me!" cried Hugo, indignantly. "I +will speak no more with him, nor be with him." + +"Ah, but thou must," counselled Lady De Aldithely. "Wert thou to turn +from him, as thou sayest, he would know at once thou hadst been warned +against him, and would hasten his own plans. What said he to thee +yesterday?" + +"He did ask me when I should leave the castle." + +Lady De Aldithely's face clouded with anxiety. "And what didst thou +answer?" she asked. + +"I said it might be one day and it might be another. For thou didst +forbid me to speak of my plan." + +"I marvel at thy prudence," smiled Lady De Aldithely. "Where didst thou +learn it?" + +"From my uncle, the prior. He never telleth aught to any man. And no +one can wring from him ay or nay by a question." + +"A blessing upon him!" breathed Lady De Aldithely. + +The boy's eyes brightened. "He is a good man, my uncle, the prior," he +said. "And ever he saith to me, 'In troublous times a prudent tongue is +worth ten lances and shields.'" + +Lady De Aldithely smiled. "May he keep his priory in peace," she said. +"'Twere a pity that he should lose it." + +Hugo looked at her gratefully. Not every one so leniently regarded the +prior's prudence. In more than one quarter his reticence was severely +blamed. By some it was called cowardice, by others self-seeking. + +"And now thou knowest the worst," said Lady De Aldithely. "Within three +days I will contrive to send Robert Sadler hence on an errand. When he +is gone thou shalt go forth in the daylight, and that same night my son +and I will flee into Scotland. There, if no one tracks our steps, we +may be safe. Were I to drive Robert Sadler forth as a traitor, I know +full well that some other would arise in his place to practise +treachery against us. And so we flee." + +And now Hugo drew himself proudly up. He felt that he was trusted and +that he was doing a knight's part in rescuing a lady in distress, +though he had not, as yet, taken his knightly vow, and was not even an +esquire. + +Lady De Aldithely saw it and smiled. "Thou must put off that high look, +dear lad," she said. "It might beget wonderment in the brain of Robert +Sadler, and so lead him to seek its cause. Look and act as thou hast in +the past. Call to mind thine uncle, the prior, and guard not only thy +tongue, but the glance of thine eye, and the carriage of thy body." + +Hugo blushed. "I fear I am like to mar all without thy counsel," he +said humbly. + +"Thou art but a lad," replied Lady De Aldithely, kindly, "and my +counsel thou shalt freely have. And now I must tell thee that thou art +to take our good Humphrey with thee on thy journey." + +Hugo started and looked disappointed. But all he said was, "Dost not +think him very like an old crone, with his dreams and his omens and his +charms?" + +"I may not criticise Humphrey thus," said Lady De Aldithely, gravely, +"because I know his great faithfulness to me and mine. And thou knowest +there is much superstition abroad in the land--too much to make it just +to single out Humphrey for dislike because he is tainted with it. I +send him with thee because I have the highest regard for thy safety. +Thou wilt consent to take him to attend thee?" + +"If thou require it," answered Hugo, reluctantly. + +"I do require it," said Lady De Aldithely, "and I thank thee for +yielding. Now go. Come not again to me until Robert Sadler be well sped +on his journey. Had I but known that he was treacherous and greedy of +gold, no matter how gained, he had never been admitted to these walls." + +Obediently Hugo left the apartment and slowly descended the winding +stair. And almost at the small door of the stairway tower he found +Robert Sadler waiting for him. The traitor was growing impatient and +was now resolved to proceed more boldly. "Thou stayest long with her +ladyship," he began. "I had thought the sun would set or ever thou came +down the stair." + +Hugo did not meet his glance. He was trying hard to conceal the sudden +aversion he had to the man-at-arms, the sudden desire he felt to look +him scornfully in the face, and then turn on his heel and leave him. +And he knew he must succeed in his effort or Josceline was lost. + +Meanwhile the man-at-arms stole questioning glances at him. He could +see that the boy was not his usual self, but he did not guess the cause +of his changed manner. With his usual prying way he began: + +"Thou hast been here now a fortnight and more. Perchance her ladyship +will be rid of thee. Was't of that she spake to thee?" + +And now Hugo had sufficiently conquered himself so that he dared to +lift his eyes. Innocently he looked into the traitor's face. "We spake +of my uncle, the prior," he said. + +For a moment Robert Sadler was silent. "That is it," he thought. "She +will send him packing back to his uncle. The lad wishes not to go. +Therefore he looks down. Now is the time to ask him about the postern +key. When one is angered a little then is when he telleth what he hath +discovered." + +He cast a searching look at Hugo, but by it he learned nothing. The boy +now began to take his way toward the tilt-yard, and Robert Sadler kept +close at his side, talking as he went. + +"Women be by nature suspicious, you will find," he began. "They be ever +thinking some one will be breaking in; and ever for having some one on +guard. Her ladyship now--surely thou knowest she keepeth the postern +key herself, and will trust no one with it. The grooms and the warder +at the great gate she will trust, but it is the postern she feareth, +because she thinketh an enemy might be secretly admitted there. Knowest +thou where she keepeth the key? I would but know in case my lord +returneth suddenly, and, perchance, pursued, since the king will have +his head or ever he cometh to his home, he hath such an enmity against +him. And all because my lord spake freely on the murder of Arthur and +other like matters. He might be sped to his death awaiting the opening +of the postern while her ladyship was coming with the key." + +"Cometh the lord soon, then?" asked Hugo, interestedly. + +"That no man can tell," answered Robert Sadler. "He is now safe over +sea in France; but he might be lured back if he knew the young lord +Josceline was in peril." + +"In peril, sayest thou?" asked Hugo. He was learning his lesson of +self-control fast. + +"Why else are we mewed up here in the castle?" demanded the man-at-arms. +"I be weary of so much mewing-up. If the king will have our young lord +Josceline to keep in his hand so that he may thereby muzzle his father, +why, he is king. And he must have his will. Sooner or later he will have +it. Why, who can stand against the king?" + +"And how can that muzzle his father?" asked Hugo. + +"Why, if Lord De Aldithely, who is a great soldier, and a great help to +victory wherever he fighteth, should join with King Louis of France to +fight against our king--why, then it would go ill with Josceline if he +were biding in the king's hand. And, knowing this, his father would +forbear to fight, and so be muzzled." + +"And Josceline would not otherwise be harmed?" asked Hugo. + +"Why, no man knoweth that," admitted the man-at-arms. "The rage of the +king against all who have offended him is now fierce, and he stoppeth +at nothing." + +"I know not so much as some of such matters," observed Hugo, quietly. + +"Nor needest thou," answered the man-at-arms. "It is sufficient for +such as be of thy tender years to know the whereabouts of the postern +key. I would ask the young lord Josceline, but, merry as he is, he +turneth haughty if one ask what he termeth a meddling question. He +would say, 'What hast thou to do with the whereabouts of the postern +key?' And then he would away to his mother with a tale of me, and the +key would be more securely hidden than before." + +"And Lord De Aldithely still further endangered if he came riding and +pursued?" + +"Even so. I see that thou art a clever lad. Much cleverer than thy +years warrant. And I warn thee, speak to no one of what I have said to +thee, or it may be worse for thee. But tell me plainly, since we have +gone so far, knowest thou the whereabouts of the key?" + +"Nay," answered Hugo. "I know not. I have never before thought of the +postern and its key." + +The traitor's frowning face cleared. "I believe thou speakest truly," +he said. "Thou art so full of being a knight that thou thinkest only of +knightly exercises in the tilt-yard. I will speak a good word for thee, +and it may be thou wilt be admitted a page to the Earl of Hertford." + +"And hast thou influence there?" inquired Hugo, with assumed interest. + +"Yea, that have I," answered Robert Sadler, falsely. For he had no +influence anywhere. "I will so speak for thee that thou wilt be page +but a short while before thou art made an esquire. Do thou but bide +quiet concerning what hath passed between us, and thou shalt fare never +the worse." + +Then he departed to the stables and Hugo was left alone. To be able to +conceal what one feels is a great accomplishment. Rarely do people of +any age succeed in doing so, and it was with a feeling of exultation +over his success that the boy looked after Robert Sadler. + +The next day Lady De Aldithely summoned her men-at-arms before her in +the castle hall. She had a missive in her hand. "I must send one of you +on a journey," she said. "More than one I cannot now spare to go to +Chester. Who will take this missive from me to the town of Chester, and +bring back from my aunt what it calleth for?" + +A light flashed in the eyes of Robert Sadler which Lady De Aldithely +affected not to see. The opportunity he had been seeking was before +him. He would go out alone, but he would not return alone. When the +drawbridge should be lowered to admit him on his return the king's +messengers with a troop of horse would be at hand. They would make a +rush while he held parley with the old warder. They would gain entrance +to the castle; Josceline would be taken, and the reward for his own +treachery would be gained. He had plenty of time to think of all this, +for the men were slow to offer. Aside from Robert Sadler they were all +true and devoted adherents of the De Aldithelys, and each one imagined +the castle and its inmates safer because of his presence. Therefore +none desired to go. + +"No man seemeth willing to do thy ladyship's behest," said Robert +Sadler, with a crafty smile. "I will, by thy leave, undertake it." + +Lady De Aldithely looked calmly upon him. "Thou shalt do so, Robert +Sadler," she said courteously, "and thou hast my thanks for the +service. Thou shalt depart to-morrow morn, and thou shouldest return by +the evening of this day week. See that thou bringest safely with thee +what the missive calleth for." + +"I will return at eventide of this day week," promised the traitor as +he received the missive. + +"And now," he said to himself, when Lady De Aldithely had retired from +the hall, "let her keep the postern key. I care not for it." + + + + +CHAPTER III + + +It was now mid-June. The air was dry and cool. But Robert Sadler +thought not of June nor dryness and coolness of air as in triumph he +made ready for his journey. + +"I should have gone," grumbled Humphrey the serving-man when he heard +of it. "Who knoweth this Robert Sadler? My lord had him at the +recommendation of Lord Clifford and he hath been at the castle not yet +a year. Who knoweth that he is to be trusted? I should have gone. I did +dream of serpents last night, and that foretelleth a prison. Robert +Sadler will no doubt be caught by some marauding baron as he cometh +again from Chester, and he will be thrown into the dungeon, and then my +lady will see." + +So grumbling he was summoned to the ladies' bower just as the +drawbridge was lowered to permit the departure of Robert Sadler. +Ungraciously he obeyed; and just as ungraciously he continued his +grumbling in her ladyship's presence. "I did dream of serpents last +night," he began, "and that foretelleth a prison." + +Lady De Aldithely shivered. "I pray thee, speak not of prisons, +Humphrey," she said firmly, "but attend my words." + +"Am I not faithful?" demanded Humphrey. + +"Thou art, my good Humphrey," was the reply. + +"Was it then for Robert Sadler to do thine errand?" + +"I have a greater errand for thee," was the grave answer. "Robert +Sadler is a traitor, and we have much to do ere he return." + +Humphrey seemed bewildered. "And wouldst thou trust a traitor?" he at +length demanded. + +"Abroad, good Humphrey, and in a small matter, but not within these +walls." + +The dense Humphrey showing still by his countenance that he could not +comprehend his mistress, Lady De Aldithely spoke more plainly. "I must +tell thee, Humphrey, that Robert Sadler designeth for a sum of money to +deliver Josceline to the king." + +Humphrey stared. + +"I have discovered it, and have been almost crazed in consequence. But +a deliverer hath come." + +"I saw no one," said Humphrey in a dazed tone. + +"Didst thou not see Hugo?" asked Lady De Aldithely with a faint smile. +"My lord will be fain to do much for him when he heareth what Hugo will +do for Josceline." + +"And what can a lad like him do?" demanded Humphrey. "Thou hadst better +trust me. I am forty years of age and have served the De Aldithelys all +my life." + +"I do trust thee, Humphrey, and I do honor thee by sending thee to +attend on this brave lad, Hugo." + +"I will not go," declared Humphrey. "Why should I leave thee and +Josceline to serve a stranger? Here I bide where my lord left me." + +"Wilt thou not go at my command, Humphrey?" + +There was no reply but a mutinous look, and Lady De Aldithely +continued, "Thou hast doubtless seen how very like in appearance Hugo +is to my son. This good lad, Hugo, this best of lads, Hugo, will, for +my sake and Josceline's, assume to be my son. He will ride forth toward +London as if he made to escape to his father in France. The servants of +the king will hear of it through the spies they keep in the wood near +us. They will pursue him while Josceline and I escape into Scotland." + +Humphrey reflected. "I see it, I see it," he said at last. "Hugo is the +good lad." + +"He is indeed, Humphrey. So good I cannot see him go unattended. Thou +art the trustiest servant I have; and so I send thee with him to keep +him from what peril thou mayest, and to defend him in what thou canst +not ward off. Thou must serve him as thou wouldst Josceline, on pain of +my displeasure." + +"I did dream of serpents," said Humphrey, slowly, "and they foretell a +prison. It were better for thee to abide here, for, perchance, it is +not to foretell the fate of Robert Sadler but the fate of Josceline +that the dream was sent." + +"Abide here, and let Robert Sadler take my son? Nay, good Humphrey, we +must away. Hugo and thou to-morrow morn, Josceline and I to-morrow +night." And then Humphrey was dismissed with the command, "Send Hugo to +me." + +Almost immediately the boy appeared, and Lady De Aldithely met him with +a smile. "I send thee forth to-morrow morn," she said, "and Humphrey +will go with thee--if thou be still of a mind to go." + +"I am still of a mind to go, Lady De Aldithely," was the answer. + +"Thou knowest the danger to thyself," she said. "And 'twere not to save +my only son, I could not let thee take such peril. Cross thou to +France, I charge thee, and take this favor to my husband. Tell him, +because thou wouldst do knightly service for me and mine, I give it +thee. Thou wilt not go unrewarded." And she held out a knot of blue +ribbon. + +The boy looked from it to her green robe, and back again. Lady De +Aldithely saw the look. "Green is not my color, Hugo," she said. "It is +but the fashion of the time." Suddenly she drew back her hand and laid +the knot against her sleeve. "See how the colors war," she said. "But +not more than truth and constancy with the wickedness of this most +wicked reign." Then she held out the knot of blue to him again. +"Receive it, dear lad," she said. "Whatever knightly service it is +thine to render after thou hast taken thy vow, thou canst render none +greater than thou dost now render to Matilda De Aldithely." + +"And what service is that?" inquired Josceline as he came smiling into +the room. "And what solemn manner is this, my mother? There must be +great deeds afoot to warrant it." And he glanced from one to the other. + +"Thou hast well come, my son," returned his mother, gravely. "I would +this moment have sent to summon thee. Thou and I must away to-morrow +night to wander through the forest of Galtus and on into the wilds of +Scotland, where we may, perchance, find safety." + +At this Josceline stared in astonishment. "We be safe here in the +castle," he said at length. + +"Nay, my son," returned his mother. "Here be we not safe. I had told +thee before of the treachery of Robert Sadler but for thy hasty, +impetuous nature which, by knowing, would have marred my plans. Thou +wouldst have dealt with him according to his deserts--" + +"Ay, that would I," interrupted Josceline, "if he be a traitor. And +that will I when he returneth." + +Lady De Aldithely looked at him sadly. "We be in the midst of grave +perils, my son," she said. "Control thyself. It is not always safe to +deal with traitors according to their deserts, and never was it less +safe than now. When Robert Sadler returneth we must be far away." + +But Josceline was hard to convince. "Here is the castle," he said, +"than which none is stronger, and here be good men and true to defend +it. Moreover, Robert Sadler is now outside the walls. Thou canst, if +thou wilt, keep him out, and we have naught to fear. Why should we go +wandering with our all on the backs of sumpter mules, and with only a +few men-at-arms and serving-men to bear us company?" + +"My son," said Lady De Aldithely, rising from her seat, "thy father +gave thee into my keeping. And thou didst promise him upon thine honor +to obey me. Thou mayest not break thy pledged word." + +"I had not pledged it," rejoined Josceline, sulkily, "had I known of +wanderings through forest and wild." + +"Better forest and wild than the king's dungeon, my son," replied Lady +De Aldithely. "We go hence to-morrow night." + +During this conversation Hugo had stood a silent and unwilling +listener. Josceline now turned to him. "And whither goest thou, Hugo?" +he asked. "With us?" + +"Nay, let me speak," said Lady De Aldithely, holding up her hand to +check Hugo's reply. "Hugo goeth south toward London clad in thy +bravery, and with Humphrey to attend him." + +Again Josceline showed astonishment. "I understand not thy riddles," he +said at last petulantly. + +"He is thy counterpart, my son, and he will personate thee," said Lady +De Aldithely. "He setteth out to-morrow morn. The king's spies will +pursue him, and thus we shall be able to flee unseen." + +"And thou hast planned all this without a word to me?" cried Josceline, +angrily. "But for my pledged word I would not stir. Nay, not even if I +knew Robert Sadler would give me up to the king's messengers." + +Lady De Aldithely gave Hugo a sign to leave the room. When he was gone +she herself withdrew, and Josceline was left alone in the ladies' +bower, where he stamped about in great irritation for a while. But he +could not retain his anger long. Insensibly it faded away, and he found +visions of wood and wild taking its place. + +Meanwhile Lady De Aldithely had gone to the castle hall, when she sent +a summons to William Lorimer to attend her there. To him, when he +arrived, she unfolded Robert Sadler's treachery and her own meditated +flight with her son. + +"Thee," she said, "I leave in charge of these bare walls to deal with +Robert Sadler on his return. Whatever happeneth I hold thee blameless. +Do as seemeth thee best, and when thou art through here, repair with +the others I leave behind, to my lord in France. And if thou shouldst +ever find Hugo to be in need, what thou doest for him thou doest for my +lord and me." + +The man-at-arms bowed low. "I will deal with Robert Sadler as I may," +he answered. "Only do thou leave me the postern key. As for Hugo, I +will not fail him if ever in my presence or hearing he hath need." + +Then Lady De Aldithely with a relieved smile gave him the postern key +and he withdrew. + +The day was now drawing to a close, and an air of solemnity was upon +the castle. Each man knew he was facing death; each man was anxious for +the safety of Lady Aldithely and her son; and each man cast a sober eye +on Hugo and Humphrey. The effect upon Hugo was visibly depressing, +while upon Humphrey it was irritating. + +Humphrey had been thinking: and while he would be ostensibly Hugo's +servant, he had decided that he would be in reality the master of the +expedition. "I like not this obeying of strangers," he said to himself. +"Moreover, it is not seemly that any other lad than our own young lord +should rule over a man of my years. Let the lad Hugo think I follow +him. He shall find he will follow me. And why should these men-at-arms +look at us both as if we went out to become food for crows? Did I not +dream of acorns last night, and in my dream did I not eat one? And what +doth that betoken but that I shall gradually rise to riches and honor? +Let the men-at-arms look to themselves. They will have need of all +their eyes when that rascal Robert Sadler cometh galloping again to the +castle with the king's minions at his back." + +Now all this grumbling was not done in idleness. For all the time +Humphrey was busy filling certain bags which were to be swung across +the haunches of the horses he and Hugo were to ride. Brawn, meal for +cakes, grain for the horses, and various other sundries did Humphrey +stow away in the bags which were to supply their need at such times as, +on account of pursuit, they would not dare to venture inside a town. +"And what care I that the interdict forbiddeth us meat as if we were in +Lent," grumbled Humphrey as he packed the brawn. "Were the king a good +king, meat would be our portion as in other years. Since he is the bad +king he is, I will e'en eat the brawn and any other meat to be had. And +upon the head of the king be the sin of it, if sin there be." + +And the packing finished, he went early to rest. + +The castle stood on a ridge near the river Wharfe, from which stream +the castle moat derived its water. Its postern gate was toward the +east, the great gate being on the northwest. From the postern Hugo and +Humphrey were to set out and follow along down the river toward Selby. +They were to make no effort at concealment on this first stage of their +journey which might, therefore, possibly be the most dangerous part of +it. They had little to fear, however, from arrows, as the king's men +would not so much wish to injure the supposed Josceline as to capture +him. They had shot at him before simply to disable him before he could +reach the shelter of the castle. + +But Humphrey was not thinking of the dangers of the way. He was up and +looking at the sky at the early dawn. "I did hear owls whooping in the +night before I slept, which foretelleth a fair day for the beginning of +our enterprise," he said. "The sky doth not now look it, but my trust +is in owls. I will call Hugo. It is not meet that he should slumber +now." + +Hugo was not easily roused. He had slept ill: for as night had come +down upon him in the castle for the last time, he had not felt quite so +sure of being able to lead his pursuers a merry chase. And it was +midnight when he fell into an uneasy sleep which became heavy as +morning dawned. Humphrey knew nothing of this, however, nor would he +have cared if he had. By his own arguing of the case in his mind, he +was now firm in the conviction that Hugo had been put into his charge, +and he was quite determined to control him in all things. So he routed +him from his slumbers and his bed without the slightest compunction, +bidding him make haste that they might take advantage of the fair day +prognosticated by the owls. + +This duty done, Humphrey betook himself to the walls near the postern +where he had before noticed William Lorimer apparently deeply engaged +in reconnoitring and planning. Now, whatever Humphrey lacked, it was +not curiosity; and he was speedily beside the man-at-arms, who +impatiently, in his heart, wished him elsewhere. + +"What seest thou?" began Humphrey curiously as he gazed about him on +all sides. + +"The same that thou seest, no doubt," retorted William Lorimer, +gruffly. + +"Why, then," observed Humphrey, slowly, "thou seest what I and thou +have seen these many times,--a bare open place beyond the ditch, and +then the wood. I had thought some king's man must have shown himself +from his hiding." + +"Not so, good Humphrey, not so," rejoined William Lorimer more +pleasantly as he reflected that he would soon be rid of the prying +serving-man. "Hugo and thou will see king's men before I do." + +"Ah, trust me," boasted Humphrey, complacently. "I shall know how to +manage when we see them." + +"Thou manage?" said William Lorimer, teasingly. "Bethink thee, thou art +but servant to Hugo. Hast thou not promised Lady De Aldithely to be his +servant?" + +Humphrey hesitated a moment and then replied: "Yea, in a measure. But I +take it that there are servants and servants. Besides, I did dream of +acorns of late and of eating one of them, which doth foretell that I +shall gradually rise to riches and honor; and surely the first step in +such a rise is the managing of Hugo. My dream hath it, thou seest, that +Hugo shall obey me. Wherefore I said I shall know how to manage when I +see the king's men." + +"Hath Hugo heard of this fine dream?" inquired William Lorimer with +pretended gravity. + +"Not he. Why should he hear of it? He is as headstrong as our young +lord Josceline, though not so haughty. I shall but oppose the weight +of my years and experience against him at every turn, and thou shalt +see I shall prevail." So saying, Humphrey, with an air of great +self-satisfaction, turned and descended the wall to the court-yard. + +For a moment William Lorimer smiled. "I would I might follow the two," +he said. "There will be fine arguments between them." + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +The spies who kept watch on De Aldithely castle were four in number, +and were hired by Sir Thomas De Lany, who had been commissioned by the +king to capture Josceline in any manner that he could. It chanced that +there was but one of them on duty in the wood that morning--a certain +short, stalky little fellow whose name was Walter Skinner, and who was +fond of speaking of himself as a king's man. Formed by nature to make +very little impression on the beholder, it was his practice to eke out +what he lacked in importance by boasting, by taking on mysterious airs, +and by dropping hints as to his connection with great personages and +his knowledge of their plans. He was about the age of Humphrey, and +though he was but a spy hired by Sir Thomas, he persisted in regarding +himself as of great consequence and directly in the employ of the king. +He was mounted in the top of a very tall tree in the edge of the wood, +and he could hardly believe his eyes when, about nine o'clock, he saw +Hugo and Humphrey issue from the postern gate, cross the bridge over +the moat, and ride away into the wood, which they struck a quarter of a +mile south of him. + +In great haste he began to come down the tree, muttering as he did so. +"They must all away yesterday morn to York on a holiday," he cried, +"and here am I left to take the young lord in my own person. When I +have done so I warrant they get none of the reward. I will sue to the +king, and we shall see if he who catcheth the game is not entitled to +the reward." + +By this time he was on the ground and strutting finely as he hurried +about for his horse. "A plague upon the beast!" he cried. "He hath +slipped halter and strayed. I had come up with the young lord while I +seek my horse." + +It was some ten minutes before the animal was discovered quietly +browsing and brought back to the watch-tree, and then a sign must be +made on the tree to let his companions know whither he had gone, so +that they might follow immediately on their return. And all this delay +was fatal to his catching up with the fugitives. For, once in the wood, +Humphrey's authority asserted itself. He pushed his horse ahead of +Hugo's and led the way directly through the thick forest for a short +distance when he emerged into a narrow and evidently little used +bridle-path. "It is well thou hast me to lead thee," he observed +complacently. "There be not many that know this path." + +[Illustration: "It is Well That Thou Has Me to Lead Thee"] + +Meanwhile Richard Wood, one of the other spies, had unexpectedly +returned, read the sign on the watch-tree, and followed his companion. +It was at this moment that Hugo discovered that Fleetfoot was not with +them. In the excitement of getting under cover of the forest he had not +noticed the dog's absence. "Where is Fleetfoot?" he asked as he stood +in his stirrups and looked about him anxiously. + +"Fleetfoot is at the castle," replied Humphrey, calmly. + +"By thy command?" asked Hugo, quickly. + +"Ay," replied Humphrey. "Why, what young lord would journey about with +a great dog like that in his train? If thou art to play Josceline, thou +must play in earnest. Moreover, the hound would get us into trouble +with half the keepers of the forest. If ever a deer were missing, would +not thy dog bear the blame? So think no more of thy Fleetfoot." + +Hugo was silent while the complacent Humphrey jogged on ahead of him. +What the serving-man had said was in large measure true. And he thought +with a swelling heart that it was not so easy, after all, to personate +Josceline when that personating cost him Fleetfoot. + +But no less a person than William Lorimer had discovered that Fleetfoot +had been left behind. William was fond of both the dog and his master; +so now, when Fleetfoot made his appeal to William, the man-at-arms at +once responded. He snapped the chain that bound him, and leading him by +the collar to the postern gate opened it and let down the bridge. "Why, +what would become of thee, Fleetfoot," he said, "when that which is to +come to the castle hath come?" Then while the great deerhound looked up +expectantly into his face he added as he pointed to the place where +Hugo and Humphrey had entered the wood, "After thy master, Fleetfoot! +Seek him!" + +The deerhound is a dog of marvellous swiftness, and, like an arrow from +the bow, Fleetfoot shot across the open space and gained the wood. +William Lorimer looked after him. "If thy other commands be no better +obeyed, Humphrey, than this which left Fleetfoot behind, I fear thou +wilt have cause to lose a part of thy self-satisfaction," he said. Then +he drew up the bridge and shut the postern gate. + +Hugo had taken the loss of Fleetfoot so quietly that Humphrey with +still greater confidence now changed the course slightly, and went down +to the river-bank at a point which was half ford and half deep water. +But at this Hugo was not so obedient. + +"What doest thou, Humphrey?" he demanded. "Was not our course marked +out toward Selby? Why wouldst thou cross the river here? We must be +seen once on our road, and that thou knowest, or the king's men will +not pursue us, and perchance Lady De Aldithely and Josceline shall fare +the worse." + +"I go not to Selby," declared Humphrey, stubbornly. "And why shouldst +thou think we have not been seen? The king's men have eyes, and it was +their business to watch the castle." + +Then Hugo sat up very straight in his saddle and looked at Humphrey +full as haughtily as Josceline himself could have done. "Thou art, for +the time, my servant," he said. "And we go to Selby." + +For a moment Humphrey was disconcerted, but he did not relinquish his +own plan. Presently he said: "If we must go to Selby, let us cross the +river here. We can go on the south side of it as well as the north." + +Hugo reflected. Then without a word he directed his horse down the bank +and into the water, which was here swimming deep. Well satisfied, +Humphrey followed. + +"I did not dream of acorns and of eating one of them for nothing," he +said to himself. "I shall be master yet." + +And hardly had the words passed through his mind when _splash_ +went a heavy body into the water behind the two swimming horses. +Fleetfoot had come up with his master. Swiftly Hugo and Humphrey turned +their heads, Hugo with a smile and an encouraging motion of the hand +toward his dog, and Humphrey with a frown. "I would I knew who sent the +hound after us," grumbled the disgusted serving-man to himself when, +the shallow water reached, both riders drew rein for the horses to +drink. + +Once across the Wharfe Humphrey led the way to a heavy thicket, and +dismounting pushed the growth this way and that and so made a passage +for the horses, Fleetfoot, Hugo, and himself. In the middle of the +thick was a little cleared grassy place where, crowded closely +together, all might find room, and here Humphrey announced that they +would take their midday rest and meal. + +Hugo still said nothing, but he looked very determined, as Humphrey +could see. "But I go not to Selby," thought the stubborn serving-man. +"I run not my head into the king's noose so near home." + +It was an early nooning they had taken, for it was barely half-past +twelve when Humphrey broke the silence. He rose, tied each horse +securely, and then turning to Hugo said: "Bid the dog stay here. We +will go and have a look over the country." + +Hugo rose, laid down his bow and arrows, and, bidding the dog watch +them, followed Humphrey out of the thicket. + +The serving-man, who was well acquainted with this part of the country, +now made a little detour into a path which he followed a short distance +till he came out a quarter of a mile away from the thicket into a +grassy glade in the centre of which towered one of those enormous oaks +of which there were many in England at this time. "We will climb up," +said Humphrey, "and have a look." + +Up they went; Hugo nimbly and Humphrey clumsily and slowly, as became +his years and experience, as William Lorimer would have said if he had +seen him. Barely had they reached complete cover, and the rustling they +made had just ceased, when the tramp of two approaching horses was +heard. The sky was now overcast with clouds in spite of the +prognostications of the owls, and the rain began to descend heavily, so +that the two riders sought refuge beneath the tree. Hugo and Humphrey +looked at each other and then down upon the horsemen, who were the two +spies, Walter Skinner and Richard Wood. + +"I had thought to have come up with them ere this," said Walter +Skinner. "They had not more than half an hour the start of me." + +"Have no fear," replied Richard Wood, who was a tall and determined- +looking man. "They have most like gone on to Selby on the north side of +the river. We shall catch them there." + +[Illustration: Humphrey and Hugo in the Oak Tree] + +"Thou saidst there is no one to watch the castle?" inquired Walter +Skinner. + +"Ay, I said it," returned Richard Wood. "Why, who should there be when +Sir Thomas hath taken the other two and gone off to get a troop +together against Robert Sadler's return? There be thirty men-at-arms +within the castle, and all will fight to the death if need be, and none +more fiercely than William Lorimer. So saith Robert Sadler. He giveth +not so brave an account of the warder and the grooms at the drawbridge, +for, saith he, 'The warder is old and slow, and the grooms stupid.' It +was well we fell in with Robert Sadler as he departed on his journey." + +There was a brief silence while the rain still fell heavily, though the +sky showed signs of clearing. Then Walter Skinner in his small cracked +voice laughed aloud. "The troop will be there, and there will be hard +fighting for naught," he said. "For the prize is escaped and we shall +capture it and have the reward." + +"What thinkest thou of Selby?" asked Humphrey, when the two spies had +gone on toward the river. + +"I think thou art right," answered Hugo, frankly. + +Without a word Humphrey climbed still higher in the tree and gazed +after the two till they were hidden from view in the forest. + +"Hast thou been before in this wood?" he inquired, when he and Hugo had +descended and stood upon the ground. + +"Nay," replied Hugo. + +"I thought not. Ask me no questions and I will lead thee through it. I +know it of old." + +Hugo at this looked rather resentful. He had regarded himself as the +important personage on the journey just undertaken, and now it seemed +that the serving-man regarded the important personage as Humphrey. And +the boy thought that because Humphrey had been right in his purpose to +avoid Selby was no reason why he should assume the charge of the +expedition. He did not dispute him, however, but followed the +triumphant serving-man back to the thicket, to the horses, his bow and +arrows, and his dog. + +In a short time they were out of the thicket and mounted; and then +Humphrey condescendingly said to Hugo: "Follow me, and thou shalt see I +will keep out of sight of keepers and rangers. And keep thy hound +beside thee, if thou canst. He is like to make us trouble." + +At this Hugo felt indignant. He was not accustomed to be treated as if +he were a small child. + +They now jogged on in silence a few zigzag miles until Humphrey came to +another thicket, in which he announced they would pass the night. "Had +we kept the open path," he observed, "we might have been further along +on our journey, if, perchance, we had not been entirely stopped by a +ranger or a king's man." + +"The two spies went down the Wharfe toward the Ouse and Selby," +remarked Hugo. + +"Oh, ay," returned Humphrey. "But the king hath many men, and they all +know how to do a mischief for which there is no redress. Hadst thou +been a Saxon as long as I have been, and that is forty years, thou +hadst found it out before this. And now I will make a fire, for the +night is chill, and, moreover, I would have a cake of meal for my +supper." So saying, he set to work with his flint and soon had a fire +in the small open place in the midst of the thicket. + +"Hast thou no fear of the ranger?" asked Hugo. + +"Not I. This thick is well off his track. I would have no fear of him +at any time but for thy dog. Moreover, he is a timid man, and the wood +hath many robbers roving around in it. Could he meet us alone with thy +dog, there would be trouble. But here I fear him not." + +Hugo laid his hand on Fleetfoot's head. "Thou hast no friend in +Humphrey," he said in a low tone as he looked into the dog's eyes. +Then, while Humphrey baked the oatmeal cake in the coals, Hugo gave the +dog as liberal a supper as he could from their scant supply. + +"Be not too free," cautioned Humphrey, as he glanced over his shoulder. +"We have yet many days to journey ere we reach London if we escape the +clutches of the king's men. Could they but look in at the castle now, I +warrant they would laugh louder and longer than they did under the big +oak." + +Hugo glanced around him nervously. + +"Tush, boy! what fearest thou?" said Humphrey. "Here be no listeners. +Thou knowest this is the hour. I tell thee frankly I had rather be with +her ladyship than to lead thee in safety; yea, even though the way lay, +as her way doth lie, through that robber-infested forest of Galtus. +Hast heard how there be lights shown in York to guide those coming into +the town from that wild place?" + +"Yea," answered Hugo, briefly. + +Humphrey sighed. "There will be somewhat to do on that journey," he +said. "A train of sumpter mules carry the clothing, the massy silver +dishes, and the rich hangings; and with them go all the serving-men and +half the men-at-arms." + +"I pray thee, cease thy speech," said Hugo, still more nervously as he +looked about him apprehensively in the semi-darkness of the fire-lit +enclosure. "Thy prating may mar all." + +"Was it for this," demanded Humphrey, "that I did dream of acorns and +of eating one of them, which foretelleth, as all men know, a gradual +rise to riches and honor, that I should be bid to cease prating by a +stranger, and he a mere lad? But I can cease, if it please thee. I had +not come with thee but for her ladyship's commands." And in much +dudgeon he composed himself to sleep. + +As for Hugo, he lay on the grass, his eyes on the glimmering fire, and +his ears alert for any sound. But all was still; and he soon fell to +picturing the scene at the castle,--Lady De Aldithely and Josceline, +mounted for their journey, going out at the postern gate at the head of +the train of sumpter mules and attended by the band of serving-men and +men-at-arms. And with all his heart he hoped for their safety. He did +not wonder at their taking their treasures with them. It was the custom +of the time to do so, and was quite as sensible as leaving them behind +to be stolen. + +The great deerhound blinked his eyes lazily in the firelight and drew, +after a while, the lad's thoughts away from the castle. What should he +do with Fleetfoot? How should he feed him, and with what? And how +should he get him through the town of Ferrybridge near which they now +were, and which they must pass through in the morning, unless Humphrey +would agree to swim the horses across the Aire above the town and so +avoid it? + +And now the wood seemed to awake. Owls insisted to the ears of the +sleeping Humphrey that the morrow would be a fair day. Leaves rustled +in the gentle wind. Far off sounded a wildcat's cry. And with these +sounds in his ears Hugo fell asleep. + + + + +CHAPTER V + + +The fire was plentifully renewed, and Humphrey was preparing breakfast +when, in the morning, Hugo awoke. + +With what seemed to the boy a reckless hand, the serving-man flung +Fleetfoot his breakfast. "He may eat his fill if he will," said +Humphrey, noting Hugo's expression of surprise. "He hath already so +lowered our store that more must be bought." + +"And where?" inquired Hugo. + +"At Ferrybridge," returned Humphrey, complacently, to Hugo's dismay. + +"I had thought best to avoid Ferrybridge," said Hugo. "I would swim the +horses across the Aire above the town." + +Humphrey seemed to ruminate a short time. Then he put on a look of +stupid wisdom. "Let us have breakfast now," he said. + +Hugo looked at him impatiently, and wondered how he could ever have +found such favor with Lady De Aldithely. But in silence he took the +brawn and oat-cake Humphrey gave him. The horses were already feeding, +and, despatching his own breakfast with great celerity, Humphrey soon +had them ready for the day's journey. Still in silence Hugo mounted, +for a glance at the stubborn Humphrey's face told him he might as well +hold his peace. + +Straight toward the river-bank rode Humphrey, while Hugo and Fleetfoot +followed. + +"There!" said Humphrey, when they had reached the river's brink. "Seest +thou that thick across the stream? Swim thy horse and thy dog across, +and bide there in that thick for me. I go to the town to buy supplies. +Last night I did have two dreams. I had but gone to sleep when I +dreamed I was going up a ladder. Knowest thou what that meaneth?" + +"Nay," replied Hugo. "I am not skilled in old woman's lore." + +Humphrey frowned. "Thou mayest call it what thou likest," he said, "but +dreams be dreams; and this one signifieth honor. I waked only long +enough to meditate upon it and fell asleep again, and dreamed I climbed +once more the big oak of yesterday. And that meaneth great preferment. +Canst thou see now how I have no cause to fear king's men? For what +honor could it be to be caught by them? or what preferment to be laid +by the heels in the king's dungeon? And canst thou see how it is meet +for me to go into the town, and for thee and the hound to swim the +river? I warrant thee the king's men, though they fill the streets of +Ferrybridge, will be no match for me with such a dream as that." + +Then Hugo lost his temper. "Thou art a foolish fellow," he said, "and +moreover thou art but my servant. Where is thy prudence of yesterday? I +am of a mind to forbid thee to go into the town. But this I tell thee; +I know this region by report. We be not so many miles from Pontefract +castle. If thou comest not to the thick by noon, Fleetfoot and I +journey on southward, and thou mayest overtake us as thou canst." + +"I know not if I can come by noon," answered Humphrey, more +submissively than he had yet spoken. "Never have I been in Ferrybridge. +I know not what supplies I may find." + +"Take care thou find not the king's men," said Hugo. "At noon Fleetfoot +and I journey on." With that he directed his horse into the water, +Fleetfoot followed, and Humphrey was left on the bank. + +"Ay," he said to himself, rather ruefully, "thou canst play the master +as haughtily as our young lord Josceline himself when it pleaseth thee. +But for all that, last night I did go up a ladder and climb a tree. No +doubt I shall yet prevail." + +Then he galloped off toward the town, where he mingled with the throng +of people quite unnoticed in the number, for, in spite of the interdict +which forbade amusements of all kinds, a tournament was to be held at +Doncaster, and many were on the way to attend it. Since the king +scouted the interdict, many of the people braved it also, and the inns +were already full. Humphrey was riding slowly along with curious eyes +when, in the throng, he caught sight of Walter Skinner, the pompous +little spy, who sat up very straight on his horse, and looked fiercely +around, as if to warn the people of what they might expect if they +unduly jostled him, the king's man. For so he regarded himself, +although he was only the hired spy of Sir Thomas De Lany. + +"A plague upon my dreams!" thought Humphrey, his native common sense +getting the better of his superstition. "I had never ventured my head +in this noose but for them. I must now get it out as I can, but that +will never be done by noon." + +Almost as soon as Humphrey had seen him, Walter Skinner had seen +Humphrey, and had recognized both man and horse as the same he had seen +from the treetop leaving the castle with Hugo the previous day. Not +finding any trace of the two in the neighborhood of Selby, he had come +on to Ferrybridge, while his companion, Richard Wood, had gone south by +the very way Hugo would start out on at noon. He gave no sign of +recognizing Humphrey, however, and Humphrey seemed not to recognize +him. + +Said Walter Skinner to himself, "I will not alarm him, and the sooner +he will lead me to his master." + +While Humphrey thought, "I will not seem to see him, and when I can, I +give him the slip." + +So up and down the narrow streets rode these two, Walter Skinner +looking fiercely upon the innocent throng, and Humphrey apparently +gazing about him with all a countryman's curiosity. Noon came and +Humphrey managed to find a place for himself and horse at an inn. "I +may as well eat and drink," he said, "for what profit is it to be going +up and down these narrow streets? At every turn is this little cock of +a king's man who, though he croweth not with his mouth, doeth so with +his looks. I know not for whom he is seeking. Not for me, or he would +assail me and capture me and put me to the torture to tell him where +Hugo is, for he thinketh Hugo is Josceline, which he is not, but a +stranger, and a headstrong one. There is nothing in dreaming of going +up a ladder or climbing a tree, if I get not the better of him." And so +he betook him to his dinner. + +The little spy followed him, and the innkeeper was obliged to make +room for him also, which, when Humphrey saw, he changed his opinion as +to whom the spy was in search of. "He thinketh," said Humphrey to +himself, with sudden enlightenment, "to follow me quietly and so find +Hugo." + +Humphrey was ever a gross eater, and Walter Skinner watched him with +great impatience and dissatisfaction. For Humphrey ate as if no anxiety +preyed upon his mind, but as if his whole concern was to make away with +all placed before him. + +[Illustration: The Little Spy and Humphrey] + +"It may be," reflected Walter Skinner, "that he hath bestowed his +master, as he thinketh in safety, in a neighboring abbey or priory. +From whence my master will not be long in haling him out. For what +careth the king for abbots or priors? And so let him leave off this +partridge dance he hath been leading me about the streets." And he +scowled upon the apparently unconscious serving-man. + +"Ay, let him scowl," thought Humphrey, with his mouth full of savory +viands that filled him with satisfaction. "He may do more scowling ere +evening if he like. I did go up a ladder and climb a tree last night." + +His dinner over, Humphrey went out to the stables, whither Walter +Skinner followed him as if to look after the welfare of his own horse, +thus confirming Humphrey's suspicion that he had recognized him. And +the serving-man at once put on an air of self-confidence and pride in +his own wisdom which effectually concealed his anxiety from the +watching Walter Skinner. He entered into conversation with the grooms, +and let fall, in a loud voice, such a weight of opinions as must have +crushed any intelligent mind to consider. And there about the stables +he stayed; for the grooms took to him, and evidently regarded him as +some new Solomon. + +The impatient Walter Skinner listened as long as he could, but seeing, +at last, that Humphrey's wisdom was from an unfailing supply, he went +back to the inn, after beckoning one of the grooms to him and giving +him a piece of money, in return for which, as he pompously instructed +him, he was to keep an eye on Humphrey, and on no account to allow him +to escape him; at the same time he threw out hints about the king and +his wrath if such a thing should happen. + +The groom, who was himself a Saxon, and who hated all king's men, +listened respectfully, took the coin, said that he had but two eyes, +but he would use them to see all that went on before him, and returned +to the stables, where he at once told Humphrey what had passed. "I have +a hatred to the king and his men," declared the groom. + +"And what Saxon hath not?" asked Humphrey. "I have lived forty years, +and in all that time the Normans grow worse, and this John is worst of +all." + +"Perchance thy master is oppressed by him," ventured the groom. + +"Perchance he is, and his lady and his son likewise," returned +Humphrey. + +The groom looked at him. "I ask thee to reveal nothing," he said +significantly. "I have but two eyes, and I must use them, as I said, to +see, all that goeth on before me. Do thou but ask Eric there to show +thee the way out of the town before the curfew ring. He hateth king's +men worse even than I. My master will summon me to the house shortly, +according to his custom. That will be the time for thee, for I can in +no wise see what goeth on behind my back, nor did I promise to do so." + +At once Humphrey betook himself to Eric, explained matters so far as he +dared, and received the groom's ready promise to guide him out of the +town, which he did within an hour, while Walter Skinner sat impatiently +waiting for him to reenter the inn from the stables. Eric did more for +him also; for he provided him with provender for the horses and +abundant provisions for himself, Hugo, and the dog, receiving therefor +a good price which he promised to transmit to his master. + +"And now," said Humphrey to himself, when he was well quit of the town, +"if the time cometh when Saxon as well as Norman hath preferment, my +device shall be a ladder and a tree. And may the king's man have a good +supper at Ferrybridge and be long in the eating of it." + +Straight to the thicket rode Humphrey at a good pace, but he found no +Hugo there. "Here is a snarl to be undone!" he cried. "The lad is too +headstrong. Perchance he hath already run into the noose of the other +king's man. For who knoweth where he is? And I shall be held to answer +for it. This cometh of a man being servant to a boy and a stranger at +that. I will away after him." So saying, he rode to the south, giving +all habitations of men and walks of forest rangers a wide berth, and +hoping sincerely that Hugo before him had done the same. "For the lad," +said he, "is in the main a good lad. And how can I face my lady if harm +cometh to him? It is no blame to him that he hath not a knack at dreams +to help him on his way." + +At the last word his horse shied; for out of the undergrowth at the +side of the little glade through which he was riding fluttered a +partridge, while, after it, floundering through the bushes with a great +noise, came Fleetfoot. In vain Humphrey tried to call the dog from his +prey. In a twinkling the unhappy bird was in the hound's mouth and +Fleetfoot was off again to the thicket to supplement his scant dinner +with a bird of his own catching. + +"Here be troubles enough!" cried Humphrey. "King's men on our track, +and now partridge feathers to set the keepers and rangers after us. +Well, I will push through this underbrush to the right. Perchance Hugo +rideth in the bridle-path beyond, since it was from that part the dog +came. And he shall put the hound in leash. I am resolved on it. I have +no mind to have hand or foot lopped off that so a deerhound may have +his fill of partridges." + +With a frown he pushed through the underbrush. The sun was setting when +he emerged into a path and, at a little distance, caught sight of Hugo +jogging slowly along and looking warily about him. He dared not signal +him by a whistle, so, putting spurs to his loaded horse, he advanced as +fast as he was able, and shortly after came up with the lad, his anger +at Fleetfoot's trespass rather increased than abated, and, in +consequence, with his manner peremptory. + +"Into the thick here to the right," he growled, laying his hand on the +bridle of Hugo's horse. "The sun is now set, and we go no farther +to-night. In this stretch robbers abound, and I have no mind to face +three dangers when two be enough." + +Hugo looked at him inquiringly. + +"Yea, by St. Swithin!" went on the angry serving-man. "King's men and +partridge feathers be enough without robbers." And giving Hugo's horse, +which he had now headed toward the thicket, a slight cut on the flank +with his whip, he drove Hugo before him, much to the boy's indignation. +"Thou hast been drinking!" he cried, turning in his saddle. "Strike not +my horse again." + +They were barely screened from sight when Humphrey, his head turned +over his shoulder, held up his hand warningly. A horse was coming on +the gallop. A second elapsed, and then Walter Skinner went by. He had +discovered Humphrey's flight a half-hour after Eric had led him out of +the city, but the grooms had successfully delayed him half an hour +longer. Then he had started in pursuit, and had gone thundering along +at such a pace that he could hear nothing nor see anything that was not +in full view. This new sight of danger at once pacified both Hugo and +Humphrey. The boy forgot what he had been pleased to regard as the +insubordination of his servant, and Humphrey forgot the anger he had +felt against Fleetfoot and his master. + +As soon as they dared, they pushed cautiously farther into the thicket, +and presently Humphrey dismounted and tied his horse. Here was no +grassy spot within enclosing underbrush where comfort might be found. +There was such a place not far off, but Humphrey would not go to it. +With his knife he set to work clearing a place large enough for the +tied horses to lie down in. Cutting every stick into the very ground, +he laid the cut brush in an orderly heap, and thus made a bed for +himself and Hugo. Then without a word he went out on foot and down to +the bank of the Went, peeled a willow, and came back with a long strip +of its bark. "Thou wilt tie this to the collar of thy dog," he said." +He hath been trespassing, and hath taken a partridge. Should the keeper +discover it and us, thy hand or foot, or mine, must pay for it." + +"How knowest thou that Fleetfoot did take a partridge?" asked Hugo, +with disbelief in his tone. + +"I did see him," replied Humphrey. "And noting whence he came, I did +find thee, and none too soon." + +There was a short silence. Then Hugo said: "A partridge is not much; +and, as thou sayest, if thou hadst not seen Fleetfoot, thou hadst not +found me in time; and so the spy would now have me in custody. +Therefore Fleetfoot should not have too much blame." + +"Ay," grumbled Humphrey. "Thou art ready with thy excuses for thy dog." + +"He is all I have, Humphrey," returned Hugo, quietly. "But I promise +thee he shall be put in leash on the morrow if he cometh." And he +listened anxiously for some sound of his dog's approach. But he heard +none. + +And now Humphrey's good-nature was quite restored, so that he said: +"Think no more of the hound to-night. He hath begun on a partridge. May +he not end on a deer; and, if he doth, may the keeper set its loss down +to these prowling robber bands. It is well with us thus far." + +By this time the horses were fed and supper was over, all having been +accomplished in darkness, and Humphrey lay down to sleep. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +The part of Yorkshire which they had been traversing abounded in +rivers. The Wharfe and the Aire, the first of which joins the Ouse +eight miles south, and the second eighteen miles southeast of York, +they had already crossed. They were now near the Went, and here, as +Hugo discovered the next morning, it was Humphrey's decision to stay a +day or two. + +"I go no further without a dream," he declared. "Last night I slept too +sound to have one. And moreover I wish not to fall in with these +galloping king's men. Let them ride up and down till they think us +securely hid away in some religious house, since they find us not in +the wood. So shall we go the safer on our way to Doncaster." + +Hugo had thought much the evening before, and he had resolved to +dispute Humphrey in future no more than was necessary. For he now saw +that, though he was but a serving-man, Humphrey knew more of Yorkshire +woods than his master. He therefore made no objection when Humphrey +announced his decision, much to the serving-man's surprise, for he had +expected opposition. Finding none, he enlarged his air of importance, +and bade Hugo stay where he was while he took the horses down to the +stream for water. + +Hugo, putting a strong restraint on himself, obeyed, and was rewarded +on the serving-man's return with the promise that, as soon as the dog +came in and was tied, he might venture forth with Humphrey to explore +the region. + +"Thou must know," remarked Humphrey, "that we be on the high bank. On +the other side of the valley sloping coppices abound, and therein can I +show thee many badger holes. Hast ever seen a badger hunt?" + +"Nay," answered Hugo. + +"I was but twenty years old," continued Humphrey, "when first I came +through these woods, and on the bank across the valley from this point +I did see a badger hunt. Three men and two dogs did I see, and they +five did at length dig out one badger. The old badger was inside the +hole taking his sleep, for it was ten o'clock in the morning. And a +badger not only sleepeth all day in summer, but day and night in +winter. Thou knowest that?" + +"Yea," replied Hugo. And added that at his uncle's priory he had +occasionally eaten badger meat, which was very good. + +"Cured like ham, was it?" inquired Humphrey. + +"Yea," responded Hugo. + +Humphrey nodded his head approvingly. "A priest," he said, "for knowing +and having good eating." + +The two sat silent a few moments waiting for Fleetfoot, who did not +come, and then Humphrey continued: "The badger hath a thick skin. He +goeth into a wasp's nest or a bees' nest, and the whole swarm may sting +him and he feeleth it not." + +"What doth the badger in wasps' nests and bees' nests?" inquired Hugo. + +"Why, he will eat up their grubs. The eggs make footless grubs, and +these the badger eateth. My grandsire went a journey through this wood +once on a moonlight night. He rode slowly along, and at a certain place +was a bees' nest beside the path, and there, full in the moonlight, was +a badger rooting out the nest. Out swarmed the bees, and several did +sting the horse of my grandsire at the moment when he had taken good +aim at the badger with his stick. The horse bolted, and my grandsire +found himself lying in the path with his neck all but broken, and the +bees taking vengeance on him for the trespass of the badger. He hath +had no liking to bees or badgers since that day." + +"He still liveth, then?" asked Hugo. + +"Ay," returned Humphrey, much pleased at the question. "Hale and hearty +he is, and ninety-six years of age." + +By common consent both now paused to listen for Fleetfoot. Hearing +nothing Humphrey continued, "Didst ever see a tame badger?" + +"Nay," was the reply. + +"A badger becometh as tame as a dog, if he be taken young. Report hath +it that there is great sport in London at the public houses baiting the +badger. I know not how it may be." + +And now Fleetfoot came. Not joyfully, but slinking, for he knew he had +been doing wrong. Three partridges, a fox, and a badger he had slain +since Humphrey had seen him, and he wore a guilty look. + +"Thou wilt do no more than tie him with the willow thong," observed +Humphrey, eyeing Fleetfoot with disfavor. "Were he mine, I should beat +him. The king maketh nothing of lopping off a man's hand or foot for +such a trespass, or even putting out of his eyes. And should the +keepers discover what he hath done, it were all the same as if we had +done it." + +"Nay, Humphrey," said Hugo, smoothing the dog's head. "Perchance he +hath taken no more than the partridge thou sawest." + +For answer Humphrey struck lightly the dog's rounded-out side. "Tell me +not," he said, "that one partridge hath such a filling power. Else +would I feed only on partridges. Moreover, he is a knowing dog, and see +how he slinketh. He would not be that cast down for one partridge, I +warrant thee." + +"It may be thou art right," replied Hugo, as he tied up Fleetfoot. + +"Yea, that I may be," returned Humphrey, importantly. "A man that hath +dreams of going up a ladder and climbing a tree in the same night is +most likely to be right when it cometh to measuring up the trespasses +of a straying deerhound. For why should a man be advanced to preferment +and honor except that he hath merit? And to dream of going up a ladder +and climbing a tree is sure warrant that he hath it. And now fare we +forth to see this Brockadale." + +Hugo having finished tying Fleetfoot securely with a tether so short +that he could not gnaw through it, followed Humphrey, and the dog +attempted to follow Hugo, much to Humphrey's satisfaction. "Ay, thou +wouldst follow, wouldst thou?" he said. "Bide where thou art with the +horses, and think on thy evil deeds." Then turning to the boy he added, +"If thou wilt not beat him, Hugo, my chiding may do him some good." + +It was a most beautiful little valley that the boy saw when he stood on +the edge of a hill on its northern side and gazed down into it, while +Humphrey stood by pointing out its features with the air of a +proprietor. Green and lovely it stretched away to the southeast some +two miles, as Humphrey told him. Through it flowed the Went, bending +and turning, its banks lined with osiers and willows. Wooded hills were +the northern, and sloping coppices the southern boundary of the vale. + +The two had not ventured out into the open. They were still in the +shelter of the trees. "The Normans rule, and honest men must skulk and +hide," observed Humphrey, with some bitterness. + +"Lord De Aldithely is a Norman," remarked Hugo. "So also am I." + +"Ay," rejoined Humphrey, "but all Normans are not alike bad. Thou art +not the king, moreover, nor is my lord, who is an honest man and +standeth bravely by the people, and is opposed to murder and robbery. +Therefore is he fled, and therefore is our young lord Josceline in +danger, and therefore are we skulking and hiding and leading the king's +men this chase. The times be evil; and who knoweth what shall amend +them?" + +Hugo did not reply. His eye had caught sight of the flash of sunlight +on steel down the valley, and he pointed it out to Humphrey. + +"Up! up!" cried Humphrey. "Up into yon spreading oak at the edge of the +vale. There shall we be concealed, and yet see all." + +"They come from toward Doncaster, do they not?" asked Hugo when they +were safely out of sight among the branches. + +"Ay," answered Humphrey. "Nor was it for naught that I did sleep too +sound to dream last night, else might we have been on the way to +Doncaster, and so, perchance, have met them." + +The party drew nearer, and soon the keen eyes of Humphrey and Hugo +resolved them into three men-at-arms led by Walter Skinner. + +"Three soldiers and a king's man to take a boy and a man!" laughed +Humphrey. "It must be that they have a good opinion of our bravery." + +"Or of thy cunning," said Hugo, to whom Humphrey had a short while +before revealed all that had befallen him in Ferrybridge. + +"Oh, ay," answered Humphrey, complacently. "I have my share, no doubt. +A man doth not live forty years with treachery on all sides of him and +learn nothing. My head had been off my shoulders ere this, had not +some measure of cunning done its part to keep it on. They will beat up +the whole forest hereabout for us, I doubt not. If I get a good dream +to-night, we go on to-morrow." + +Hugo smiled. He thought it strange that a man so sensible, in many +respects, as Humphrey should pin such faith to dreams. So he said +teasingly: "How if thou get not the dream to-night, nor yet to-morrow +night? Do we bide here until the dream come, if that be next +Michaelmas?" + +The serving-man seemed puzzled. Then he answered: "Nay, to be sure. +Then would the summer be done; and, moreover, I never went so long +without the right dream in my life." + +Nearer and nearer drew the horsemen until, in the vale just opposite +and below Hugo and Humphrey, they dismounted. "Here do we stop," said +Walter Skinner. "I warrant you they be hereabouts, else have the fat +priests lied when they denied they were in abbey and priory." + +"Ay," answered one of the men-at-arms. "They be hereabouts, no doubt, +if they be not farther to the east, when thy fellow will catch them if +we miss them. I marvel thou hast not come up with them before now. Thou +sayest this is the third day of their flight?" + +This seeming to reflect on the ability of the pompous little Walter +Skinner, he frowned. And drawing himself up importantly he said, "The +young lord hath to his servant a Saxon who knoweth well these parts." + +"Some deer-stealer, without doubt," observed the man-at-arms. + +"And he goeth not straight forward," continued Walter Skinner, "else +had I met him. But he creepeth here, and hideth there, and goeth in +retired paths." + +"And all to balk thee!" said the big man-at-arms, regarding with scarce +concealed contempt the little strutting spy. + +There was that in the manner of the man-at-arms that nettled Walter +Skinner, so that he became more pompous than before and, resolved to +show the soldier how high he stood in the king's counsel, he said +haughtily: "Why, it were best he balk me, if he knew what will come to +his young master when I find him. King John, as thou knowest, hath a +special hatred toward his father, Lord De Aldithely." + +"De Aldithely, sayest thou?" interrupted the man-at-arms. + +"Ay, and he is resolved the son shall not live, no more than his own +nephew Arthur." + +"And he will put him to death?" asked the man-at-arms. + +"Why, not speedily," answered Walter Skinner, importantly, "but cat and +mouse fashion, by which he will be the longer dying, and his father the +more tormented. He will speedily give orders also to raze his castle as +a nest of traitors." + +"Whence hadst thou this?" demanded the man-at-arms. + +Walter Skinner stood off and looked at him. Then, with an air of great +mystery, he said: "It is whispered about. I may not say more. It +becometh me not." + +The man-at-arms now rose from the ground where he had thrown himself +and mounted his horse. "I seek not the young lord," he said. "I betray +no mouse to the cat, least of all the son of the brave De Aldithely. I +will back to my own master from whom thou didst borrow me. I will say +thou needest me not and hast bid me return. When thou art tired of thy +life, say thou otherwise." And he looked meaningly at him. + +"I go with thee," said the second man-at-arms, springing from the +ground. + +"And I also!" exclaimed the third. + +In vain Walter Skinner tried to restrain them. They clattered off down +the valley whence they had come, and were soon out of sight on their +way to Doncaster. + +The sound carried well here; the voices of the men were loud; and Hugo +and Humphrey, whose ears were keen, heard with consternation all that +passed. "I fear it meaneth death to thee also if thou be caught," said +Humphrey. "For it is a serious thing to dupe a man of the king's rage. +This calleth for dreams, and that right speedily, if we are not to fall +into his hands." + +The disappointed Walter Skinner made no attempt to depart. "Here will I +stay a while," he said, "and berate the folly that did tell them the +purpose of the king and the name of the young lord. I did think to +raise myself in authority over them by showing that I did know the +king's counsel, and, in so doing, I did forget that for murdering of +Arthur all men hate him, and few will help him to his will upon +others." Moodily he threw himself upon the grass, having staked his +horse, and soon left off berating himself by falling into a sound +sleep. The sun reached the meridian, and he still slept. It came to be +mid-afternoon and still he moved not, for he had ridden hard and had +been deprived of his rest the night before. His tethered horse at last +whinnied softly and then loudly. And, to the dismay of Hugo and +Humphrey, he was answered by their own horses in the thicket. But still +the king's man moved not. + +"Would that I knew certainly that he sleepeth," said Humphrey, +anxiously. "For then we might come down and escape." + +"Nay, nay," objected Hugo, earnestly. "Seest thou not how a little +sound goeth far here? The rustling of the leaves and rattling of the +boughs as we descend might awake him." + +Humphrey looked at him. "Ay, poor mouse!" he said. "Mayhap thou art +right." + +And now Walter Skinner stirred in his slumber. Once more his horse +whinnied loudly. Once more the horses in the thicket answered; and the +spy, broad awake, sprang to his feet. "Aha, Fortune!" he cried, "thou +art with me." + +"Nevertheless," observed Humphrey, softly, "if thou hast not dreamed of +going up a ladder and climbing a tree, all may not go so well with thee +as thou thinkest." + +Leaving his horse, the spy climbed the wooded hill, at the top of which +he paused just under the oak in which Hugo and Humphrey were concealed. +The horses whinnied no more, though he waited a few moments hoping to +hear them. "I will on," he cried impatiently. "'Twas from this +direction the answer came." And away he hurried on foot, for he +imagined that those he sought were hidden near at hand, and waiting for +the night to come ere they resumed their journey. He knew that he alone +could not capture them, but if he could get on their trail and dog them +unseen till he could get help he would be sure of them. + +As soon as the spy was out of sight Humphrey began to descend the tree. + +"Whither goest thou?" asked Hugo. + +"Thou shalt see," returned Humphrey. + +With speed he ran down the hill, breaking a switch of birch as he ran. +He hastened to Walter Skinner's horse, cut him loose from his tether, +and struck him sharply with the birch rod. Away galloped the horse down +the valley, while Humphrey hastened back to his place in the tree. +"Fortune may be with him," he said to Hugo, "but his horse is not. +Mayhap I need not another dream, for, by the one I had, I think we have +got the better of him. Moreover, there will be no more whinnying for +our horses to answer." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +Till the set of sun and the dusk of the evening the spy pursued the +search, now stumbling over a tree root, now catching his foot in a +straggling vine, and every now and then sorely struck in the face by +the underbrush through which he pushed his way. But, although he was +once very near the concealed horses and hound, he found nothing to +reward him. The return to the little vale was even more tiresome than +the journey from it had been. No moon would shine for an hour, and it +was quite dark when he once more reached the oak in which Hugo and +Humphrey had stayed all day, but from which they had a few moments +before descended. + +In climbing the tree, after setting Walter Skinner's horse loose, +Humphrey had noticed a hollow in one of the lower branches. +"Perchance," he said, "a hedgehog may lodge therein. Knowest thou the +ways of hedgehogs?" + +"Nay," returned Hugo, indifferently. + +"The lad hath lost heart," said Humphrey to himself, "and all because +of the words of this little snipe of a king's man and the slowness of +the journey. I will not seem to see it." Then he continued as if Hugo +had displayed the greatest interest: "I will tell thee, then, that +hedgehogs have many ways. I warrant thee this king's man knoweth naught +of them, any more than he knoweth the wood. Had he been some men, we +had been caught ere now. I fear him not overmuch. For do but see how he +is puffed up with undue pride and importance. And let me tell thee that +undue pride and importance and good sense dwell not in the same skull. +We shall therefore have the better of him." + +Hugo made no reply, and Humphrey continued cheerfully: "A hedgehog will +find a hollow in a tree, and there he will bide, sleeping all day. At +night he will come forth. But first he must reach the ground. And this +he will do by rolling into a ball and dropping on the ends of his +spines. If the ground is beneath him, no harm is done. If this king's +man should be beneath him, I think not that he would cry out that +Fortune was with him when the spines of the hedgehog stuck into him." + +"And how would the king's man be beneath him?" asked Hugo, dully. + +"If the hedgehog be in the hollow of that low branch," answered +Humphrey, "and if the king's man should stand under at such time as the +hedgehog was ready to drop, then he would be beneath him." + +"Yea," observed Hugo. "Many things might come to pass, if thou couldst +make all the plans." + +Humphrey did not hear the sarcasm in Hugo's tones. He heard only what +he was pleased to take as a compliment to his own abilities. "Why, I +believe thou art right," he answered. "Were I to make the plans, some +that are now at the top would be at the bottom. Thou hast well said. +But come. It grows dark. Let us go down ere the king's man come back on +his way to the vale." + +Slowly they made their way down. "This perching on trees all day is fit +to make an old man of a boy," said Humphrey, as he stepped clumsily +about on his half-numbed feet. + +"Sh!" said Hugo. + +Humphrey instantly stood still in the darkness and listened. Weary and +slow steps were approaching. They came nearer, and directly under the +oak they ceased, for the spy, his pompous manner quite gone, had +stopped to rest a little. And now a rustling in the branches above was +heard. Eagerly the spy looked up and strained his eyes to see. +"Josceline! son of Lord De Aldithely!" he called, "I arrest thee in the +king's name. Thou darest not oppose me. Yield thyself, and come down!" + +And just then the hedgehog which Humphrey had surmised might be in the +hollow, moved a little farther along on the branch, rustling the leaves +as he did so. In the darkness the face of the spy was still turned +upward. He had forgotten that he was alone and unaided. And he thought +only of getting hold of the boy he sought. + +"Come down!" he repeated. "Come down, I say! Make no dallying!" + +And then the hedgehog rolled himself into a ball and came down plump +into the face of Walter Skinner. + +"Ugh! what have we here?" sputtered the spy, starting back. + +Hugo and Humphrey did not wait for him to discover, but stepping softly +away they went to the thicket, where the hungry animals gave them a +warm welcome, and where they thoroughly enjoyed the first meal they had +had since morning. Their supper eaten, Humphrey untied horses and +hound, to lead them to water. + +"Thou wilt be caught," objected Hugo, nervously. + +"Not I," returned Humphrey, easily. "I fear not the spy to-night. If he +heareth aught, he will think another hedgehog about to drop upon him. +Come thou with me and see." + +Hugo obediently rose from the couch of boughs where he had thrown +himself, and took the thong of willow from Humphrey's hand to lead +Fleetfoot. The serving-man was right. So far as Walter Skinner was +concerned they had no more to fear that night. His face was lacerated; +and by the time Hugo and Humphrey started from the thicket he had +discovered the loss of his horse. It had been better for him if his +drinking-horn, from which he now took copious draughts, had been lost +also. + +"The kind of fortune that is with him, I should not wish to be with +me," observed Humphrey, when they had returned safely to the thicket. +"I will now to sleep and see what sort of a dream cometh." + +Much cheered in spirit, Hugo also lay down to sleep. His courage came +back, and he felt that let the journey take as long as it would he was +equal to it. + +The moon had now risen, and by its light Richard Wood, the other spy, +and his borrowed men-at-arms came riding through one of the glades of +the forest southward to the vale. Richard Wood had not the overweening +vanity of Walter Skinner; he had not taken his borrowed men-at-arms +into his confidence concerning the king's plans in order to make it +appear that he stood high in counsel; neither had he revealed the name +of the lad they sought. The men-at-arms had, therefore, all three +remained with him, and were as eager as he on the chase. They were +pushing on now to the vale to camp for the night, because they could +find there both grass and water. And, in the same spot where Walter +Skinner had slept before, they came upon a figure reclining in full +sight in the moonlight. + +"There lieth one of them," said a man-at-arms, "but I see not the +other." + +"Thou mayest be sure the other is not far off," observed the second. + +"Thou shalt see how quickly I will awake him out of sleep," cried the +third, as he spurred his horse toward him and pricked him sharply with +the point of his lance. + +"Ugh!" grunted the half-drunken Walter Skinner. "But I have had enough +of hedgehogs for one night." And he sat up sleepily. + +"And is it thou, Walter Skinner?" exclaimed Richard Wood. + +"Why, who should it be?" answered Walter Skinner, peevishly. + +"Thou art a brave pursuer!" said Richard Wood. "Where be thy men-at-arms? +and where is thy horse?" + +"My men-at-arms are returned to their master," replied Walter Skinner, +while those of Richard Wood drew near to learn the whereabouts of their +companions. "As for my horse, I wot not what is become of him." + +"And wherefore did thy men-at-arms play thee false?" demanded Richard +Wood. + +"Softly!" replied Walter Skinner, his small, cracked voice more cracked +than usual. "Ask me not so many questions if thou wouldst not see me +dead before thee." + +Richard Wood regarded him sternly. "Thou must be moonstruck," he said +at length. "When ever heard any one of a man dying of the questions +asked of him?" + +"Thou mistakest my meaning," returned Walter Skinner, a trace of his +pomposity returning. "Thou askest me questions. If I answer thee false, +I lie. If I answer thee true, I die. And truly, death were not much +worse than this lacerated face of mine." + +"Why, how now!" demanded Richard Wood. "How camest thy face lacerated?" + +"One Master Hedgehog of this forest hath paid me his attentions too +closely." + +For a moment Richard Wood was silent. Then he said: "Answer me truly. It +behooveth me to know the truth in this matter. Why did thy men-at-arms +leave thee?" + +"I did but let fall the king's purpose toward the young lord, and name +his father, De Aldithely, and they fell off from me as I had been +myself a murderer. Bade me uphold their lying speech that I had no need +of their services on pain of death, and so left me." + +And now one of the men-at-arms spoke. "We be not knaves," he said. "We +had not thought to lead the youth to death, but to honorable captivity +for a brief while. Nor did we know the lad ye seek was son to De +Aldithely. Wherefore we also leave ye, and if ye say why, your lives +shall answer for it. We have no mind to be marks for the king's +vengeance. He that would crush the Archdeacon of Norwich with a cope of +lead will have no mercy on a man-at-arms that thwarted him. Wherefore, +say why we left ye, if ye think best." And, riding a little way off, +all three encamped by themselves for the night. + +"It seemeth that the best way to earn hatred and contempt is to serve +this King John," remarked Richard Wood, thoughtfully. + +"Ay, and the attention of hedgehogs also," returned Walter Skinner, +thickly. "And the loss of horse and food, and the loss of the quarry +also, if we strike not the trail again. And though we have not the +service of the men-at-arms, be sure we shall pay for it as if we had it +to their master. I would I had a troop of mercenaries to rent out. It +were easier than such scouring of the country as this. Moreover we do +exceed our office. The king said not to me, 'Walter Skinner, scour the +country.' Nay, the king said naught to me on the matter. 'Twas his +favorite, Sir Thomas De Lany, that bade me watch the castle from the +tree; and there might I be now in comfort, if this hare-brained youth +had not run away. He should have stayed at the castle till the coming +of Robert Sadler and the troop. My face had not been thus lacerated had +the youth known his duty and done it." + +"Why, how makest thou all this?" demanded Richard Wood, contemptuously. +"The king careth not whose hand delivereth the youth, so that he be +delivered. That we have not already caught him is the fault of thyself +alone. Hadst thou but held thy tongue, we had had with us to-night six +men-at-arms, and had, erelong, run down the game. In the morning I go +to Hubert le Falconer and hire from him six more--three for thee, and +three for me. Then do thou be silent as to the king's purpose, and this +mischief of thy making may be repaired. Thou mayest look as if thou +wert bursting with wisdom, if it please thee, but see that thou give no +enlightening word to thy followers." + +"Ay, thou mayest lay the burden of all mishaps on me," returned Walter +Skinner, pettishly. "But I promise not that I will speak no word, if it +seemeth to me best to speak. It is not every one in the king's employ. +Not every one is out scouring the country for a lord's son. And if one +may not speak of his honors, why hath he them?" + +"Honors!" exclaimed Richard Wood, with contempt. "There be few would +call such work as thine an honor. To skulk, to spy, to trap another to +his destruction, why, that is what most call knaves' work, and he who +doth it is despised. Yea, even though he do it for a king." + +"Thy loss doth set but sourly on thy stomach, Richard Wood," said +Walter Skinner, stubbornly. "It is an honor to serve the king. Ay, even +though he be a bad one like this. And, I say, if one is not to speak of +honors, why hath he them?" + +"For other people to see, varlet. What others _see_ of thy +_honors_, as thou callest them, they can mayhap endure. But when +thou pratest of thy honors, thou dost but enrage them. Wilt thou give +me thy word to be silent?" + +"Nay, that will I not," retorted Walter Skinner. "I be as good a man as +thou, and not a bear in leading. When I will to speak, I speak; whether +it be of the king's matters or my own." + +"Thou hast said," returned Richard Wood, rising. "In the morning I hire +three men-at-arms from Hubert le Falconer for myself. Pursue thou the +chase as seemeth thee best. We hunt no more in company." + +With the first morning light the men-at-arms mounted their horses +and rode toward Doncaster, Richard Wood rode north to seek his needed +men-at-arms from Hubert le Falconer, and only Walter Skinner was left +horseless and breakfastless in the vale. He had no mind to remain +there in that condition, and so betook himself to the nearest priory, +confident that, in the king's name, he could there procure both food +and a horse, and perhaps a leech to ease his wounded face. + +Hugo and Humphrey were also early astir, the serving-man performing his +morning tasks with such a particularly cheerful air that Hugo smiled +and inquired, "Hadst thou a dream last night?" + +"Ay," answered Humphrey, in triumph. "I say not with that little spy, +'Aha, Fortune! thou art with me,' and then go out to meet a hedgehog. +But this I say, that I did dream of bees and of following them, which +betokeneth gain or profit. And therefore go we not toward Doncaster." + +"Why not toward Doncaster down this Brockadale?" asked Hugo. + +"The vale is well enough," replied Humphrey, "but it extendeth only two +miles after all. We must make haste to-day. I do remember that two +spies did pursue us at the beginning. It may be that the other hath +neither lost his horse nor met a hedgehog to discourage him. And, +moreover, what is to hinder him from having three men-at-arms to his +help like his fellow? Nay, Hugo, we go not through the vale, but make +we what haste we may through short cuts and little used paths." + +"And whither do we go?" asked Hugo. + +"I will tell thee that we seek the marshy Isle of Axholme to the east +of the river Don. There will be room therein for us to hide away, and +there no king's men will look for us moreover." + +"Why?" asked Hugo. + +"Why, lad?" repeated Humphrey. "Why, because they will not. Will a +king's man trust himself in such a boggy place? Nay. Moreover, I fell +in with this one that hath so lately followed us at Ferrybridge, which +is a sure sign that we should meet the other at Doncaster." + +"But--" began Hugo. + +"I tell thee," interrupted Humphrey, "I did dream of bees and of +following them. We go straight to this Isle of Axholme. Vex me no +more." + +Hugo opened his mouth to remonstrate still further, but, happening to +remember his determination not to oppose Humphrey except through +necessity, he closed it again. Seeing which, Humphrey regarded him +approvingly, and even went to the length of expressing his approbation +in words. + +"Thou art learning to keep thyself under," he said. "Thou hast but just +opened thy mouth to speak and shut it again with thy words unsaid. When +one hath no knack at dreams to help him on, the best thing for him is +the power to shut his mouth. An open mouth maketh naught but trouble. +Thou didst wish to see more of the vale, and so thou shalt. Thou shalt +see so much of it as thou canst while the horses and hound drink their +fill before starting." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +The Isle of Axholme, to which Humphrey was determined to go, was a +marshy tract of ground in the northwest part of what is now +Lincolnshire, and its eastern boundary was the Trent River. It was some +eighteen miles long from north to south, and some five miles wide from +east to west. On its north side was the wide mouth of the Ouse; the +river Idle was south of it, and west of it was the Don. In the time of +the Romans there had been a forest here which they had cut down, and +the low, level land afterward became a marsh. At this time few trees +were to be found there. But there were thickets of underbrush and +patches of rank grass, as well as pools and boggy places; and Humphrey +was right in thinking the place comparatively safe from pursuit. +Especially so as the pursuers would naturally think that the young lord +Josceline would push on as rapidly as possible, that he might get +across to France to join his father. + +"I go no more where the crowd goeth," declared Humphrey, when they were +on their way. "How many, thinkest thou, of all that be abroad in these +parts pass through Doncaster? Why, near all. We need not to show +ourselves further to draw pursuit. This is now the fourth day since we +set out, and my lady and Josceline must be well along in their journey. +I would I knew the doings of William Lorimer at the castle. He is a +brave man and a true, though he would never tell me his plans that he +might take my counsel. He ever made naught of dreams and spake lightly +of omens. I hope he may not fare the worse for it." + +Hugo made no reply. He, too, was wondering about how things were going +at the castle, but he kept his thoughts to himself. + +"Now I will tell thee," said Humphrey, pausing and turning in his +saddle, "when thou seest me draw rein and hold up my hand, do thou stop +instantly. There be many robbers in this wood, and we have them to fear +as well as king's men. And hold Fleetfoot fast. Let him not escape +thee." + +Hugo promised to obey in these particulars, and Humphrey, for a short +distance, put his horse to the trot with Hugo following close behind +him. All that day they turned and wound through the forest, going fast +where they dared, and at other times creeping silently along. To Hugo +it seemed they must be lost; but, when darkness fell, they had reached +the edge of the Isle of Axholme, and, putting the horses through the +Don, were safe in its marshy wastes. + +"Here be no keepers and rangers," said Humphrey, exultingly. "And here +may we kill and eat what we choose, while Fleetfoot may hunt for +himself. We stir not till the moon rise, and then we seek a place to +sleep," he concluded, patting the wet coat of the horse he rode. + +Hugo said nothing. He did not know it, but he was nervous. All day he +had been on the alert, and now to stay perfectly still in this strange, +silent place, not daring to stir in the darkness lest he splash into +some pool, or mire in a bog; with his eyes attempting to see, when it +was too dark to see anything but the glow-worms in the grass and the +will-o'-the-wisp, was an added strain. + +Two hours went by, and the curtain of darkness began to lift. The +moonlight made visible a fringe of small trees and the shine of the +water on whose bank they grew. The breeze rose and sighed and whistled +through rush and reed. An owl hooted, and then Humphrey, who had been +nodding on his horse's back, suddenly became very wide awake. + +"Hast been here before, Hugo?" he cried cheerily. + +"Nay," answered the boy, listlessly. + +"No more have I," returned Humphrey. "But what of that? A man who hath +proper dreams may be at home in all places. I will now seek out our +resting-place, and do thou and Fleetfoot follow me." So saying, he +chirruped to his patient horse and led the way carefully; for, however +much Humphrey imagined he depended on dreams, he generally exercised as +good judgment and care as he was able. To-night weary Hugo had +forgotten that Humphrey was his servant, and, as such, bound to obey +him. He felt himself nothing but a tired and homesick boy, and was glad +himself to obey the faithful Saxon, while he thought regretfully of his +uncle the prior, Lady De Aldithely, Josceline, and the valiant William +Lorimer. + +It was not Humphrey's intention to go farther that night than +absolutely necessary; and a little later he dismounted and stamped his +feet with satisfaction. "Here be solid ground enough and to spare for +us and the horses and hound," he said, "and here will we rest." + +A lone, scrubby tree was at hand, and to that Humphrey made fast the +horses and dog. "No fire to-night. Thy cloak must be thy protection +from the damp," he said. "But the swamp is not so damp as the king's +dungeon, nor so dismal. So let us eat and sleep." + +Hugo said nothing. He ate a morsel with a swelling heart, and then, in +silence, lay down. He was beginning to find leading evil men a merry +chase a rather unpleasant business. + +In the moonlight Humphrey looked at him. "He is a good lad," he +thought, "and seemeth no more to me like a stranger. I begin to see +that he seemed no stranger to my lady neither. My lord will make him +his page, no doubt, if he getteth safely over to France. France is a +good country when a bad king ruleth at home." Then faithful Humphrey, +the animals fed, himself lay down to sleep. + +It was late the next morning when Hugo awoke. Humphrey had been +stirring two hours; and the first thing the boy's eyes rested upon was +a little fire made of bits of punky wood collected by Humphrey; and +spitted above the coals were two small birds roasting. + +"Ay, lad!" cried Humphrey. "Open thine eyes now, and we will to +breakfast presently. What sayest thou to a peewit each? Is that not +better than brawn?" + +Hugo smiled and arose at once. His despondency of the night before was +gone, together with his fatigue, and he looked about him with interest. +To the left were reeds some twelve feet tall which fringed a pool; to +the right, thick sedge that fringed another; and they seemed to be on a +sort of tiny, grassy isle, though the water which divided them from the +next bit of solid earth could, in some places, be stepped across. The +sun shone with agreeable warmth. There were frequent whirrs of wings in +the air as small flocks of game birds rose from the water and sedge +near by. + +[Illustration: Hugo looked about him with interest] + +"This is not the wood nor is it Brockadale; but here one may breathe a +little without having his eyes looking on all sides for an enemy," said +Humphrey, with satisfaction. "It is the turn of the peewits to look +out. Knowest thou the peewit?" + +"On the table only," answered Hugo, pleasantly. + +"Ay," observed Humphrey. "Thine uncle, the prior, hath many a fat feast +in the priory, I warrant thee. But here thou shalt see the peewit at +home. Had we but come in April, we had had some eggs as well as birds +to eat." + +Humphrey had made a fresh meal cake in the embers, and the two--boy and +serving-man--now sat devouring birds and cake with great appetites. + +"Thou knowest the pigeon?" asked Humphrey. + +"Yea," replied Hugo. + +"The peewit is the size of a pigeon." + +"So I should guess," remarked Hugo. + +"There be those that call it the lapwing," pursued Humphrey. + +"My uncle, the prior, is of the number," smiled Hugo. + +"Ay, priests ever have abundance of names for everything. It cometh, no +doubt, from knowing Latin and other outlandish gibberish." + +Hugo smiled indulgently. His feeling toward Humphrey had, during the +last day, undergone a complete change. And, though he was but a Saxon +serving-man, the heart of the boy had now an affection for him. +Humphrey was quick to detect it, and he too smiled. + +"Had the peewit short legs like the pigeon," he continued, "and did he +but want what they call the crest on the back of his head, and could +you see only the back of the bird, he might be thought a pigeon, since +he shineth on the back like a peacock in all colors blue and green can +make when mixed together. But when he standeth on his somewhat long +legs, and thou seest that his under parts be white, why, even a +Frenchman would know he was no pigeon, but must be the peewit or +lapwing. And I warrant thee we shall eat our fill of peewits if we +remain here long." + +"When thinkest thou of going?" asked Hugo, interestedly. + +"Why, that I know not. I would fain have another dream. I know not how +it may be with other men, but when I am right weary I dream not. Which +I take as an omen not to stir till I be rested and ready to use my +wits. Thou hast noticed that weariness dulleth the wits?" + +"Yea," replied Hugo. + +"Why, I have seen in my time many fall into grievous snares from +nothing more than being weary, and so, dull of sight and hearing. But +here cometh Fleetfoot sleek and satisfied. I did but turn him loose two +hours ago, and I warrant thee he hath had a fine meal. I will make him +fast once more, and then we go farther into the island to seek another +resting-place for the night. This is too near the edge of the marsh, +and too near the Don." + +Mounting the horses, and with Fleetfoot once more in leash, they set +out, Humphrey picking his way and Hugo following. And by mid-day they +had come to what Humphrey decided was probably the best location for +them on the island. It was another solid, grassy place, and was graced +with three little scrub trees which gave them a leafy roof under which +to lie. From the fringe of neighboring rushes the two cut enough to +strew their resting-place thickly, and so protect their bodies from the +damp ground. Then Humphrey dug a shallow fire-pit at the north, and, +after their mid-day meal, set diligently about collecting a store of +fuel. Little was to be found solid enough to cook with, and that little +he stored carefully apart, reserving a great heap of dead rushes and +reeds for the blaze which was to ward off the night dampness and make +them comfortable. In all these labors Hugo bore his share, for the two, +by tacit consent, were no longer master and man but comrades in need +and danger. + +In collecting the reeds they took few from their immediate +neighborhood, wishing to be as protected from chance observation as +possible. And they found their wanderings in search of fuel full of +interest. At some distance from their camping-place they came upon a +muddy shallow. And there on the bank Hugo saw his first avoset or +"scooper," as Humphrey called him. The bird was resting from his labors +when the two first observed him. Though the ooze was soft the bird did +not sink into it. There he stood, his wide-webbed toes supporting him +on the surface of the ooze, and it seemed a long way from his feet up +his blue legs to his black-and-white body. But the oddest thing about +him was his long, curved, and elastic bill turning up at the end. The +bird had not observed them, and presently set to work scooping through +the mud after worms. Then he waded out a little way into the shallow, +where he did not stay long, for, catching sight of Hugo and Humphrey, +he rose a little in the air and flew swiftly away. Farther on they came +upon a wading crane with an unlucky snake in his mouth. And still +farther away they caught sight of a mother duck swimming with her young +brood upon a pool. And every now and then a frog plumped into the +water. But nowhere did they discover, by sight or sound, another human +being beside themselves. + +When darkness fell the glow-worms shone once more, the will-o'-the-wisp +danced, and the owls hooted. The fire of dead rushes and reeds, fed by +the patient Humphrey, blazed brightly and shed a grateful warmth upon +their sheltered resting-place under the three scrub trees. And, lying +at ease upon the rushes, the hours of darkness went by till, when the +moon arose, the fire had died down, Hugo slept, and Humphrey had gone +in search of a favoring dream. + +Near Doncaster that night camped Richard Wood with his three newly +hired men-at-arms; while within the town at an inn called the Green +Dragon lay Walter Skinner. He was newly equipped with a horse. "I need +no men-at-arms," he said to himself, "nor will I hire them. I will +catch the young lord and his serving-man with arrow and bow if I but +come up with them again." + +And that night, safe out of the forest of Galtus, Lady De Aldithely and +her party encamped on the border of Scotland. + +That night also Robert Sadler, pausing to rest on his return journey to +the castle, looked often at the package he carried, and wondered what +it contained. + +That night also the valiant William Lorimer and his men-at-arms rested +from their labors well satisfied. For, while the moat at the great gate +held only its usual allowance of water, by means of the new dam they +had constructed, that part of the moat near the postern was level full. + +The next morning marked the beginning of the sixth day of their +journey, and Humphrey rose with unimpaired cheerfulness. Once more +Hugo's waking eyes beheld two peewits spitted over the coals and a meal +cake baking in the embers. "I did dream of gold last night," said +Humphrey, by way of a morning greeting. "Knowest thou what that +betokeneth?" + +"Nay," responded Hugo, pleasantly. + +"It betokeneth success in thy present undertaking after first meeting +with difficulties. We have met with difficulties, and what were they +but the king's men? They be now behind us, and success is to be ours. +But come thou to breakfast now. To-morrow morn we set forth again." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +On this, their last day in the Isle of Axholme, Hugo and Humphrey took +up the occupation of the day before, but with more deliberation. And +they went in a different direction,--southeast, toward the Trent. + +"It is this way we journey on the morrow with the horses," remarked +Humphrey. "It is as well to see what the way is like while we gather +our store of reeds and rushes. For I did dream of gold, which +betokeneth success in our present undertaking, and success ever resteth +on good care and good judgment. And so let us see where the solid +places be and where the bogs lie. And do thou note well the course so +that we may run it with safety and speed if need be. And we will not +gather the reeds and rushes till we return." + +"Meanest thou to walk to the Trent, then, to-day, and back again?" +questioned Hugo. And by this time he had so far forgotten the +difference in their stations that there was respect in his tone, which +Humphrey was quick to notice. + +"Yea, lad," answered the serving-man, kindly. "It is only a few miles. +It is not well to risk miring the horses when I did dream of gold last +night." + +Hugo smiled. He was beginning to see that, while the superstition of +the age, and particularly of his condition, had, to a certain extent, a +hold on Humphrey, his course was really directed by sturdy +common-sense; and he wondered no more at Lady De Aldithely's trust in +him. + +The two were well on their way, and Richard Wood and his men-at-arms +were scouring the forest near Doncaster, when Walter Skinner walked out +to the stables of the Green Dragon to see to his horse. His face was +still painful, and he desired to vent some of his spleen on the unlucky +groom, whoever he might be, who had his horse in charge. He found the +horse tied to a ring in the stable wall, and the groom having a sorry +time of it, since every time the groom touched him with comb or brush +the animal backed, or turned, or laid back his ears and snapped with +his teeth. For the monks at the priory had furnished the king's man, on +his compulsion, with the worst horse in their stables. + +"Here be a beast fit for the Evil One and for nobody else," grumbled +the sorely tried groom. "I am like to be killed for my pains in trying +to smooth his coat for him." + +The groom was a tall, overgrown fellow of nineteen, with a vacant face +and an ever-running tongue. He now stood stock still upon the approach +of Walter Skinner and gazed at him. He would have done the same if any +creature possessed of the power of locomotion had come into his view. +But of that Walter Skinner was ignorant. To him the gaze of the groom +seemed honor and respect toward himself, and even, perhaps, awe. And he +was at once mollified. + +"My horse is a beast of mettle," he observed complacently when the +groom had returned to his work. + +"Ay, and I would that his master, the Evil One, had the grooming of +him," was the retort. + +"Why, how now, sirrah! Dost thou slander the horse which is a gift from +Mother Church to the king's work? Thou art a knave, and no doubt art +but unfit for thy task this morn through over-late carousing last +night." + +"Thou mayest call it carousing, if thou wilt," said the groom, sulkily. +"I did come from Gainsborough yesterday. And in the dark, as I did +come, I saw a flaming fire in the Isle of Axholme." + +"And what meanest thou to tell me of that?" demanded Walter Skinner, +sternly. "Thou wert no doubt so drunk that a will-o'-the-wisp in that +boggy place did seem to thee even as a flaming fire. Why dost thou not +stand to my horse and get down with him? He hath already backed and +turned a matter of some miles." + +The groom stopped and looked at him indignantly. "I may be but a +groom," he said, "but the Isle of Axholme I know from a child, every +bog in it. And I did go to the fire, which was a bit out of my way, +but, being my only pleasure on the journey, I did take it. And there on +the rushes lay a young lord, and his serving-man did feed the fire with +reeds." + +"Thou didst see that?" cried Walter Skinner, in great excitement. "Make +haste with the beast, sirrah. Here is a coin for thee, good groom. I do +now see thou wert never drunken in thy life. Make haste with the +horse." + +The groom stared at him foolishly. "Why, who could make haste with such +a beast?" he said at length. + +"Then stay not to finish thy work," cried Walter Skinner, impatiently. +"Bring saddle and bridle. I must away instantly. But do thou first +describe to me the place where thou didst see the fire." + +"The place," said the groom, deliberately, while he examined the coin +Walter Skinner had given him. "Thou dost go till thou comest to it. A +turn here and a turn there mayhap thou must make, and thou wilt find it +a little solid place with three scrub trees upon it. It is a matter of +a short distance from the south end of the Isle, and thou wilt not fail +to know it when thou seest it." + +With this not over-clear direction Walter Skinner was obliged to be +content. Bidding the groom to bring the horse to the door of the inn at +once, he hurried away, paid his reckoning, examined carefully the +string of his bow, and looked over his store of arrows. "And now, +Josceline, son of Lord De Aldithely," he said, "my arrow will bid thee +halt this time, and not my voice. And thou, Richard Wood, who didst +say, 'We hunt no more in company,' what wouldst thou give to know of +this place in the Isle of Axholme? And thou mayst have thy men-at-arms +to bear thee company, and to pay for when thou art done with them. They +cost thee more than a bow and some arrows cost me, nor will they do +thee one half the good." + +So thinking he bestrode the vicious beast which backed and plunged +about the inn yard, and from which the grooms and the watching maids +fled in all directions. Walter Skinner, however, was not to be +unseated, and, the horse being headed in the right direction, his next +plunge carried him out of the yard and fairly started him on his way, +the spur of his rider giving him no permission to halt for a moment. + +"And now," thought Walter Skinner, when he had crossed the Don and was +free of the town, "what said the knave groom? I must go till I come to +it. Ay, and who knoweth when that shall be, and who knoweth the way in +this pitfall of bogs? Three scrub trees, saith he, and all together on +one little solid place. I would I might see three little scrub trees." + +His horse had been over the Isle before and, being given his head, +began to pick his way so cleverly that Walter Skinner was still further +elated. He sat up pompously and pictured himself a courtier at the +palace as a reward for this day's work. "For I lean not to golden +rewards alone," he said. "No doubt it can be managed that from this day +I begin to rise. The king hath advanced baser men than I, let Richard +Wood think as he will in the matter." + +And now he descried the three little scrub trees; but he saw not the +horses, they having been taken to another islet for pasture; nor +Fleetfoot, who had gone with Hugo and Humphrey. + +"The knave groom spake true," said Walter Skinner, with satisfaction. +"There be the rushes on which they lie, and there the ashes of the +fire. I will seek out a convenient hiding-place in the reeds, and +to-night, when the fire blazeth bright, then shall my arrows sing." + +So saying he sought a place of concealment for himself and his horse, +and, having found it, and tied the horse securely, he lay down well +satisfied. + +Hugo and Humphrey did not return till toward evening. They had caught +some fish in the Trent and roasted them on the coals for their dinner, +and afterward had come leisurely back, enjoying the scenes and sights +of the marsh. + +From his covert Walter Skinner saw them come, each leading a horse +which he had stopped to get from the islet pasture, while Fleetfoot +lagged behind on a little hunting expedition of his own. The spy drew +his bow and sighted. "Yea," he said to himself, "no doubt I can do it. +And what is an arrow wound more or less when one would win the favor of +the king? The lad or his servant may die of it. But what is death? It +is e'en what every man sooner or later must meet. And it is the king's +favor I will have, come what may to these runaways." Then he laid down +the bow and arrow and took a long drink from his horn. "When the flames +shoot high and they be in the strong light of the blaze, then will I +shoot," he said. "And it is their own fault if they be hit. They should +have remained in the castle where Robert Sadler arriveth this same +night." + +Hugo and Humphrey had not before been on such thoroughly amicable terms +as they were to-night. The boy, so much like his young master, had, +unconsciously to Humphrey, won his way into the heart of the +serving-man; while Hugo had learned in their few days' companionship to +feel toward Humphrey as his faithfulness deserved. So, while the fire +blazed up and all remained in darkness outside of its circle, Humphrey +entertained Hugo with tales of his early life, to which the boy +listened with appreciation. "Ay, lad," said Humphrey, when half an hour +had gone by and he paused in his story to look at him with approval, +"thou hast the ears of my lady herself, who is ever ready to listen to +what I would say." + +And then came a whistling arrow, shot by an unsteady, drunken hand, and +another, and another, none of which wounded either boy or man, since +Hugo was still defended by his shirt of mail, and Humphrey wore a stout +gambeson. + +[Illustration: Humphrey started up, snatching a great bunch of long +flaming reeds] + +Instantly Humphrey started up and, snatching a great bunch of long, +flaming reeds to serve him for a light, ran in the direction whence the +arrows had come. Hugo, catching up an armful of reeds yet unlighted to +serve when those Humphrey carried should burn out, hurried after him. +Soon they had found the covert and the spy, and, tossing his torch to +Hugo, the serving-man rushed at him. + +"And wouldst thou slay my dear lad?" he cried. "Thou snipe!" + +"Stand back!" sputtered the spy. "Lay not thy hands upon me. I serve +the king." + +"Ay, and thou shalt find what it is to serve the king," cried Humphrey, +seizing him by the shoulders and dragging him along. "Yon is his +horse," he said, turning to Hugo. "Cut him loose." + +The boy obeyed and, with a snort, the animal was off. + +"Thou shalt be well punished for this deed," threatened the spy. "The +steed was the gift of the prior of St. Edmund's." + +"Talk not of punishment," cried the enraged Humphrey; "thou who wouldst +slay my dear lad. Lead to the right, lad!" he cried. "I do know a miry +pool. It will not suck him down, but it will cause him some labor to +get out of it." + +Hugo, bearing the torch, obeyed, and shortly they had reached the pool +which Humphrey had discovered the day before. Grasping his shoulders +yet more firmly, and fairly lifting the little spy from his feet, the +stalwart Humphrey set him down with a thud in the sticky mud. "There +thou mayest stand like a reed or a rush," he said. "I would thou wert +as worthy as either." + +A moment the spy stood there in water up to his knees while Hugo and +Humphrey, by the light of the ever-renewed torch of reeds, watched him. +Then he began to try to extricate himself. But when he pulled one foot +loose, it was only to set the other more securely in the mud. + +"Ay, lad," observed Humphrey, with satisfaction. "He danceth very well, +but somewhat slowly. Leave we him to his pleasure while we go seek for +his bow and arrows. It were not well that he should shoot at us again." + +"Thou villain!" cried the half-drunken Walter Skinner; "when I am a +lord in His Majesty's service thou shalt hear of this night's work." + +"Ay, Sir Stick-in-the-Mud," responded Humphrey, indifferently. "When +that day cometh I am content to hear of it." Then he led the way back +to Walter Skinner's hiding-place, while Hugo followed. And there they +found the bow, which was of yew with a silken string. And with it was a +goodly store of ash arrows tipped with steel and winged with goose +feathers. + +"We be not thieves, lad," said Humphrey, "else might we add these to +our store." So saying, he broke the arrows and flung them away, cut the +bow-string in pieces, and flung the bow far from him into the water. +"Had these been in a steady hand," he said, "it might now be ill with +us. Perchance the spy doth not now cry out, 'Aha, Fortune! thou art +with me.' And now let us back to our couch of rushes, there to wait +till the moon rise, which will be some three hours. And rest we in +darkness. We may not have more fire to make us targets, perchance, for +the other spy." + +In silence the two lay down on the rushes, Hugo full of excitement and +nervously listening for the whistle of another arrow. And, much to the +boy's astonishment, in five minutes the faithful Humphrey was sound +asleep. + +He continued to sleep until the beams of the rising moon struck him +full in the face, when he awoke. "Hast slept, lad?" he asked. + +"Nay," replied Hugo. + +"Thou shouldst have done so. Perchance the time cometh shortly when we +dare not sleep; for I did dream of being taken by the constable, which +signifieth want of wit, and so I know not what to do. But we may not +bide here. On we must go, and make the best of what wit we have." He +rose from the rushes and, followed by Hugo, went to the horses and put +Fleetfoot once more in leash. Then, each having mounted, he led the way +toward the track they had marked out the day before. + +"If the spy be not too lazy, he will doubtless be free of the miry pool +in the morning," observed Humphrey. "And he might as well have dreamed +of being taken by the constable, for if he lacketh not the wit to keep +him from a worse case, I know not the measure of a man's mind. And that +should I know, having observed not only my lord, but the valiant +William Lorimer also." + + + + +CHAPTER X + + +It was the afternoon of this same day in which Walter Skinner had +ventured into the wilds of the Isle of Axholme, there to try to catch +Hugo and Humphrey. At the same time Robert Sadler was galloping on his +way from the town of Chester to the castle, eager to meet the troop, +for his journey was now almost accomplished. Sir Thomas De Lany had +promised him his reward,--a certain sum of money; he had also promised +the troop he had borrowed to help him a reward in addition to the sum +he was to pay to their master, even a share of the plunder of the +castle. Robert Sadler knew this, and he had quite decided that the +package he carried would properly fall to him when her ladyship should +be left without a son and without treasure. He therefore had bestowed +it carefully out of sight of the king's spies and their borrowed troop, +whom he was now expecting to meet. He had said nothing about the +presence of Hugo at the castle and his great resemblance to Josceline; +for he was of a mind to deliver up Hugo and keep back Josceline, since, +by so doing, he might have hope of winning another reward from the king +in addition to the one he should receive from Sir Thomas. + +"It is a long head that I have," he said to himself with pride. "And +these knave spies shall find it not so easy to come to the bottom of my +mind. They think I am but Irish, and so to be despised. And what be +they but English? They shall find I will know how to have the better of +them." + +The sun was within half an hour of setting when he drew rein at the oak +which was the scene of their appointed meeting. If he had been eager, +the others had been no less so, and at once Sir Thomas and one of his +aids advanced to meet him, while, at a short distance, halted the troop +of men-at-arms. + +"Have ye the troop? And is all well?" asked Robert Sadler, his wide +mouth stretched in a treacherous smile. + +"Yea," responded Sir Thomas. + +"Walter Skinner and Richard Wood--do they still keep watch from the +tree?" asked Robert Sadler, smiling still more widely. + +"Why, what is that to thee?" demanded Sir Thomas, haughtily. "It is we +who do the king's business. Thou doest but ours." + +"Ay," answered Robert Sadler, with feigned humility; "I do but yours." + +"Thou sayest well. But think not to pry into the king's business as +thou dost into the affairs at the castle. From thine own showing thou +must have been a great meddler there." + +"And how could I have done thy business there if I had not meddled, as +thou callst it?" + +"I say not that thou couldst," returned Sir Thomas. "I do but warn thee +not to meddle with us. And now, where is the package?" + +"Package? Package?" mumbled Robert Sadler, in apparent bewilderment. + +"The package, sirrah, thou wert to deliver from Chester to her +ladyship. Hast forgotten the purpose of thy journey?" + +"Oh, ay, the package!" returned Robert Sadler, uneasily. "I am like to +be berated by her ladyship for returning without it." + +"We would not have thee so berated," said the aid, speaking for the +first time. "And so I come to thine help." And he reached beneath the +short cloak of Robert Sadler and drew forth the package. + +"I pray thee, return it to me," said Robert Sadler, humbly. "Without it +I am undone." + +"Do thou but parley as thou saidst with the warder on the bridge, and +thou wilt find there will be no upbraiding from her ladyship to cause +thee alarm," returned the aid. + +"And when wilt thou pay me the sum of money?" asked Robert Sadler, +anxiously, not liking either his reception or his subsequent treatment +at the hands of Sir Thomas's aid. + +"And what is that to thee?" demanded Sir Thomas, fiercely. "If I +withhold the sum altogether it is no more than what hath been done by +mightier men than I. Do thou parley on the bridge as thou saidst, or +thy head shall answer for it. Ride on now before us. We will await our +opportunity in the edge of the wood." + +"Thou didst not speak so to me," said the traitor, "when thou wouldst +have me do this deed. It was then, 'Good Robert Sadler,' and 'I will +reward thee well.' Naught didst thou say of my head answering my +failure to obey thy will." Then he rode on as he had been commanded. + +He now saw that he had betrayed her ladyship and her son for naught, +and his dejection thereat was plainly visible. But presently he sat +upright in triumph as he remembered his plan, which he had for the +moment forgotten,--to betray Hugo into their hands and keep back +Josceline for himself to deliver to the king. How he was to accomplish +this difficult thing he did not know, but, in his ignorance, he +imagined it might easily be done. + +Sir Thomas and his aid were watching him. "The knave meaneth to play us +false," observed the aid. "See how he sitteth and rideth in triumph." + +"His head answereth for it if he doth," returned Sir Thomas, fiercely. + +And now they had all arrived at the edge of the wood and the sun was +down. "Set forward across the open, sirrah," commanded Sir Thomas, "and +see that thou fail not in thine office." + +The traitor ground his teeth in rage, but outwardly he was calm as, +putting his horse to the trot, he advanced toward the great gate and +wound his horn. "Now may the old warder show more than his usual +caution," said Robert Sadler. "My head is likely to fall whether we get +in or whether we be kept out. And it were pleasant to see these +villains foiled in their desires." The old warder, obeying the +instructions of William Lorimer, beyond keeping the traitor waiting a +quarter of an hour, by which delay the darkness desired by William +Lorimer drew so much the nearer, having answered the summons, let down +the bridge with unaccustomed alacrity of motion. In accordance with the +same instructions, he kept his back to the direction from which the +troop were expected to come, and he seemed quite as ready to parley +after the bridge was down as even Sir Thomas could have desired. + +"The warder groweth doltish," observed Sir Thomas, as he prepared to +set forward. + +"Mayhap," answered the aid. + +"What meanest thou by 'mayhap'?" demanded Sir Thomas. + +But by this time the whole troop were in motion and making a rush for +the bridge. They gained it; they were across it, sweeping Robert Sadler +before them, and within the walls before the sluggish old warder had +seemed to see what was happening. They were well across the outer court +before they noticed the strange air of emptiness that seemed to have +fallen on the place. They stormed into the inner court; and here, too, +all was silence. And then they turned on Robert Sadler. "Art thou a +double traitor?" demanded Sir Thomas. + +But the vacant astonishment of Robert Sadler's face gave true answer. + +"He hath been made a dupe," said the aid. "He hath been sent to Chester +that the castle might be rid of him." + +"Nay," returned Sir Thomas. "Thou art ever unduly suspicious." Then +turning to Robert Sadler he said: "Where be the men-at-arms of the +castle? Where do they hide themselves because of us? And where bideth +her ladyship and her son?" Then catching sight of the open door of the +stairway tower, without awaiting Robert Sadler's reply, he led the way +thither and up the stair, dragging the reluctant Robert Sadler with +him, and was followed by the troop. + +The ladies' bower was empty. The treasure from the chests was also +gone. Down the troop rushed violently, and into the great hall and out +again. Everywhere silence. Darkness had now fallen, and with torches +the troop of men-at-arms, led by Sir Thomas and his aid, ran about the +inner court, peering into the empty stables and offices. Presently to +Robert Sadler the light of a torch revealed the postern gate ajar. +"They must have fled!" he cried. "See!" and he pointed to the postern +gate. + +"Mount and follow!" commanded Sir Thomas. + +"Nay, not in the darkness," objected the aid. "Wait for the moon to +rise." + +"Ay, wait!" exclaimed Sir Thomas, impatiently. "I believe thou wast +born with that word in thy mouth. Wouldst have them get a better start +of us than they have? Dost know that they did leave the treasure chests +empty, and then dost thou counsel us to wait on the tardy moon? 'Twas +rich treasure they took, or report speaketh false. And every moment +maketh our chance to seize it smaller." + +Every man was now astride his horse, and Sir Thomas, his hand on Robert +Sadler's bridle, dashed ahead. The rest followed, crowding through the +narrow gate and out into the darkness on the narrow bridge. Here and +there a torch gleamed, and its reflection shone full in the glassy +water of the ditch. Here was no shadowy depth of a ravine, but a broad +plain,--a watery plain, into which the heavily weighted horses and +riders sank, rising to cry for help and catch at straws. The cries of +the drowning only hurried those behind to the rescue, who, supposing +their fellows in advance to be assailed, rushed headlong on to the same +fate. The torches were extinguished, and none knew which way to turn to +escape. So perished the whole troop, Robert Sadler going down in the +grasp of Sir Thomas De Lany. + +[Illustration: None knew which way to turn to escape] + +Across the moat, ready mounted to ride, were William Lorimer and the +few men-at-arms left him by Lady De Aldithely on her departure. "So may +it be with all traitors and thieves," said he. "And now fare we +southward to France and our lord. We need not the light of the moon to +show us our path." + +The clatter of their horses' hoofs soon died away, and when the moon +rose it shone down on the deserted castle, and on the shining water of +the moat near the postern, but it shone not on horse or rider living or +dead. All night William Lorimer and his little troop rode, not +cautiously and shrinkingly, but boldly; and they went into camp in the +early morning in Sherwood Forest, more miles away from home than Hugo +and Humphrey had covered in all their journeying. + +And in the swamp Walter Skinner, who had finally extricated himself +from the mire, floundered about from bog to pool, and from pool to bog, +vowing vengeance on Humphrey, while Hugo and the faithful serving-man, +avoiding Gainsborough, pushed on toward Lincoln. + +"I did dream of being taken by the constable," said Humphrey, "which +betokeneth want of wit. I know not what were better to do. What sayest +thou?" And he looked questioningly at Hugo. + +The boy smiled. He could not help wondering if this were not the first +time in his life that Humphrey had acknowledged himself at a loss what +to do. A dream had caused him to doubt his own possession of sufficient +wit for all purposes,--something which no amount of argument could have +accomplished. But to-day Hugo felt no contempt for him. He smiled only +at the one weakness which was a foil to Humphrey's many excellent +qualities. And he said pleasantly, "Why, how now, Humphrey? Thou dost +need another dream to restore thy courage." + +Humphrey eyed him doubtfully. "Dost think so, lad?" he said. "Mayhap +thou art right. But I go not in the lead till I have it. Wit is not the +same at all times. Perchance something hath damaged mine for the time. +Do thou lead till I recover it; for thou art no more a stranger to me +as when we started." + +"Nor thou to me, good Humphrey," replied Hugo, with an affectionate +smile. "And I say, let us on with all courage to Lincoln." + +"And why, lad?" asked Humphrey. "Because thou wouldst see the place, +even as I would see Ferrybridge a while back?" + +"Partly," laughed Hugo. "And partly because it lieth very well in our +way." + +"Hast ever been there?" asked Humphrey, anxiously. + +"Nay, but mine uncle, the prior, hath often been. And I know the place +by report. We come to it by the north. Came we from the south, we could +see it some twenty miles off, because the country lieth flat around it, +and the city is set on a hill. Why, surely thou dost know the place. It +was a city under the Danes." + +"Yea, I have heard of it from my grandsire," acknowledged Humphrey; +"but I know not if king's men be like to flourish there. For us that is +the principal thing." + +Hugo laughed. "Ah, my brave Humphrey," he said, "why shouldst thou fear +king's men? Thou who canst lift up a king's man by the shoulders and +plant him like a rush in the miry pool!" + +At this Humphrey smiled slightly himself. "Well, lad," he said +presently, "I will not gainsay thee. Go we to Lincoln, and may good +come of it. But we stay not long?" + +"Why, that," answered Hugo, "is what no man can tell. We must be +cautious." + +"Ay, lad," assented Humphrey, approvingly. + +"Thou knowest of Bishop Hugh of Avalon?" inquired Hugo, chatting of +whatever came to his mind in the hope to bring back Humphrey's +confidence in himself. + +"Nay, lad," returned the serving-man. "I know no more of bishops than +thou of hedgehogs and other creatures of the wood." + +"This was a bishop, I have heard mine uncle say, that loved the birds. +He hath now been nine years dead, and another man is, in his stead, +bishop of Lincoln. But in his time he had many feathered pets, and one +a swan, so hath mine uncle said. And also, he never feared to face the +king." + +"Sayest thou so, lad?" responded Humphrey, with some degree of +interest. "Mayhap his spirit still may linger in the place, and so +king's men not flourish there. We will on to see." + +So in due time they came to the town, and entered through its old Roman +gate, and, looking down the long hill on the top of which they stood, +saw the city of Lincoln, which, when William the Conqueror came, had +eleven hundred and fifty houses. + +"It is a great place," remarked Humphrey, "and maketh a goodly show." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +In vain Richard Wood and his men had scoured the forest near Doncaster. +They found no trace of those they sought. "Did I believe, like some, in +witchcraft," declared Richard Wood, "so should I say there was +witchcraft in their escape. Why, what should a Saxon serving-man and a +boy of fourteen know, that they should foil good men on a chase?" + +"Ay," responded one of his men-at-arms, "but thou seest they have done +it. In this forest they are not. Mayhap they lie close in the town of +Doncaster." + +Richard Wood looked at him reflectively. "I had not thought on that," +he said. "Mayhap thou art right. Go we into the town and see. We need +rest, and bite, and sup, and the beasts also need the same." + +So the weary four entered the town of Doncaster and drew rein before +the Green Dragon Inn. And one of the grooms who took the horses was the +same vacant-faced, foolish fellow who had received the coin from Walter +Skinner. "Here be more king's men," he said to himself, "and mayhap +another coin for me. I will send them also to the Isle of Axholme, +where I judge sorrow hath met the other king's man, since the horseshoe +had of the Evil One did come galloping back without a rider." And he +smiled ingratiatingly at Richard Wood, who took no notice of him. +Whereat, somewhat crestfallen, he was fain to lead the horse away, the +others having been already taken care of by other grooms who had no +thought of the Isle of Axholme, and no hopeful expectation of coins. + +The morning that saw Hugo and Humphrey far on their way to Lincoln saw +Richard Wood rise refreshed at the Green Dragon with his determination +to continue the chase well renewed. And that same morning it had +occurred to the vacant-faced groom that he must speak now or never if +he expected any reward for his speech. So the instant Richard Wood +appeared in the inn yard he sidled up to him and began, at the same +time knocking his grooming tools, which he still held in his hands, +nervously together, an accompaniment to his speech, which seemed to +surprise the spy. "I did come from Gainsborough two nights agone," he +said. + +"That is naught to me, varlet," interrupted Richard Wood. "Get thee +back to thy grooming." + +"Yea, verily," insisted the groom; "but it is somewhat to thee," and he +knocked the tools together in his hands at a great rate. "I did come by +the Isle of Axholme. And the other king's man did accuse me of +drunkenness and revellings when I did begin to have speech with him of +the matter, but he did change his mind, and give me a coin. Do thou but +the same and thou also mayest hear what I did see." + +Richard Wood regarded him attentively. "Speak truth," he said, "and say +that I would hear, and thou shalt have two coins." + +The vacant-faced groom grinned a broad and foolish grin. "Said I not," +he cried joyfully, "that thou wert a better man than the other? For he +was but small and fierce and hath met sorrow, or his horse had not come +back riderless." + +Richard Wood smiled contemptuously at this reference to Walter Skinner. +Then he said: "Thou didst come by the Isle of Axholme. What sawest thou +there?" + +"Why, thou canst talk like an advocate," said the foolish groom, who +had never seen an advocate in his life. "Ay," he continued, "he that +giveth two coins is ever a better master than he that giveth one. And I +did see a young lord and his serving-man lie on a bed of rushes; and +ever and anon the serving-man did rise to feed the blazing fire of +reeds; and it was the fire I first did see, and, going to the fire, I +did see them." + +"The Isle of Axholme lieth eighteen miles long and five in breadth," +said Richard Wood. "Where didst thou see them?" and he held up three +coins. + +"Toward the south end on a little solid place which hath on it three +scrubby trees. There did they lie." And the groom left off speaking to +eye the money in ecstasy, for not often did such wealth come his way. + +Richard Wood tossed him the coins. "Make haste with the horses," he +said. "Hast thou no other marks to know the place?" + +"Why, nay," answered the groom, regretfully. "But thou wilt surely know +it when thou comest to it," and he smiled broadly. + +Ten minutes later the party was off, and, crossing the Don at the town, +found themselves in the Isle of Axholme. And then Richard Wood paused +to give his men instructions. "Here do we need caution," he said. "This +fellow is not easily to be caught, for I make naught of the young lord. +He is doubtless some trusty retainer sent with the lad by her ladyship +because he hath wit to hide and double on his track and so baffle +pursuit. But he hath not yet reached port to set sail for France, and +mayhap he will not. It remaineth now for us to hide and creep among the +rushes and reeds and scrubby trees, and so come up with him unseen." + +The men-at-arms listened respectfully, and the party separating +themselves so that each man rode alone at a little distance from his +fellows, they took the same general direction, and so advanced slowly +and carefully, taking advantage of every bit of cover in their way, and +often pausing to listen. They had proceeded in this manner some two +hours when Richard Wood saw the three scrub trees, and, waving the +signal to his men, the advance was made with renewed caution. At last +all were near enough to see the couch of rushes and the ashes of the +fire, but they saw nothing of serving-man or boy, who by this time had +reached Lincoln. Silently, at a signal from Richard Wood, the party +drew together. "Ye see," said he, pointing to the place, "that they be +not here. Either they be gone roaming about for the day in search of +food, or they be gone altogether. We may not know of a surety till +evening when, if they be not altogether gone, they will return. If they +be gone, we have lost a day and given them an added start of us. +Wherefore I counsel that we pursue the search warily through the Isle +in the hope that we come up with them. What say ye?" + +"We say well," responded the men. + +The party now separated again, and, going even more slowly than before +through the silent Isle, sought to be as noiseless as possible. But +every now and then some horse splashed suddenly and heavily into a +pool, or scrambling out of the water crunched and broke the reeds and +scared the water-fowl, which rose shrieking and flew noisily away. At +such mishaps Richard Wood restrained his impatience as well as he was +able, knowing that they were unavoidable and that his men were +faithful. Thus another hour went by and there was no trace of the +fugitives. They were now going due northwest, and a half-hour later one +of the men-at-arms gave the signal. Silently Richard Wood approached +him. "I did see one of them," said the man in a low tone. "He lieth +beneath a tree beyond this fringe of reeds on the next solid place." + +And now Richard Wood was all excitement. "Which was it?" he asked; "the +young lord or the serving-man?" + +"Why, thou knowest I did never see either," replied the man, "and I +could not draw very near. But the person I did see did seem too small +to be the stout Saxon serving-man of whom thou hast spoken." + +Without a word, but with his face expressing great triumph, Richard +Wood waved to the others to approach, which they did slowly and with +care. Having come up with him, he communicated to them the news he had +received, and, bidding them scatter in such a manner as to surround the +little place on which the fortunate man-at-arms had discovered the man +or boy lying, he waited with such patience as he could muster until the +time had elapsed necessary for the carrying out of his commands, and +then advanced to capture the young lord with his own hands. And what +was his disgust, when he came up with the sleeper under the tree, to +find Walter Skinner. + +"And is it thou, Walter Skinner?" he demanded when he had roused him. +"And what doest thou here?" + +[Illustration: Richard Wood finds Walter Skinner] + +"Ay, Richard Wood, it is I. And what I do here is no concern of thine. +Here have I been a day and a night and this second day. Little have I +had to eat, and my drinking-horn is but now empty. And I have been +planted in a miry pool. And I have lost my horse and my way also; and +have floundered into more bogs and out of them than can be found in all +Robert Sadler's Ireland. Were I king, I would have no Isle of Axholme +in all my dominions. Could I do no better, I would pull down the hill +of Lincoln and cart it hither to fill these vile water-holes. Do but +see my doublet and hose. Were I called suddenly to the palace would not +the king and the court despise me as a drunken ruffler from some +revel-rout that had fallen from his horse? When all the blame is to be +laid on this Isle of Axholme, which ought, by right, to belong to +France, since it is full of frogs." + +"Thou art crazed, as thou always art when thou drinkest," said Richard +Wood, coldly. + +"Dost thou say I have been drinking?" demanded Walter Skinner, starting +up. + +"Yea, I say it. Thou sayest it also. For thou didst say thy +drinking-horn was but now empty." + +"Yea, verily," answered Walter Skinner. "If thou be a true man do but +fill it for me again. Or lead me from this vile place, where one +heareth naught but the squawk of birds and the croak of frogs. I would +fain see the Green Dragon and the idiot groom that did send me here. I +warrant thee I will crack his pate for him." + +"Where is thy horse?" asked Richard Wood. + +"Ay, where is he? Who but that vile serving-man did bid the young lord +cut him loose?" + +"Thou dreamest," said Richard Wood, incredulously. "Would a serving-man +forget his station and bid his master do a task?" + +"Ay, would he, if he were this serving-man. I tell thee he would bid +the king himself do a task if he chose, and, moreover, the king would +obey. 'Twas he did plant me in the miry pool and say I did dance well +but somewhat slowly when I did try to unplant myself, and for every +foot I took up sunk the other deeper in the mire. And he did dub me +'Sir Stick-in-the-Mud,' moreover, for which I do owe him a grudge and +will requite him. I will meet him one day where there be no miry pools, +and then let him beware." This last he uttered with a look which was +intended to be fierce, but which was only silly. + +"Didst thou come after them alone with no man to help thee?" asked +Richard Wood, still more incredulously. + +"Oh, I did have help enough," was the answer, with a crafty look. "I +did have to my help a yew bow with a silken string that the king +himself need not despise, and a great store of arrows, moreover. And I +did hide and bide my time until the darkness of night came and the fire +blazed high. And then I did let my arrows fly. And what did the +serving-man? He did catch up the very fire and rush upon me. And later +he did break my arrows and cut my bow-string, and fling my bow into the +water, and then departed, I know not where." + +"Thou art but a sorry fool," declared Richard Wood, after some thought. +"And yet I cannot find it in my heart to leave thee here. Mount up +behind me, and at Gainsborough I will set thee down. There canst thou +shift for thyself, and chase or forbear to chase as thou choosest." + +"Ay, thou sayest truly," said the half-drunken Walter Skinner. "And +should I now forbear to chase, a dukedom would no more than reward me +for the perils I have seen. First in the lofty tree watching the +castle; and thou knowest that now, when, from the interdict, no bells +may ring to disperse the tempests, I might have died from the lightning +stroke, not once but many times. For there might have been a tempest +and lightning every day, and no thanks to the king that there was not. +Then, too, I did encounter perils from the boughs which might have +broken and did not. And wherefore did they not? Because they were too +tough and sound. And this, too, moreover, was no thanks to the king. +And two horses have I lost,--one mine own and one the gift of the prior +of St. Edmund's. And did the prior wish to give me the beast? Nay, he +did not, and would have refused it if he had dared. He made as if he +gave it because of the king, but he did not. He feared before me, as +well he might. For I had met a hedgehog, and when a man is in such a +case he is in no mind to have a horse refused him by a fat prior. And +all this also was no thanks to the king. And then I did meet that +varlet of a groom at the Green Dragon, and he did send me here. And +here have I met such misfortunes as would last a man his lifetime." + +To all this Richard Wood had lent but half an ear, being occupied in +turning over in his mind the fact that Hugo and Humphrey had been in +the Isle and had gone, and trying to decide what was best to do. He now +looked at him. "Mount up behind me and cease thy prating," he said. +Then turning to the men-at-arms he continued: "We go hence to +Gainsborough. From thence down to Sherwood Forest. It seemeth this +serving man loveth woods and wilds. Therefore it were waste of time to +seek for him in towns and beaten ways." + +All the while he was speaking Walter Skinner, with many groans, was +trying to mount behind his old companion; but, on account of the horse +shying his objections to such a proceeding, and the drunken clumsiness +of Walter Skinner himself, nothing had been accomplished. Richard Wood +therefore called on one of the men-at-arms to dismount and hoist him +up; which he did much as if the fierce little spy had been a bag of +meal, and much to Walter Skinner's discomfort, who suddenly found +himself heavily seated with one leg doubled up under him and with a +bumped face where he had struck against Richard Wood's shoulder. He +soon righted himself, however, and, clinging to his old friend, rode +away to Gainsborough. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +As Hugo and Humphrey with Fleetfoot in leash looked about them from the +backs of their horses, it suddenly occurred to the prudent serving-man +that to go to an inn was not the safest thing in the world for them to +do. "Thou art like our young lord Josceline, and Josceline is like his +father," said Humphrey. "And though they be few who would aid the king +against my lord now fled away to France, still there be a few +unprincipled knaves in every place. And though Lincoln had no longer +ago than nine years the good Hugh thou didst speak of for its bishop, +still, if some knave abiding here should look upon thee and say, +'Behold the son of De Aldithely! I will take him!' it might go ill with +thee. Wherefore I know not what were best to do. We be now come here, +and have no place to lay our heads. The woods and the fens be safer." + +Then Hugo smiled. "Thou speakest not of thyself, Humphrey," he said. +"How if some knave abiding here should think to take not only the son +of De Aldithely, but his brave serving-man also? Thou art more careful +of me than of thyself, and I shall call it to mind one day." + +"Ay, lad," said Humphrey, smiling in his turn. "Thou art as brave as +any De Aldithely thyself. For who but the brave taketh time to think of +another, and he only a serving-man, when himself is in danger? But all +this talk procureth us no safe place to lie, and methinks already there +be some in the streets that gape upon us." + +"No more than idlers ever do," responded Hugo, with assurance. "We be +two strangers, and Fleetfoot, moreover, is a fine hound and worth the +looking at." + +"Ay," said Humphrey, regretfully. "The hound is yet likely to get us +into trouble. But whither do we go? I would fain be out of the sight of +these gazers." + +"Not to an inn, good Humphrey. I have here a ring from mine uncle, the +prior, which, when I show it at certain places, will procure us +lodging, and Lincoln is one of them. We go not down the hill toward the +river. Our place is here near the cathedral in the house of the canon +Richard Durdent." + +Humphrey smiled. "It is good that thou hast for thine uncle a prior," +he said. + +"Ay," responded Hugo. "He is a kind uncle. Where I show his ring I get +not only lodging, but certain moneys to help me on my way. He thought +it not best that I should travel far with much gold about me, wherefore +he hath made these arrangements. He knoweth the canon Durdent of old." + +"I would see this ring," said Humphrey, curiously. + +"And so thou shalt," promised Hugo, "when we be safely lodged." + +"How far reacheth the ring?" inquired Humphrey. + +"Even to France," was the reply. + +"Then I would that thou wouldst trust it in my keeping," said Humphrey, +earnestly. + +The boy looked at him; once more he beheld him rushing upon the spy in +the Isle of Axholme; once more heard his indignant cry, "And wouldst +thou slay my dear lad?" His eyes shone, but all he said was, "I will +trust thee with the custody of the ring, Humphrey, save at such times +as I must have it to show." + +The serving-man smiled well pleased, though he said nothing; for there +was no time for words, since they had already come to the door of the +house they sought. + +"The ring is a powerful one," said Humphrey, when they had been well +received and lodged. "I would fain see it." + +Hugo smiled and handed it to him. The serving-man took it in his large +hand and regarded it narrowly. "After all it is but a carved fish on a +red stone," he said. + +"Thou dost not ask what it betokeneth?" + +Humphrey glanced up quickly. "Thou canst make merry over my dreams," he +said, "and what they betoken. And here thou comest with a circlet of +gold crowned with a red stone having the likeness of a fish on it. And +thou sayest it betokeneth somewhat. Thou mayest no more deride my +dreams." + +"Nay, nay, my good Humphrey," laughed the boy. "Thou shalt have thy +dreams if thou wilt. But my uncle's priory is dedicated to St. Wilfrid, +who taught the Sussex people to catch all fish, when before they knew +only how to catch eels. Therefore my uncle putteth a fish on the ring, +that whosoever of his friends that seeth it may know it is the ring of +Roger Aungerville, prior of St. Wilfrid's." + +"So doth the fish of thine uncle give us lodging and safety," observed +Humphrey, thoughtfully. "It is a good ring. I will hold it with all +care." And he drew forth the small pouch of gold pieces which Lady De +Aldithely had given him, and put the ring carefully inside it. "It +hangeth about my neck, thou seest," he said, as he replaced the pouch, +"and no man may take it unless he first taketh my head." + +"Or disableth thee with an arrow or a sword thrust," said Hugo. + +"Ay," answered Humphrey, gravely. "I had not spoken of arrows and sword +thrusts. I have the hope that we may meet with neither. And though the +way is long when one must creep and hide and crawl, and go to the south +one day, to the southwest another, and the southeast another, yet the +end cometh at last, and I have hope it be a good end. And now I ask +thee how long we bide and whence go we from here? Doth the ring +decide?" + +"Nay," replied Hugo. "Thou shalt have thy share of the making of plans. +But I would fain learn what we may of the region round about, and of +the safety or danger it holdeth for us ere we sally forth." + +"Why, now," said Humphrey, approvingly, "thou art learning craft. For +who but a fool would be careless of danger? Thou art like my lord, who +knoweth when to strike and when to flee. And for that it is that his +men follow him madly in battle. For, if there be risk, they do know it +to be necessary risk, with a certain gain to be obtained at the end of +it, if all go well. But if there be no gain in view, my lord leadeth +them not into unnecessary danger, and so it is that he is a power and +the king hateth him. Thou doest well to look ahead of thee, for there +is no gain to be had from lying in the king's dungeon, but mayhap thou +shalt lose thy head also, as well as thy liberty. But what doest thou +now?" + +"Why, I fain would sleep, having had no rest in the night. But the +canon knoweth naught of that, nor may I tell him. He must be busy till +even, and so he sendeth me to view the cathedral; and thou mayest go +with me." + +To this Humphrey made no reply, but followed his young master in +silence. + +The verger who took them in charge was an ancient man called Paulinus +of Mansfield, having been born in that place. And he soon saw that what +he had to show of the unfinished cathedral was lost on the heavy-lidded +boy who was half asleep, and upon the Saxon serving-man, who felt no +interest in such matters. Wherefore when he came from the chapter-house +into the cloisters he, being old and feeble, was fain to sit down on a +stone bench and rest; and he motioned Hugo to a seat beside him. + +Humphrey had the idea that, at all times and in all places, wisdom was +with the aged. Besides, the old verger reminded him, in certain +particulars, of his own grandsire, who was a great talker and who knew +more of all matters concerning the countryside than half a dozen other +men. + +And he now cast such an expressive glance upon Hugo and gave such a +meaning nod toward Paulinus, that the boy must perforce have +understood, even if he had not added in a tone too low to catch the +somewhat deaf ears of the old man, "Ask him what thou wouldest know." + +At once Hugo threw off his drowsiness and, in the most pleasing manner +he could summon, requested to be informed of the surrounding district. + +"It is easy to see thou art a stranger," said the gratified old man. +"And thou wouldest know the region round about Lincoln?" he repeated. +"Thou hast come to him who can tell thee of it, for I was born and +brought up in these parts. It is truly a noble region on all sides save +the east, where lieth the fen country. For here cometh the king +frequently to take his pleasure. And that is oft pleasure to him which +would be none to gentler minds." + +At this Hugo turned startled eyes on Humphrey, who stood at a little +distance, but who did not appear to notice his look. + +"Hast ever seen the king?" inquired Paulinus. + +"Nay," replied Hugo. + +"Nor need thou wish so to do," returned the aged Paulinus. "I speak to +thee in confidence, for surely thou art a worthy youth or thou wouldest +not be guest to the Canon Durdent. The king is the youngest and the +worst son of the wicked Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, who is now, by the +mercy of God, dead. I could tell thee tales of the king's cruelty that +would affright thee, but I will not. He loveth to hunt in the Forest of +Sherwood, and therefore hath he castles and lodges hereabout, which he +doth frequent as it pleaseth him. And he hath ever had a liking for that +castle at Newark which our bishop of Lincoln, Alexander the Magnificent, +did build. I could tell thee tales of the dungeons there--knowest thou +what they be like?" And he paused and looked at Hugo, who was somewhat +pale, for the word "dungeon" had come to have a fearsome meaning to him. + +"Nay," answered the boy, "I know not." + +"Thou goest in the castle through a passage to the northwest corner, +where is a door which is guarded. Here is the solid rock; and inside +that door be two dungeons scooped out of it. No stair descendeth to +them. Those who occupy them at the king's will are lowered into them by +a rope, and there is no chance by which they may escape. There they +abide in darkness, and no skill, or cunning, or bravery can avail them +so that they may escape." The old man paused. + +Presently Hugo asked, "And where lieth this castle from here?" + +"It lieth to the southwest, less than a score of miles away." + +Hugo said nothing, and, after a short silence, Paulinus began again: +"If thou shouldest journey hence a little south of west, then wouldest +thou come to Clipstone Palace, which lieth not far from Mansfield, +where I was born. Here the king doth sometimes frequent, and from +thence he goeth to hunt in the forest. But better men than he have +frequented it when his father, King Henry, and his brother, King +Richard, did sojourn there. Thinkest thou to journey that way?" + +"Nay," replied Hugo. "Methinks our way lieth not toward Clipstone." + +"Mayhap it were better to journey by Newark, where be the dungeons I +have told thee of; and so, when thou hast viewed that castle, journey +on southward to Nottingham, where the king hath another castle which +oft holdeth many prisoners. He keepeth there certain children, the +hostages he demandeth of their fathers. And no man knoweth when they +will die, for that is a matter of the king's pleasure." + +The old verger now seemed to fall into a reverie, in which he remained +so long that Hugo rose from the stone bench, thus rousing him. Slowly +he raised himself from his seat, having apparently forgotten all that +he had just been saying, and conducted them to the entrance, where he +bade them adieu. + +"I fear to bide here longer," said Humphrey, as they returned to the +canon's house. "Let us away to the fens on the east of this place, and, +through their wilds, make our way southward." + +Hugo reflected. Then he answered, "Thou art right, Humphrey. It were +not best to journey so near the king's castles and dungeons. We will +away to-morrow morn to the fens." + +This, however, they were unable to do. The canon desired not to part +with his friend's nephew so soon. Seeing which, Humphrey consoled +himself for the delay by buying ample stores of provisions, with which +he so loaded the horses that the canon wondered. "There be towns all +the way from hence to London, and inns in all the towns," he said. +"Thou mayest journey without that packhorse load." + +But Humphrey was obstinate. "The goods be bought," he said stubbornly. + +The canon who knew not that they intended to travel through the fens +and avoid the towns, looked pityingly at Hugo. "I see thou hast a +master in thy man," he observed. "I wonder thine Uncle Roger did not +choose for thee a more obedient servant." + +It was on the tip of the boy's tongue to tell him that his uncle's +prudence had furnished him with no servant at all. But, at a warning +glance from Humphrey, he kept silence. And then, with the blessing of +the canon, they set out down the hill through the narrow street toward +the river, which they crossed and found themselves outside the town. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +Having deposited Walter Skinner before the door of the Lion in +Gainsborough, Richard Wood and his men set off for Sherwood Forest in +the strong hope of coming up with the runaways they sought. And, in +nowise cast down by his recent discouraging experiences, Walter Skinner +held his head high and looked around him fiercely, as of yore. His +doublet and hose besplashed with mud and torn by briers seemed not to +give him any concern; neither did the condition of his shoes, which +were foul with the slimy mud of the swamp. + +"I will have breakfast, sirrah, and that immediately," he said to the +waiter when he had entered the inn. + +The waiter eyed him doubtfully. + +"Make haste. I command thee to it. Dally not with me. I serve the +king," said the fierce little man, loftily. + +"Thy service hath taken thee in strange paths," observed the innkeeper, +who had drawn near. + +"Not so strange as thine will take thee in if thou delay me," retorted +Walter Skinner, haughtily. + +There was in the bar a strange man of a crafty and evil face, and he +now drew near the imperious little spy, and humbly besought the honor +of taking his breakfast in Walter Skinner's company. + +"And so thou shalt," said the spy, condescendingly. "And mayhap, since +I have lost my horse, thou canst direct me where I can find another. I +have no time to go harrying a prior for one." + +The landlord now led the way obsequiously, and soon the strange pair +were seated in one of the several private rooms of the inn, with the +promise that breakfast should be served to them at once. + +Then said the stranger: "As to the matter of a horse, I have at this +moment one by me which I would fain dispose of. He is not gentle enough +to my liking." + +"I care not for gentleness in a horse," declared Walter Skinner. "I +warrant thee I can ride the beast whether he be gentle or not." + +"Thou lookest a bold rider," observed the stranger, craftily. + +"He that doeth the king's business hath need to be a bold rider," +returned Walter Skinner, with a look which was intended to convey the +information that he could unfold mysteries were he so disposed. + +"Thou art high in the king's counsels, then?" asked the stranger, with +a covert smile. + +"Not so high but I shall be higher when I have finished the business in +hand," returned Walter Skinner, patronizingly. The breakfast being now +brought he said no more, but ate like a starving man, and with a very +unfavorable memory of his late meals of wild berries in the swamp. The +crafty-eyed stranger ate more sparingly, and seemed to be mentally +measuring the fierce little man opposite him. At last he asked, "And +whence goest thou from here?" + +"What is that to thee?" demanded Walter Skinner. "Wouldst thou pry into +the king's business? Reach me the bottle." + +The stranger obeyed, and after taking a long drink Walter Skinner said: +"I will now tell thee what I would not tell to every man. First, from +here I go to the Green Dragon at Doncaster, there to crack the pate of +the groom that did send me into the Isle of Axholme, where I did have +all sorts of contumely heaped upon me. And after that I shall pursue my +course or not, as it pleaseth me. Richard Wood did give me permission +so to do. Knowest thou Richard Wood?" + +"Nay," answered the stranger. + +"He is well enough in his place, and that is in the high tree +overlooking the castle. But when he will ride abroad with men-at-arms +behind him to obey his word, then he thinketh that he may tell me also, +his old friend, what I may and may not do. He hath even bid me cease +prating. What thinkest thou of such a man?" + +"Why, he must be a bold man that would bid thee cease prating," replied +the stranger. + +Walter Skinner took another drink and then looked long and earnestly at +him. "Thou art a man of reason," he said; "yea, and of wisdom, +moreover. And come, now, show me thy ungentle horse. I promise thee I +will back him or--or--" He did not finish his sentence, and the two +went out to the inn yard, where stood a horse which did not seem to be +particularly vicious. And the animal was soon in the possession of the +spy for a very fair sum in exchange. + +"I will but fix his bridle for thee," said the man, "while thou payest +the reckoning, and then mayest thou ride with speed and safety. I may +not stay to see thee go, for I must instantly depart." + +"Ay, thou hast a hard master, no doubt," observed Walter Skinner, with +a shake of the head. + +"Necessity is my master," said the stranger. + +"Ay, ay, no doubt," returned Walter Skinner, going toward the bar. +"Necessity is not mine, however." + +A half-hour later, when the spy was ready to set out, the stranger had +disappeared. But he did not miss him, for the landlord himself had come +out into the yard to see him off, while all the grooms stood about, and +two or three maids looked on. + +"Good people, give back," said Walter Skinner, grandly. "Block not the +way of the king's man. Ye mean well and kindly, no doubt, but I would +have ye withdraw yourselves a little space." + +By the help of a groom he was mounted, and a moment later he was out of +the inn yard. But now a strange thing happened. He was no sooner out of +the town than the horse refused to be controlled. In vain the little +spy tried to head him toward Doncaster. The stranger had removed the +bit, putting in its place a wisp of straw, which the horse quickly +chewed to pieces, and then, with a shake of the head, he galloped off +to the south. + +[Illustration: Walter Skinner's horse refused to be controlled] + +"Thou beast!" cried the spy. "What meanest thou? Thou art held in by +bit and bridle. Dost not know it?" + +It seemed that the horse did not, for he went on at a faster pace. + +"Thou art worse than the prior's horse!" cried Walter Skinner, dropping +the reins and clinging round the animal's neck. "I would I had the +stranger that did sell thee to me! I would crack his pate also, even as +I will the pate of the groom at the Green Dragon." + +Giving no heed to the remonstrances of his rider or the unevenness of +the road, the horse kept on until he entered the gates of Lincoln, and +stopped before the Swan with a loud and joyous neigh. + +At the sound two grooms ran out. "Here he be!" cried one. "Here be +Black Tom that was stole but two nights agone," cried the other; while +in great amazement Walter Skinner sat up and gazed from one to the +other. + +"What meanest thou, sirrah?" he demanded of the second groom. "Sayest +thou a horse is stolen when I did pay good money for him but this +morning? And, moreover, who would steal such a beast that will mind not +the bridle and only runs his course the faster for the spur?" + +"Ay, thou knewest not that he was stolen, no doubt," retorted the +second groom, sarcastically. "But here cometh master, who will soon +pull thee down from thy high perch, thou little minute of a dirty man. +Thou hast slept in the swamp over night, I do be bound, and now comest +to brave it out, seeing thou canst not make way with the horse." + +"I would have thee know, villain, that I serve the king, and did buy +the horse in Gainsborough this morn to replace the one which the young +lord did cut loose. And whether I did sleep in the swamp or in a duke's +chamber is naught to thee or to thy master. I have been so shaken up +this morn over thy rough roads and by thy vile beast of a horse that +thou and thy master shall pay for it. What! is the servant of the king +to be sent into the Isle of Axholme by an idiot groom at the Green +Dragon? And, being there, is he to be planted in the mire like a rush +by a Saxon serving-man? And is his horse to be cut loose by the young +lord at the word of that same Saxon serving-man? And is he to be +carried behind Richard Wood to Gainsborough? And is he there to buy a +black horse from a vile stranger? And is he to be run away with to this +place when he would fain go elsewhere about his master's business, +which is to catch this young lord and the Saxon serving-man? And then +is he to be looked at as if he were a thief? Thou shalt repent, and so +I tell thee; yea, in sackcloth and ashes. And if thou canst find no +sackcloth, then thou shalt have a double portion of ashes, ye knaves, +and so I promise you." + +At these words the innkeeper and the grooms looked at each other. And +then the innkeeper said civilly that he and the grooms had meant no +offence, but that the horse had certainly been stolen from the Swan two +nights before. The second groom, equally desirous with his master to +conciliate, pressed forward to show him how the bit had been removed by +the rascal who sold the horse so that he would come straight home +again. + +"Which I did but now discover," said the second groom. + +And the first groom, not to be outdone, said: "If thou really seekest +the young lord and the Saxon serving-man we can put thee on their +track, for surely they did leave here but some three hours agone." + +Walter Skinner stared stupidly for a moment, while the innkeeper +reproved the groom for being beforehand with him in giving the +intelligence. Then the little spy sat up straighter and put on a +haughtier air than ever. "Aha, Fortune!" he cried, "thou art bound to +make a duke of me whether I will or not." Then turning to the +innkeeper he said: "I will enter thine inn, and do thou see that dinner +be promptly served. I will then procure a change of raiment. I will then +sleep over night. I will then breakfast. I will then take thy Black +Tom, which I did buy, and withhold him from me if thou darest. And I +will then set out after the young lord and the serving-man. I have now +given thee my confidence, which if thou betray thou shalt answer for +it. Why, they cannot escape me. Hath Richard Wood come up with them +three several times, as I now have? Nay. If he had he would have +captured them, which showeth that I be the abler man of the two; for, +while I have not captured them, he hath not even caught sight of them. +And now make haste with the dinner." + +All this time the spy had kept his seat on the horse. He now came down, +and the innkeeper, without a word, led the way to a private room, while +the grooms exchanged glances. "Yon be a madman," said the first, whose +name was Elfric. + +"Yea, or a drunken man, which is the same thing," responded the second. + +"He will catch not the young lord," declared Elfric. + +"I did not dream they fled as they rode down the street to the river," +observed the second. "They did go slowly enough, and the young lord +looked about him curiously and unafraid." + +"By that thou mayest know he was a lord, and this drunken fool speaketh +true," returned Elfric. "The better the blood, the less of fear; so +hath my grandsire said." + +Though Walter Skinner had commanded the innkeeper and the grooms to +keep what he called his confidence on pain of his vengeance, what he +had said flew abroad. And wherever the little spy appeared that +afternoon he seemed to arouse much curiosity. "The king must be put to +it for help when he employeth such a one," commented a cooper. + +"Tut, man!" was the reply. "What careth the king who doeth his pleasure +so it be done? It looketh not like to be done, though, with this man +for the doer of it. Why, who but a fool seeing those he sought had +three good hours the start of him would give them four and twenty +more?" + +The cooper shrugged his shoulders. "I tell thee, Peter of the forge," +he said, "that I care not if the king's will be never done, for it is a +bad will. Therefore the more fools like yon he setteth to do it the +better." + +Meanwhile the innkeeper was thinking ruefully of the guest he had on +his hands. "I may not anger him," he said to Elfric, the groom. + +"Nor needest thou," replied Elfric. + +"Talk not to me," said the innkeeper, impatiently. "Wouldst have me +lose Black Tom? For whether he did pay the thief for him or not, he +most certainly did not pay me. And thou knowest the value of Black +Tom." + +"Yea," answered Elfric, "I know it. But why shouldst thou lose Black +Tom?" + +"Why? Art thou gone daft? Didst thou hear him bid me refuse him the +beast if I dared? This it is to have a bad king who will set such +knaves upon his business." + +"If there be but one black horse in Lincoln," replied Elfric, "thou +doest well to fret. But if there be Black Dick that is broken-winded +and hath the spring-halt so that he be not worth more than one day's +reckoning at the Swan at the most; and if he looketh tolerably fair; +and if thou mayst buy him for a small sum; and if this drunken fool +knoweth not one horse from another; why needst thou worry?" + +The face of the innkeeper at once cleared. "The fraud is justifiable," +he said. "For why should he take my Black Tom and give me naught? I do +but protect myself when I give him instead Black Dick." + +"Ay, and thou doest no unfriendly turn to the young lord neither. I +have been to inquire, and there be those that say he is son to De +Aldithely. And doubtless he fleeth away to his brave father in France. +I did think he had a familiar look this morn. And when I heard, I did +repent that the Swan had put this knave upon his track. But with Black +Dick he cometh not up with him in a hurry." + +That night Walter Skinner found the Swan a most pleasant abiding-place, +where all were attentive to serve him. "Thou hast me for thy friend," +he told the innkeeper as he supped with him. "Thou hast me, I say, and +not Richard Wood. And I will speak a good word for thee to the king. +Not now, indeed, for it were not seemly that I should introduce thy +matters until I had brought mine own to a happy issue. But what sayest +thou? To pursue a young lord for many miles and capture +him,--single-handed,--were that not worth a dukedom? I have here this +good yew bow with a silken string and a goodly store of arrows. Oh, I +will capture him, if ever I come up with him. The serving-man cutteth +not this silken string nor breaketh these arrows, I warrant thee." + +And, clad in his new raiment, Walter Skinner sat back in his chair and +gazed pompously around. + +The innkeeper listened, and, supper being over, he sought Elfric, to +whom he related what had passed. "I would not that a hair of the young +son of De Aldithely should be harmed," he said. "And what I dare not +do, that thou must perform." + +"And what is that?" asked Elfric. + +"Thou must fray his bow-string so it will not be true, and thou must +injure his arrows likewise." + +"Right willingly will I do so," promised Elfric. "If he hit any mark he +aim at when I am done with the bow and arrows, then am I as great a +knave as he. And the damage shall be so small that he may not see it +neither." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + +Although there were those who had looked upon Hugo and Humphrey +curiously in the streets of Lincoln, there were none sufficiently +interested to observe what direction they took after they had left the +town. And none saw them leave the road and betake themselves to the +fens as safer for their journey. So east of the heights, which, to the +east of Lincoln, extend in a southeasterly direction, they rode, +picking their way as they might, and hopeful that now all enemies were +thrown off their track. + +"It is a weariness to be pursued so many days," said Hugo. "I would +fain breathe easily once more." + +"Ay, lad," returned Humphrey. "But that is what cannot be done in this +world. When thou art forty years old, as I am, thou wilt see that every +man hath his enemies and every bird and beast also, as we may perchance +see in this wild fen country. It is good, therefore, to breathe as +easily as one can and think no more about it. Knowest thou what these +fens be like?" + +"Nay; but mine uncle hath told me that they be vast, and that here and +there half-wild people live in huts along the reedy shores; and that +south lieth the goodly town of Peterborough, as well as the abbey of +Crowland." + +"Doth the ring avail at Peterborough?" + +"Yea, if I have need; but there will be none." And he glanced with a +smile at the heavily loaded horses they rode, and bethought himself of +his plentiful supply of gold pieces. "What hast thou in all these bags +and packs, Humphrey?" he asked. + +"Why, the answer to that question is not so simple," was the reply. "I +did but buy somewhat of all I saw, and did bestow it the best I could, +so as to leave room for our legs on the sides of the horses. Should the +spy pursue us, he would soon come up with us, for flee we could not, so +loaded down. But I look not for him. No doubt he still lodgeth in the +Isle of Axholme, and the other spy we have not of late heard from. If +we but keep clear of beaten paths, we be safe enough. I will hope to +have a dream to-night." + +Hugo did not reply; he was looking about him in much enjoyment. The day +chanced to be clear, and as far as he could see lay the level of the +fen-lands. Here were trees, some straight, others leaning over the +water; there were islands of reeds, and yonder the water shimmering on +its shallow, winding way, so sluggish as to be almost stagnant. The +whole region was alive with sound,--the cries of water-fowl, the songs +of birds, and the croak of frogs. And when he rode along the water's +brink, an occasional fin flashed out. Humphrey watched him with +approval. "Ay, lad," he said, "thou wilt soon be wise in fen lore, for +thou hast a heart to it. I will tell thee now that I have wherewith to +fish in one of these same packs. Mine ears were not idle in the town, +and I did learn that perch and red-eye and roach and bream frequent the +waters of the fen." + +"And didst thou ask what fish were in the fen?" asked Hugo, in alarm. + +"Nay, lad, most surely not. But when I did see fish for sale I did +praise their beauty, and they that had them did of themselves tell me +where they did catch them. There be more ways of finding out things +than by asking of questions." + +They were now come to a small, grassy isle fringed with reeds. "Here do +we get down," said Humphrey. "I would fain see if we do not catch some +of those same fish for our dinner. And here is grass, moreover, where +the horses can graze." + +Slowly and carefully boy and man disengaged themselves from the baggage +that almost encased them and dismounted. "If thou dost get a dream +to-night, Humphrey," said Hugo, laughingly, "I hope thou wilt discover +what we shall do with all this stuff." + +"I dream not to find out such a thing as that," returned the +serving-man, good-naturedly. + +The horses were soon tied out, and the fishing-lines and hooks +unpacked. Then Humphrey, going out on a fallen log which was half +submerged, carefully plumbed the water to see how deep it was, while +Hugo watched him in wonder. Next he took from another package some +ground bait consisting of meal, and balls made of bread and grain, +worked up in the hand. This he threw into the water, which was here but +two feet deep. Then in a whisper he said, "All this I did learn in +Lincoln." And he bade Hugo hold his line so that the bait on the hook +was about an inch from the bottom. + +Hugo obeyed, and in a moment was rewarded with a red-eye about a foot +long. At the same time Humphrey drew out another. And before long they +had half a dozen each, for the red-eye was always sure to be one of a +crowd, and it was so greedy that it took the bait readily. + +"No more to-day," said Humphrey, winding up his line, "for we already +have more than we can eat, and I hold it sin to slay what we cannot +eat. This was I taught by my grandsire, who ever said that evil was +sure to befall those who did so. And I would we could put the life back +into half we have taken; but they did bite so readily that we had too +many suddenly. Still, if we eat naught to speak of but fish, we may +make away with most and so be spared evil." + +While Humphrey dressed the too numerous fish, Hugo sought sufficient +fuel to cook them, and came back to find the serving-man well +satisfied. "Even as I did begin to dress the fish," he said, "there +came a sound of wings, and I looked up and did behold a glede. And I +did cease to move; so came he nearer, and did snatch a fish. Then came +another and did snatch a fish. In quietness I did wait. Then came the +first glede back and did take a fish, and the second did like-wise. +And, by waiting with patience, the gledes did take two more. And now we +have but six fish, and no evil will befall us, for those we can eat." + +Hugo smiled, for the big serving-man had spoken with the faith of a +child. + +Their noon rest taken, they went on again toward the south and came by +nightfall to what Humphrey decided to be a suitable place to pass the +night. "I mean not," he said, "that the place would please me were we +out of the fen. But being in the fen, why, there be worse places than +this to be found; for it is not a bog nor a slough, and there be reeds +in plenty near by." + +"Do we make a fire?" asked Hugo, mindful of their experience in the +Isle of Axholme. + +"Yea," answered the serving-man. "If we make the fire perchance some +evil person seeth us, perchance not. If we make not the fire, the chill +of the fen doth get into our bones. Seest thou how the mist arises? And +we be not like the holy hermits of these haunts to withstand chill and +vapors." + +Hugo looked at him in surprise. "How knowest thou of holy hermits?" he +asked. + +"I did even learn of them in Lincoln. It was the canon's servant who +did tell me of St. Guthlac and St. Godric. He did know more of the holy +hermits than of his master's service, I warrant thee. And that is an +evil knowledge for a servant that bids him talk to the neglect of his +master's good." + +The fire alight, the two lay down, Hugo to fall asleep and Humphrey to +rise at intervals through the night and throw on reeds that so the fen +mists might work no harm to the boy, to whom he was now as devotedly +attached as ever he was to Josceline. The morning's breakfast was from +the packs which Humphrey acknowledged were too full for prudent +carrying; and by the time Walter Skinner arose at the Swan they were +off again, still southward. They were now nearer the coast, and a great +fen eagle flew screaming over their heads. "To dream that eagles do fly +over your head doth betoken evil fortune," remarked Humphrey, gravely. +"But I think we need not fear those eagles which do not fly in dreams." + +And now in the yard of the Swan all was astir. Elfric had taken Black +Dick out and gently exercised him so that his spring-halt need not be +at once apparent, and there was no little anxiety on the part of the +host to get rid of his guest expeditiously. The spy, however, with his +usual dulness, did not perceive it, but took all this effusive service +as his rightful due. "I will requite thee later, worthy host," he said +grandly. "I will not fail to set thee before the king in the light of a +trusty innkeeper." With this farewell he rode pompously out of the yard +and slowly down the hill street to the river, and so passed out of the +town. And, being out, he paused to consider his course. + +"Shall I go to the fen in pursuit of them, or shall I go down +Nottingham way?" he said. "I will go Nottingham way. I will be no more +planted in mire like a rush. Nay, verily. Not to find all the young +lords and Saxon serving-men in creation. I serve the king; and will go +not into bogs and fens suitable for Saxon outcasts and no others. And +if they be wise they will do the same." + +Having come to this decision, he put spurs to Black Dick and was off +southwest, while slowly Hugo and Humphrey journeyed on southeast. +Presently the horse began to heave. "Why, where is thy speed of +yesterday, Black Tom?" cried Walter Skinner. "Thou didst not heave when +I clung round thy neck on the way to Lincoln town." He gave the bridle +a sharp jerk, suddenly turning the horse which now began to show the +spring-halt with which he was afflicted. "Why, what sort of a dance is +this?" cried Walter Skinner. "Thou art a strange beast. Verily, thou +art like some people--one thing yesterday and another to-day. I can say +this for thee--thou wert black yesterday, and thou art still black +to-day." + +He had not gone far when he came up with a man riding slowly along, and +decided to take him into his confidence so far as to ask if he had seen +those he sought. Accordingly he crowded Black Dick close alongside of +the stranger's horse, and, giving him a meaning glance, said, "Hast +thou seen a young lord this morn?" + +The stranger looked astonished, as well he might. + +"Ay," said Walter Skinner, much gratified. "I said a young lord. Mayhap +thou art not used to consort with such, but a young lord is not much +more to me than his Saxon serving-man. And that remindeth me--hast seen +the serving-man also?" + +"Nay," answered the stranger, mildly. "I have seen neither." + +"And that is strange, too," said Walter Skinner. "Why, bethink thee, +man! Thou must have seen them. They did leave Lincoln but yester morn. +And if they came not this way, which way did they go? Answer me truly, +for I warn thee, I serve the king." + +The stranger reaffirming that he had seen neither the young lord nor +his serving-man, Walter Skinner was obliged to be content. "They be as +slippery as eels," he cried. "And that remindeth me, I did eat eels for +breakfast at the Swan this morn." + +Then, without a word of leave-taking, he rode off, Black Dick doing his +afflicted best, and Walter Skinner wondering how he could have been so +mistaken in the animal. "The thief that stole him did well to be rid of +him," he said. "And that he should put him off on me is but another +indignity I have suffered on this chase. The king hath ever a +lengthening score to pay, and nothing but a dukedom will content me. +And why should I not be a duke? Let Richard Wood say what he likes, +worse men than I have been dukes. Ay, and more basely born." + +By noon he had come to Newark. "And here will I pause and search the +town for them," he said. "If they know not of them, why, their +ignorance is criminal. A loyal subject should know what concerneth his +king. And it concerneth the king that these two be found." + +Now it chanced that the king was then at Newark and about to set off +for Clipstone Palace. Which, when Walter Skinner heard, he declared +proudly, "I will have speech of him." + +"Thou have speech of him!" exclaimed an attendant. "Thou art mad." + +"Nay, verily, I am not mad. Am I not Walter Skinner, hired by the +king's minister to bide in a high tree that overlooketh De Aldithely +castle? I tell thee, I will see the king." And, the party now +approaching, he broke through all restraint and rode close up beside +the king. "May it please thy Majesty," he began, "there be those that +do keep me back from speech with thee. Ay, even though I do tell them +that I serve thee." + +The king looked at him, laughed rudely, and motioned one of his +attendants to remove him. But the little man waved the attendant off, +and cried out so that all might hear, "Didst not thy minister hire me +to bide in the tall tree that overlooketh De Aldithely Castle?" + +At the mention of the name De Aldithely the king paused, and seemed to +listen. Seeing which, Walter Skinner went on: "And, when all the rest +were gone to York, did I not see the young lord and his Saxon +serving-man ride forth? And did I not give chase? And do I not now seek +them on this wind-broken and spring-halt horse as best I may?" + +The king beckoned the little man nearer. + +"Where hast thou sought?" he asked. + +"In the wood, in the swamp, and in the town," was the proud answer. "I +be not like Richard Wood, who did set out to help me. For I have come +up with them three several times, and he not once." + +The king turned to one of his attendants. "Take thou the madman into +custody," he said. "We will presently send to De Aldithely castle to +see if these things be so." + + + + +CHAPTER XV + + +Richard Wood and his men had searched the forest of Sherwood thoroughly +enough to lead them to conclude that those they sought had taken +another route. And on this, the tenth day of his chase, Richard Wood +said decidedly: "We try the fen now to the east. They be not spirits to +vanish in the air. Here in this wood they are not, nor do I think they +would bide in any town. Therefore in the fen they must be." Thereupon, +leaving the forest, they rode southeast by the way of Grantham, and so +on into the fen country, striking it a few miles from where Hugo and +Humphrey were making their camp for the night, almost within sight of +Peterborough. The two were quite cheerful, and entirely unsuspicious +that danger might be nearer to them than usual. + +"Thinkest thou to stop at Peterborough?" asked Humphrey. + +"Nay," replied Hugo; "there is no need." + +"And yet," urged Humphrey, "a good lodging, were it but for one night, +were a happy change from the fens. Who is the canon that is thine +uncle's friend at Peterborough?" + +"Canon Thurstan," replied Hugo. + +"In the Canon Thurstan's house--" began Humphrey. + +"But the canon hath no house," interrupted Hugo, with a smile. + +"And how is that?" demanded Humphrey, with a puzzled air. + +"It happeneth because this cathedral is on another foundation, and the +canons here be regular and not secular, as they be in Lincoln." + +Humphrey reflected. "I understand not," he said at length. + +"At Peterborough the canons live all together in one house," explained +Hugo. "Were we to go there we should be taken to the hospitium, where +we should be lodged." + +"And there see the Canon Thurstan?" + +"Yea." + +Again Humphrey reflected. Then he said: "The ways of priests be many. +Mayhap I had known more of them, but in my forty years I have had to do +with other matters, like serving my lord and lady in troublous times. +The priest at the castle I did know, but not much of the ways of +priests in priests' houses. And now cometh the evening mist right +early. I will but make up the fire and then lead away the horses." + +The fire made, although it was not dark, Humphrey departed, leaving +Hugo to feed it. This the boy did generously, for he felt chilled. The +smoke did not rise high and the odor of it penetrated to some distance. + +In a little while Humphrey returned laden with a new supply of fuel +partly green and partly dry. He then spread out their evening meal, and +gave Fleetfoot his supper. And, all these things accomplished and the +supper eaten, he announced his intention to go again for fuel. + +"Have we not here enough?" asked Hugo. "Thou knowest we journey on in +the morning." + +"Mayhap," answered Humphrey. "I like not the look of this mist. My +grandsire hath told me of a mist that lay like a winding-sheet on +everything for two days, and this seemeth to me to be of that kind. It +were not wise to stir, mayhap, to-morrow morn." + +"Lest we encounter the other spy?" laughed Hugo. + +"Jest not, dear lad," replied Humphrey, soberly. "We may not know how +or whence danger cometh." + +"And dost thou fear, then?" asked Hugo. + +"Nay, I fear not. I cannot say I fear. But this moment a feeling hath +come to me which I had not before. I will away for more fuel." + +"I go with thee," said Hugo. + +"Ay, lad, come," was the reply. + +Two trips they made, each time returning heavily laden, and then Hugo +laughingly said, "Surely we have enough, even if the mist last two +days, for we had good store before thou didst look upon the mist with +suspicion." + +Humphrey smiled. "Yea, lad," he answered, "the fuel now seemeth +enough." + +While he spoke a wind sprang up and the mist grew lighter. It blew +harder, and the mist was gone. One might see the stars. Two hours this +lasted, during which Richard Wood and his men, as if guided, rode +straight for the small camp, picking their way with great good fortune +and making few missteps. Then the wind died down, the mist came back +enfolding everything, and the pursuers encamped where they were. But of +that Hugo and Humphrey knew nothing. + +It might have been two o'clock when the serving-man awoke with a shiver +and rose to renew the fire. He found it quite extinguished. As he felt +about in the darkness for his flint and steel he glanced anxiously +toward Hugo, though he could not see him. "I know not," he muttered, "I +know not. But I did dream of eagles and they did scream above our +heads. Some danger draweth near, or some heavy trouble." + +The fire now blazed, and the faithful serving-man saw that Hugo was +still asleep, resting as easily on his couch of reeds as he could have +done on the canon's bed. "It is a good lad," said Humphrey. "Were he a +De Aldithely he could not be better." + +Humphrey lay down no more that night. Restlessly he moved about, now +replenishing the fire, and now listening for some hostile sound. But he +heard nothing. + +It was late in the morning when Hugo awoke. "Surely this must be thy +grandsire's mist, Humphrey," he said. "It is heavy enough." + +"Yea," answered Humphrey, looking up from the breakfast he was +preparing. "It were best not to stir abroad to-day." + +And at that moment Richard Wood was saying: "I smell smoke within half +a mile of me. Ride we to see what that meaneth." Again, as if to aid +him, the wind sprang up so that through the lifting mist one might +easily pick his way, and Humphrey had just departed to look after the +horses when Richard Wood and his men-at-arms arrived at the camp. + +"Yield thee, Josceline De Aldithely!" commanded Richard Wood. "Yield +thee in the king's name!" and, dismounting, he laid his hand on the +astonished lad's arm. + +[Illustration: "Yield Thee in the King's Name"] + +A little later Humphrey, returning to the camp, paused in amazement, +for he heard voices. He crept around a fringe of reeds and peered, but +could not see clearly. He advanced further, still under cover, and then +he saw. + +"I did dream of eagles," he muttered, "and they did scream above our +heads." + +He listened, and from what he heard he learned that Hugo had not +revealed himself as Hugo, but that he allowed the spy to think him to +be Josceline. "Well did my lady trust in him!" exulted Humphrey. "And +my lord shall know of this when we be come to France, as we shall come, +though all the eagles in the fens do scream above our heads. And now I +will away to the Canon Thurstan, and see of what avail is the fish on +the circlet of gold." + +Creeping back as silently as he could, he mounted his horse and set out +for Peterborough. "May the spy and his men-at-arms be too weary to stir +till I come back," he said. "And if they be not weary, may the mist +come lower down and hold them. And now, horse, do thy best. Splash into +pools, wade, swim, do all but stick fast till we come to Peterborough +town." + +The horse, thus urged, did his sagacious best, and very shortly the +serving-man was knocking at the gate of the porter's lodge. Now +Humphrey knew nothing of how he ought to proceed. He only knew that he +was in haste and that his need was urgent. He therefore determined to +employ boldness and assurance, and push his way into the canon's +presence. + +"Canon Thurstan!" he cried boldly, attempting to push past the porter. +"Canon Thurstan, and at once! My lord demandeth it." + +"Thou mayest not push in past me thus," said the porter, stopping him. +"Hast thou no token to show?" + +"Yea, verily," answered Humphrey, hastily taking out his pouch and +producing the prior's ring. "Take this, and bid the canon see me +instantly." + +The porter, calling an attendant, sent the ring by him. And presently +an order came bidding Humphrey come into the presence of the canon. + +"Where is the prior's nephew?" asked the canon, with the ring in his +hand. + +"In the custody of knaves who did surprise our camp." + +"Knaves, sayest thou?" said the canon. "Wherefore hast thou a camp? +Wherefore lodgest thou not in towns? What doest thou wandering through +the fens?" + +"We be pursued," answered Humphrey. + +"Pursued? and by whom? Why, who should pursue the nephew of Roger +Aungerville?" + +"It is a king's man, and he hath with him three men-at-arms," answered +Humphrey. + +"A king's man, sayest thou? Nay, then, I meddle not in the king's +matters." And he made as if to hand back the ring. + +"And wilt thou not, then, aid me to rescue my young master?" + +"Nay," answered the canon. "I may not do such a thing except upon +compulsion. The dean is now absent, and I am in his place." + +Beside himself with impatience over what seemed to him needless delay, +and with disappointment over what seemed to promise failure altogether, +Humphrey cried out roughly: "Compulsion, sayest thou? Then, since 'tis +compulsion thou lackest, compulsion thou shalt have." And he laid hands +on him. + +At this two servants came running in. "Ye see," said the canon, turning +to them. "This is the ring of my friend, Roger Aungerville, prior of +St. Wilfrid's. It bindeth me to do all in reason for his nephew. This +is his nephew's servant, who hath come to me to seek my aid to rescue +his young master from the clutches of a king's man and three +men-at-arms. I tell him I may not do such a thing except upon +compulsion, and he layeth hands upon me." And he smiled upon them +whimsically. + +They understood the canon and his smile, and the first said: "If thou +be compelled to aid this fellow, were it not best that I call up +Herebald and Bernulf also? They be two, as thou knowest, swift of foot, +and long of wind, and strong of arm; and they have two good staves, +moreover." + +"Why," said the canon, whimsically, "it were doubtless wholly evil that +I should undergo compulsion in mine own domain by a strange +serving-man, and be compelled to render aid even against the king's +men. Still, since I be compelled to render aid, it were good to render +the best possible, and so take with ye Herebald and Bernulf; and spare +not for blows, so that ye bring off the young man safe." + +Then he handed the prior's ring to Humphrey, who returned it to its +pouch with great satisfaction. "I will ne'er say aught against a fish," +he thought, "when it surmounteth a circlet of gold and doth belong to a +prior. Methinks this canon liketh not the king nor his men, or he would +not be so easily compelled to go against them, and so all shall yet be +well with us." + +The two servants now withdrew from the canon's presence, taking +Humphrey with them, and, calling up Herebald and Bernulf, all four made +speed to depart with the impatient serving-man. + +"If the mist hold, we have them," said the first servant, as he rode +beside Humphrey. "And it be heavier now than it was two hours agone." + +"Ay, if we lose not our way," was the response. + +"That we cannot do with Herebald and Bernulf," was the confident +answer. "They were born and bred in these fens. And because they do +hate the king and all his men they will be swift on the track this +morn. If the king's man come not off with a broken pate, it will be a +wonder. And the same is like to be the fate of the three men-at-arms." + +The mist held, and, gleaming through it, as they neared the camp, they +saw the red fire. Cautiously they approached. Richard Wood and his +hungry men-at-arms had been making free with the packs so liberally +provided by Humphrey at Lincoln, and were now resting on the rushes, +with Hugo in their midst. They were in no mood to journey farther in +the dimness of the mist, and Richard Wood was putting question after +question to Hugo in the hope of eliciting some information which might +be valuable to him, while the men-at-arms listened. They were Le +Falconer's men, and they cared nothing for the fate of De Aldithely's +son. + +"Where hideth away thy mother?" asked Richard Wood. + +"Even in the tomb," answered Hugo, truthfully, for his mother was dead. + +For a moment Richard Wood was taken aback. "I had not heard of it," he +said at length. "I knew not that thy mother was dead. The king had +hoped to capture her also. But it seemeth death hath been beforehand +with him." + +And then the four servants of the canon, who had surrounded the little +group unseen, lifted their staves and struck as one man. Over rolled +Richard Wood and his three men-at-arms, stunned and unconscious. +Humphrey at once brought up Hugo's horse and Fleetfoot, and the +rescuers departed, leaving the four unconscious men to come to +themselves at their leisure. + +"Thou art to return to the hospitium," said the first servant to +Humphrey. "It is the canon's order. He will see this nephew of the +prior's and inquire more narrowly concerning his journey. And say thou +naught of this rescue to any man. We four do the canon's bidding at all +times, but our tongues wag not of the matter." + +"When the canon is compelled, thou doest his bidding?" asked Humphrey. + +"Ay, when he is compelled. He hath those of his kin who have suffered +wrong at the king's hands. Therefore is he often compelled, as thou +sayest, but he sayeth naught, and so the king knoweth naught. May he be +long ignorant." + +The first servant now withdrew himself from Humphrey's side, and in due +time, still under cover of the friendly mist which spread its curtain +over the streets of the town, the little party regained the hospitium +unseen. As soon as their arrival was known Hugo was summoned to the +presence of the canon; and the handsome, fearless youth, as he entered +the room where the canon awaited him, seemed to strike his host with +surprise. + +"Thou the nephew of Roger Aungerville!" he exclaimed, when they were +alone. "Thou shouldst be a De Aldithely." + +"I am Hugo Aungerville," answered the boy. And then, drawing nearer, he +half whispered something further to the canon, who seemed to find the +explanation satisfactory. + +"Why dost thou skulk and hide in this manner through the fens?" asked +the canon. "And why art thou pursued?" + +"I personate Josceline, son of Lord De Aldithely, and so draw pursuit +from him. When I am come to Lord De Aldithely in France, then I shall +make myself known, if need be." + +"There will be no need," said the canon, decidedly. "And now, though I +am glad to have succored the nephew of my friend, the prior, I am twice +glad to do a service to Lord De Aldithely. Thou hast my blessing. Go +now to thy rest, even though it be day. To-morrow morn I will send thee +forth, if it seem best." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + + +The king and his party rode on to Clipstone Palace. The attendant to +whom the spy had been consigned hastily summoned a bailiff, to whom he +made over his charge, and then galloped off to overtake the party. And +Walter Skinner, hardly understanding what had come to pass, was left +behind in Newark. + +The king had thought to spend a week of pleasure at Clipstone, but the +intelligence brought by the spy changed his plans. Of all his barons he +hated Lord De Aldithely most. He would have struck at him more quickly +and forcibly but for Lord De Aldithely's great popularity, and his own +somewhat cowardly fear. And now here was the son escaped. And suddenly +the evil temper of the king blazed forth so that his attendants, in so +far as they dared, shrank from him. + +The king waited not to reach Clipstone, but turning to two of his +attendants he said: "Go thou, De Skirlaw, and thou, De Kellaw, to De +Aldithely Castle. Put spurs to your horses and tarry not. See what is +come to pass and bring me word again." + +De Skirlaw and De Kellaw galloped off; and the king, shortly after +coming to Clipstone, entered his private apartments and excluded the +party from them. + +"There is treachery somewhere," he said to himself, aloud, "and the +guilty shall not escape me. Why, what is this Josceline but a boy of +fourteen? And what is his mother but a woman? And do they both bid +successful defiance to me, the king? I will have their castle down over +their heads, and no counsels shall longer prevent me from doing it. +Without the boy and his mother the father is sure aid to Louis. And +where De Aldithely goeth, there goeth victory." + +"Nay, not alway, my liege," responded a voice. + +The king started, and turned to see one of his courtiers, more bold +than the rest, who had quietly entered the chamber. + +"I knew not of thy presence, De Kirkham," he said. "What sayest thou?" + +"I say that victory is not alway with De Aldithely since he is a +fugitive and his son a wanderer, and his castle in thy power." + +"True. Thou sayest true," responded the king, after a pause. "Thou dost +ever bolster up my failing courage. And I will have this silly boy, if +the madman I did put in custody spake true. Yea, I will have him, +though I set half England on the chase. His father is my enemy. And +shall the son defy me? I will hale him to a dungeon, and so I tell +thee, De Kirkham." + +It was not a long ride to De Aldithely castle for those who need +neither skulk nor hide, and the messengers of the king were at Selby +ere nightfall. Here they determined to rest and go on the next morning. +They heard no news in the town; nor did they see anything until they +came to the castle itself. Birds of prey were screaming above the moat +near the postern, and there was a stillness about the place that would +have argued desertion if the flag had not still floated from one of the +towers. + +"I like not this stillness," said De Skirlaw. + +"It hath a menacing air," observed De Kellaw. + +A while the two waited in the outskirts of the wood near the cleared +place about the castle. Then said De Skirlaw, "I go forward boldly to +the bridge and summon the warder in the king's name." + +"I go with thee," agreed De Kellaw. + +So briskly the two rode forth from the shelter of the wood and up to +the entrance, where De Skirlaw loudly wound his horn. But there was no +response. He wound it again. And still there came no answer. + +"Seest thou no man upon the walls?" asked De Skirlaw, scanning the +heights with eyes somewhat near-sighted. + +"I see no one," responded the hawk-eyed De Kellaw. + +"Let us skirt the castle," proposed De Skirlaw, after a short pause. + +"I am ready," responded De Kellaw. + +Then together the two began their tour of examination. And the first +thing they noted was the dam which William Lorimer and his men had +constructed, and which the old warder had broken before he himself +wandered forth from the castle, thus letting the water which had filled +the rear part of the moat escape. From this point they rode back toward +the entrance and, looking down into the moat, saw that it was dry. +Turning again toward the postern, they noted the drawbridge there, and +wondered to see it down. "The postern gate is also ajar," observed De +Kellaw. The two now drew nearer and came even to the edge of the moat. +They looked in, but saw only bones and armor; for kites and eagles had +been at work, and nothing more remained of those who had perished there +in the waters. + +"Some strange thing hath happened here, and wind of it is not yet gone +abroad," said De Skirlaw. + +"Yea," agreed De Kellaw. "Darest thou venture across this bridge and in +at the postern gate?" + +"I dare," responded De Skirlaw. Dismounting, the two secured their +horses by stakes driven into the earth, and then, on foot, crossed the +bridge. + +Inside the baileys all was deserted. The stables were empty. No +footsteps but their own could be heard. No guard paced the walls. No +warder kept watch. There was only silence and emptiness in the great +hall, and no living creature was anywhere. + +"Here be a mystery," said De Skirlaw. "I will not be the one to try to +unravel it. Let us away to the king and say what we have seen." + +"Ay, and brave his wrath by so doing," returned De Kellaw; "for, since +he cannot lay hands on those that have disappointed him, he will lay +hands on us that bring him word of the matter. To be near to the king, +if thou be not a liar or a cajoler, is to stand in a dangerous place." + +"Yea," answered De Skirlaw, "thou art right; but we needs must return. +So let us set out." + +While the king raged, Walter Skinner, left behind at Newark in charge +of the bailiff, had speedily recovered his complacency. + +"I have seen the king and spoken with him," he thought. "True, he did +laugh right insultingly in my face, but that may be the way of kings; +and even so will I laugh in the face of Richard Wood when next I see +him, for he hath no hope of preferment and seeketh only his money +reward. Therefore is he a base cur and fit only to be laughed to +scorn." + +When the scullions served him his dinner in the room where he was held +prisoner, he looked upon them haughtily, and bade them mind what they +did and how they did it. "For I shall not alway be served here by such +as ye," he said. + +"Nay, verily," replied the first scullion, "thou sayest true. Thou art +more like to be served in one of the dungeons, if so be thou be served +at all." + +"Why, what meanest thou by that last, sirrah?" demanded the little man, +strutting up and down and frowning. + +"I did but mean that thou mayest shortly journey to that land where +there is neither eating nor drinking," was the reply. + +"Thou meanest that I may shortly die?" asked Walter Skinner, +contemptuously. + +"Yea," was the answer. + +"Why, so must thou. So must Richard Wood. So must the king himself," +said Walter Skinner. "But thou hast learned here so near the court to +speak Norman fashion, and go round about the matter; and so thou +speakest of journeys, and a land where there is neither eating nor +drinking. Moreover, thou didst speak of dungeons. I would have thee +know that they be no fit subjects of conversation in my presence. Have +I not served the king? And shall I not therefore have preferment? Speak +not of dungeons, and the country where there is neither eating nor +drinking to me." And, seating himself, the pompous little man began to +eat his dinner heartily. When he had finished, the first scullion came +alone to take away the dishes. + +"Thou art a very big little fool," he said, with a compassionate +glance, "and so I bid thee prepare thyself for any fate. Thou must know +that what thou saidst to the king did anger him. Thou didst bring him +ill news, and the bearer of ill news he will punish." + +Walter Skinner now showed some alarm; but he soon recovered himself. +"Why, how now, sirrah?" he said. "I did not bid the young lord +Josceline flee; but when he did flee I did give chase. And wherefore +should I be punished for that? Had I remained in the tree near the +castle, then indeed the king had had cause for anger." + +The scullion still looked at him pityingly. "By thine own showing," he +said, "thou art but the king's spy, hired by Sir Thomas De Lany, no +doubt. Spies have not preferment when their task is done, because, +though the king doth take their work, he hateth them that perform it." + +And now Walter Skinner stared in bewilderment. "Thou art but a +scullion," he said at last. "And how knowest thou of Sir Thomas?" + +"I am not what I seem," replied the scullion. "Wert thou sound in thy +wits I would have said naught to thee, because then thou wouldst not +have been here; but I like not to see one infirm of intellect run into +calamity." + +"And dost thou say of me that I be not sound in my wits?" demanded +Walter Skinner, indignantly. + +"Why, thou art either unsound of wit or a knave," was the calm +response. "Only fool or knave doeth dirty work for another, even though +that other be the king. And now, if thou wilt escape, I will help thee +to it." + +"I have had great toils," said Walter Skinner, with a manner which +would have been ponderous in a man twice his size. "I have met a +hedgehog. I have lost two horses. I have been planted in the mire like +a rush. I have now come hither on a wind-broken and spring-halt horse, +for which I did pay a price to a thief. And now thou sayest that for +all this which I have undergone in the service of the king I shall have +not preferment but a dungeon or death." + +"Yea," was the calm rejoinder, "I say it; for where is the young lord? +Knowest thou?" + +"Nay," answered Walter Skinner, slowly. + +"That is all that the king careth for of thee. That thou hast let him +escape thee is all that he will note. And thy life will, mayhap, answer +for it. All will depend on the greatness of his rage." + +The little man looked in fright at the scullion, whom even his +inexperienced eyes could now see was no scullion as he stood there in +dignity awaiting the decision of the prisoner. "I will go with thee," +he said, in a tremble. "But do I go on the wind-broken and spring-halt +Black Tom of Lincoln?" + +"That, Black Tom of Lincoln!" cried the mysterious scullion, laughing. +"Thou hast once more been made a fool of. I have many times seen Black +Tom. But thou shalt not go on the beast thou camest on. I will furnish +thee another, for it must seem that thou didst escape on foot. Seek no +more for the young lord. Flee into hiding and remain there. Dost thou +promise me so to do?" + +"Yea," was the prompt answer. "I promise." + +He in the disguise of the scullion smiled, and bidding Walter Skinner +follow him, led the way by secret passages until they came out unseen +into a small court, where stood a horse ready saddled and bridled. The +little man's guide bade him mount, and, opening a small door in the +wall, motioned him to ride through it and away. + +"My liege, the king," he said, as he watched the spy making all speed +on his way, "thou wilt learn nothing of the flight of Josceline De +Aldithely from thy late prisoner. And may confusion wait on all thy +plans." + +Walter Skinner had been gone over night, and the second day of his +flight was well begun when the king, impatient over the slowness of De +Skirlaw and De Kellaw, sent from Clipstone to Newark to have the spy +brought before him. In haste the bailiff went to the room where he had +placed him, and no prisoner was there. No prisoner was anywhere in the +castle or in the town, as the frightened officer discovered after a +diligent search. Only the afflicted horse upon which he had arrived +remained in one of the stables. And with this word the unfortunate +officer hastened on his way to the king. Near the gate, as he went out +of Newark, he met one of the courtiers who bore a strong resemblance to +him who had, in the guise of a scullion, set Walter Skinner at liberty. +"Thou art frightened, worthy bailiff," he said. "But do thou only put a +brave front on it and all may yet go well. Be careful to say and ever +repeat that the man was mad, and not only mad, but cunning, and so hath +made off, leaving his horse behind him." + +The bailiff responded with a grateful look. "Thou art ever kind, my +lord," he said. "And mayhap the man is dead. If he knew not the way, he +may be dead, or caught by robbers. I will say that he may be dead also, +and I hope he may be." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + + +On the morning when Hugo and Humphrey were to start, the canon summoned +them to his presence, and his face was grave. "I have but now learned," +he said, "that the king is at Clipstone Palace. When the knaves thou +didst leave stunned in the fen discover it also, they will at once +repair thither, and that maketh a new complication of troubles. Let us +consult together. I include the serving-man because he is such a +valiant compeller." And the canon, forgetting his gravity, laughed +heartily. And again he laughed. Then he grew grave again. "Pardon me," +he said to Hugo; "but one may laugh so seldom in these troublous times. +And erstwhile I was fond of laughing, and glad to have a merry heart. +Now merry hearts be few in England, for they who have not already +grief, have anxiety and dread for their portion." He paused and then +went on: "The same hand that did send me news of the king's +neighborhood did add something more thereto. A fierce little +swaggering, strutting man did come upon the king at Newark and did tell +him that Josceline, meaning thee, had fled, and that he had been +pursuing thee. Didst thou know of it?" + +"Yea," replied Hugo, with a smile. Then turning to the serving-man he +said, "Humphrey, since the canon loveth to be merry, tell thou him of +the hedgehog and the Isle of Axholme." + +Humphrey did as he was requested, and was amply rewarded by the +appreciation of his listener. "I see thou art worth a troop, my good +Humphrey," he said, when the serving-man had finished. "Lady De +Aldithely did well to trust thee with this lad. But now to my news once +more. The king, in his wrath, will scour the country roundabout, and +thou mayest not escape from him as thou didst from thine other +pursuers. What dost thou elect to do?" And he looked at Hugo. + +Hugo considered, and as he considered he grew pale. "I know not," he +said at last. "It seemeth not safe to move." + +"True," returned the canon. "Nor is it safe to remain here. The king +respecteth no religious foundation. And when these stunned knaves in +the fen make report to him, it will be known that thou wert seen close +to Peterborough, and not an inch of the town will be left unsearched. I +would my friend at Newark--but nay, I must not speak of that." + +There was a brief silence, and Humphrey's was the most anxious face in +the room. Not for himself did he feel anxiety, but for Hugo. If the +canon hardly knew what to do, how could he hope to succeed in +protecting the lad? + +The canon was the first to speak. "If it can be done," he said, "the +knaves in the fen must be kept from the king. I will have in to our +conference Herebald and Bernulf." And rising, he summoned them. + +They came in very promptly, and stood with cheerful faces before their +master. "I know thee, Herebald; I know thee, Bernulf," said the canon, +shaking his head at them in pretended reproof. "Ye be sad knaves both. +What! would ye leave the monastery and go forth into the fen on ponies +and armed with your staves? And would ye seek out once more the knaves +ye did stun, and try to lead them astray, even down into the Broads? +And all to keep them from the king?" + +The two servants grinned. + +"And would ye make believe to be on the trail of Hugo and Humphrey +here? And would ye lead them far from the trail? I see that ye would, +knaves that ye are. I have discovered ye. And there is no restraining +ye when once ye have set your minds upon a thing. Therefore get ye gone +to the fen. No man can say that I did send ye thither. And here be +coins for ye both, which, no doubt, ye will deserve later, if not now." + +The two joyfully withdrew and shortly afterward were in the streets of +the town jogging slowly along as if bent on a most unwelcome journey. +"See the Saxon sluggards!" commented a bystander. "Naught do they do +but eat, unless compelled." + +But once outside the town, the ponies were put to a good pace as the +two hastened eagerly into the fen to trace, if they might, Richard Wood +and his men-at-arms. The camp where they had come up with them before +was deserted, and Herebald and Bernulf now had for their task the +discovery of the direction the party had taken. Had they not been +fen-men they might not have succeeded. But by night they felt that they +were really on their trail. They had passed Peterborough and continued +on to the south, evidently going slowly, as became broken heads; and +Herebald and Bernulf came up with them by the side of Whittlesea Mere +early on the following day. As they came into view Richard Wood +evidently regarded the two Saxons with suspicion; but the men-at-arms +looked at them with nothing but indifference. + +Herebald and Bernulf appeared not to notice; but, withdrawing to a +little distance, seemed to confer together and examine narrowly the +leaves and twigs and rushes to see if they were bent or broken by the +passage of a recent traveller. As they went earnestly about on all +sides of the camp at the Mere, and keeping ever in sight of it, the +curiosity of Richard Wood overcame his suspicion, and he beckoned them +to approach. His summons they at first seemed inclined to disregard, +but, as he continued beckoning, they at last went toward him with +apparent reluctance. + +[Illustration: Richard Wood Beckoned the Saxons to Approach] + +"What seek ye?" demanded Richard Wood. + +The two Saxons kept silence, but exchanged a crafty look, as if to say +that they were not to be caught so easily. + +"What seek ye?" repeated the spy. + +"Hast thou seen aught of two runaways?" asked Herebald, gruffly. "Even +a young lord who hath to his serving-man a Saxon?" + +Then Richard Wood himself looked crafty. He did not like finding other +pursuers so near him who might claim part of the reward, at least, when +the search was successfully ended. But reflection came to his aid and +told him that these Saxons were ignorant hinds who might be made useful +on the search, and afterward cheated of their share of the reward. So +he said, "Ye be fen-men, I know, or ye would not look so narrowly for a +trail nor would ye find it. Which way do ye go?" And he looked at them +keenly. + +"Through the Broads toward Yarmouth," answered Herebald, slowly, after +a short pause, and speaking in a surly tone. + +"And wherefore?" demanded Richard Wood. + +"There is shipping to be got to France from thence, is there not?" + +"Yea, verily," cried Richard Wood. "It had not before entered my mind. +Thinkest thou they have gone thither?" + +Herebald frowned. "Thou art too ready with thy questions," he growled. +"But this I will say, we go thither." + +"Then we go with thee," said Richard Wood, firmly. "The way is open to +us as well as to thee, and thou mayest not gainsay it." + +"Oh, ay," returned Herebald, indifferently. + +All that day Richard Wood kept a sharp eye on his new acquaintances. +"Watch them narrowly," he said to his men. "They will seek to make this +catch without us and so obtain the reward. Therefore all that ye see +them do, do ye likewise, and I will also do the same." + +Herebald and Bernulf saw and understood, and laughed together unseen. +"They have not good wit, or they would not be so led by us when we be +strangers," observed Herebald. + +"It is ever thus with knaves," said Bernulf. "Though they seem sharp, +there is a place where they be dull, and an honest man can often find +it, and so outwit them." + +Then they turned back to Richard Wood and his companions. "Go ye slowly +and softly," growled Herebald. "Ye go lunging and splashing so that ye +may be heard a long way off. Moreover, ye have scared up all the +water-fowl hereabouts, and they go screaming over our heads. What think +ye? If there be travellers near will they not hide close in the reeds +till ye and your noise be past?" + +At this rebuke Richard Wood drew rein suddenly and gazed sharply about +him on all sides. Then he said, "Your caution shall be obeyed." And he +gave the command to his followers to be careful. + +Herebald now returned to the side of Bernulf, and the two, gazing with +mirthful eyes into each other's faces, separated themselves a little +distance and pretended to examine the way narrowly. It was not for +nothing that they had served the merry Canon Thurstan for seven years. + +That night, when all the camp was still, Bernulf slipped quietly forth +in the darkness. He was gone three hours, and in that time he blazed +such a trail as a madman might have taken. A bit of every fringe of +rush or reed he came to he broke; and he stamped with his foot in the +slimy mud on the edges of ponds and pools. "These fools," said he, +"know naught of the fens or the Broads, and they will believe all that +they see; for the broken bits and the footprints will speak to them of +the young lord and his serving-man, and they will listen and hasten on. +It is easy to lead a fool a chase." + +The next morning Richard Wood was early awake, and, while all the rest +were apparently asleep, he, in his turn, stole forth to look about him. +"I trust not these knave Saxons entirely," he said to himself. "Though +we all ride together now, they will seek to outwit us at the end, and +gain the reward for themselves." + +He had not gone far when he came upon the evidences of a recent passage +along that way, and, in great excitement, he returned to the camp and +roused up his followers, and, incidentally, the two Saxons. "Lie not +here sleeping," he said, "when we be close on the trail. Let us be off +speedily!" His men rose eagerly, and the Saxons also seemed to be +stirred up at his words. And very soon, after half a breakfast, they +all mounted and rode off, Richard Wood keeping in the advance. Soon he +struck the trail blazed the night before by Bernulf, and eagerly he +followed it, though he was obliged to do so slowly; for the trail went +on ahead for three miles, then doubled, then zigzagged, then went +straight east three miles, and bent round till it went due west again. + +"The young lord is lost," declared Richard Wood, positively, "else +would he never ride such a crazy track as this." + +At last, when it was too late to travel further that day, the track +turned eastward again, and the party went into camp for the night about +one mile from where they had camped the night before. But to Richard +Wood it seemed that they must be at least ten miles advanced on their +way, for, to him, all the marsh looked the same. + +"Did I not do well, Herebald?" asked Bernulf. "Here have we kept them +busy in the marsh for a whole day, and that giveth the lad with the +canon so much the better a start." + +"Yea," said Herebald. "To-night rest thou, and I will start the trail +for them to-morrow." + +Accordingly, as soon as the weary Richard Wood and his men had sunk +into a heavy sleep, which they did almost as soon as they lay down, +Herebald set out. He was extremely swift of foot and knew the region +well. He was gone four hours. "The knave king's man and his followers +will sleep soundly to-morrow night also if they follow my trail," he +said, when he had returned and lay down. + +The next morning a late awakening of the men gave a late start. The +enthusiasm of the day before was gone; but it came back when Richard +Wood, riding in advance, struck the trail once more. This was more +difficult to follow than the one of the day before. It led through +places where the party almost mired, but not quite; through places +where the horses splashed heavily along, scaring the water-fowl up in +all directions; through patches of reeds; through tangles of tough +grass; through shallow water; through deep water; and ever on with few +seeming deviations. But the course was much slower than that of the day +before, and that had been slow enough. + +Night came and the fagged party in disappointment once more lay down. + +"Thou hast done well, Herebald," said Bernulf. "To-night it is my turn. +But think ye not it were better now to lead straight on to Yarmouth?" + +"Yea," answered Herebald. + +"It seemeth to me that it were best to put them there to search the +town. What thinkest thou?" + +"Even as thou thinkest," returned Herebald, grinning. + +"And then," continued Bernulf, "methinks it would be seemly to entice +them aboard a fishing-vessel and ship them off for France, and so be +rid of them." + +"Yea," agreed Herebald. "I would all the knaves in England were shipped +off to France, and it were a good beginning to ship these four." + +Another morning dawned, and slowly and heavily the men arose. Such +weary days followed by nights spent in the marsh had sapped their +energy. For the first time the men-at-arms looked sullen, and one went +to Richard Wood and spoke for all. "We be neither fish nor water-fowl," +he said, "to spend our days in the marsh. We go this one day more with +thee; then, if we come not out of the marsh and into the town of +Yarmouth, we leave thee and return to our master." + +The heavy-eyed Richard Wood counselled patience. "Would ye have these +Saxon knaves get the better of us just when the quarry is all but run +to earth? They be not so weary as we, and a plague upon their +endurance. If ye stand not by me, the game is lost." + +But the man-at-arms answered sullenly: "I have said. Lead us out of +this vile marsh." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + + +"And now," said the canon, when Herebald and Bernulf had gone, "thou +mayest remain no longer here. It is too near the king, and moreover, +delay taketh thee not forward toward France. Since thou knowest not +what to do, Hugo, I will plan for thee. And first, thou must leave here +with me thy dog, Fleetfoot." + +Hugo opened his mouth to object, seeing which the canon at once +continued, "Nay, do not speak. It must be done. Thee I can disguise and +thy man Humphrey I can disguise, but what disguise availeth for thy +dog? To take Fleetfoot is to endanger thy life unnecessarily. Shouldst +thou take him, even if thou didst win safely through, which is a very +doubtful thing, thou wouldst find him but an unwelcome encumbrance to +Lord De Aldithely. Leave the dog, therefore, with me, and I will care +for him." + +Hugo reflected. Then he looked up into the canon's face, and he saw +that, though he might have a merry heart, he had also a determined +will. He yielded, therefore, and consented to leave Fleetfoot behind. +At this decision the canon smiled well satisfied, and Humphrey's face +also showed the relief he felt at being rid of the dog's company. + +"And next," continued the canon, "I counsel thee to go no more through +the fens, for there will they seek for thee. Thou hast gone skulking +and hiding so far on thy course, and they that pursue thee will be too +dull to think that thou mayest change. The time is come for thee to +proceed boldly and on the highway. I will send thee first to Oundle, +which lieth southwest from hence, and with a token I will procure thee +safe lodging there. From thence I can do no more for thee till thou +come to St. Albans, twenty miles away from London. But from Oundle thou +must take thy course still southwest till thou come to the Watling +Street. Then follow that southeast down to St. Albans. And in this +jaunt Humphrey must lead, and thou must follow; for I shall make of +Humphrey a priest, and of thee a novice." + +He ceased, and there was no reply to what he had said. Both Hugo and +Humphrey would have preferred to ride clad as they were, and to choose +their own route and stopping-places. But they were sensible of how much +they already owed the canon, and dangers were now so thick about them +that they feared to refuse to do as he bade them. Therefore they +permitted themselves to be properly robed, and took meekly the +instructions he gave them as to their speech and manner of behaviour. + +"This I do not for thee only, but for my friend, Roger Aungerville, and +for the brave Lord De Aldithely," he said in parting from them. "Forget +not to call me to their minds when thou dost meet them, and say that I +be ever ready to serve them as best I may." + +Hugo promised, and thanked the canon on the part of himself and +Humphrey for the cheer and aid they had received at his hands; and, +with a heavy heart, rode away behind the serving-man, who was now +turned into a priest. He thought not on the dangers of the way, but on +Fleetfoot, left at Peterborough. + +"Fret not, dear lad," said Humphrey. "In the king's dungeon there would +be no room for Fleetfoot, and mayhap he would be put to death. Now is +he in good hands, even in the merry-hearted canon's hands, and no evil +will befall him. He hath such a care to please thine uncle and my lord +that he will look well to thy dog." + +By nightfall the two were safely lodged at Oundle. + +"Ye be safe," said the priest of the parish when he had received them. +"Here will no man seek for ye this night, and, on the morrow, ye shall +speed away. I may not suffer ye to tarry longer." + +Meanwhile the unlucky bailiff had proceeded to Clipstone with the news +that Walter Skinner was fled, and no man knew what had become of him. +He had just delivered it and the king was still in his rage when De +Skirlaw and De Kellaw arrived. "Admit them," he gave order. "I will +hear what hath come to pass there. Mayhap the castle hath stolen away, +even as this prisoner hath done." + +As De Skirlaw and De Kellaw entered, the king, scanning their faces, +read that they bore him no welcome news, and his rage broke out afresh. +"What land is this that I be king of?" he exclaimed. "A land of rebels +and disobedience. A land of dull skies and duller fortunes. What saw ye +that ye come before me with glum faces and serious looks? Speak, if ye +can. Is the castle gone?" + +"Nay, Your Majesty," said De Skirlaw. "The castle we found, but--" + +"Ye mean that the prisoner spake true," burst out the king, "and that +the young lord is escaped?" + +"Yea," answered De Skirlaw. "No human being inhabiteth the castle. And +in the moat at the rear kites and eagles have fed." + +"What mean ye? What hath chanced there?" + +"Your Majesty, no man knoweth," was the answer. + +"But there be only bones and armor in the dry moat, and no living thing +in the castle." + +For a little the king stared straight before him. Then he said, "Bring +the rascal bailiff before me." + +With haste the unhappy officer was brought. + +"Wretch!" broke out the king. "Go find me the prisoner that thou hast +let escape thee. If thou find him not, thy life shall answer for it." +In great fear the bailiff retired from the royal presence, and the king +went on as if to himself: "Mayhap he knew what hath chanced. Mayhap he +knoweth now the whereabouts of the young lord." + +As the bailiff reentered Newark he met again the courtier by the gate. +"What news, worthy bailiff?" he asked. + +"Why, this," answered the bailiff, in despair. "The prisoner must be +found or my life is forfeit. And I know not where to look." + +The courtier kept silence for a few moments. "The prisoner must not be +found," he thought, "or mayhap the young lord, Josceline De Aldithely, +will be undone; and for the friendship I do bear his father, this may +not be. But neither must the worthy bailiff die." Then he spoke. + +"Worthy bailiff," he said, "what is done cannot be undone. The prisoner +is gone, no man knoweth whither. Thy only hope is in flight. And to +that, seeing thou art a worthy man, I will help thee. Go thou +apparently to seek for the prisoner, but flee for thy life, and tell me +not where. Thou knowest a place of safety, I warrant thee." + +"Yea," replied the bailiff, after a little thought, "I know." + +"Proceed, then, with thine helpers to the search for the prisoner; +contrive shortly to give them the slip, and thou art saved. I will do +what I can in baffling pursuit of thee. For this our king is, as thou +knowest, a tyrant who, though he greatly feareth death for himself, +doth not hesitate to measure it out to us his subjects. Therefore are +we bound to help each other. When thou canst protect another, do so; +and so farewell." Speaking in these general terms he not only gained +from the bailiff a belief in his own benevolence, but effectually +concealed from him the real reason of his helping him, which was to +protect, so far as possible, the young Josceline De Aldithely. + +"It is well for a lad when his father hath many friends," mused the +courtier. "For then, even the malice and hatred of the king may be +foiled. I will now away to Clipstone and see what passeth there." And, +summoning two attendants, he set out. + +Upon arriving, he found but a gloomy air about the place. The king's +rage was not yet spent and no man knew upon whom he would take occasion +to visit his displeasure. But the courtier who, in the guise of a +scullion, had himself set the prisoner free, moved calmly about, and +alone of all seemed to feel no anxiety. Toward nightfall the word was +whispered about that, on the morrow, the king would himself proceed +with a party to De Aldithely castle. + +The morrow came and at an early hour there was everywhere bustle and +confusion, for all that the royal party would need for their brief +absence from Clipstone must be taken with them: food, dishes, bedding, +and servants. + +At length all was ready and the train set out. It was a gloomy ride, +for the king's temper was not yet recovered and no man ventured to say +aught in his presence. + +Leaving the baggage and servants far in the rear, the impatient king +with his attendants rode on and on until they came to Cawood castle +beyond Selby and but a few miles distant from De Aldithely castle. Here +the king stopped for the night, and the servants and baggage not having +yet come up, his temper was not improved by the lack of their service. +It was a great castle to which he had come, being one of the largest +and strongest in the north of England. + +"And Cawood shall have no more for a neighbor the castle of De +Aldithely," said the king the next morning, when, after a somewhat +uncomfortable night owing to the late arrival of the servants, he rode +forth from its gate on his way to the home of the great and popular +baron. + +Artisans from Selby who had been sent by the king's order, were already +on their way thither also. And these having risen very early and made +good speed, John found already arrived when he himself appeared. But no +one had ventured to set foot within the walls without the royal word. + +As John drew near, he looked upon the castle in scowling silence. Still +in silence he rode to the edge of the moat and looked down. And there +he saw the armor and the bones as De Skirlaw had said. An attendant now +spoke to him, and he nodded his head in assent. At once three of the +artisans were hurried across the postern bridge and through the gate +with instructions to hasten to the front entrance and let down the +bridge and open the great gate for the king. + +[Illustration: He rode to the edge of the moat and looked down] + +Still speaking no word the monarch rode to the great gate, crossed the +bridge, and entered, and once within the outer bailey, looked about +him. He rode into the inner bailey, and, dismounting, began a personal +examination of the castle; and as he proceeded his frown grew blacker +and blacker, for everywhere he saw evidences of premeditated and +deliberate flight. The treasure chests were empty, and everything of +value removed. + +At last he spoke. "What hath chanced here I know not," he said. "But +this I know, these traitor walls shall stand no longer. Bid the +artisans in to begin their destruction." Then turning to De Skirlaw he +added: "Go thou to the moat and examine the armor. See, if thou canst, +to what troop it belongeth." + +But before De Skirlaw could execute this commission there appeared upon +the scene two men-at-arms from Hubert le Falconer, in search of certain +of their companions, and they were at once brought before the king. To +him they related how, for a certain sum, a certain knight in the +service of the king had hired them to assist him in entering the +castle, through the treachery of one Robert Sadler, and in carrying off +the young lord, Josceline De Aldithely, to the direct custody of the +king. + +"And this knight was--" interrupted John. + +"Sir Thomas De Lany," said the man-at-arms. + +"Came thy companions to the castle here?" demanded the king. + +"Yea, Your Majesty, some ten days now agone. My master having need of +them hath sent us to call them to him again." + +"It is a call they will not answer," said John. "Nor will the brave +knight, Sir Thomas De Lany, answer to my call. De Kirkham, take these +men-at-arms to view the moat by the postern. Now know we who sleep +there. Could we but know the whereabouts of the wife of this traitor, +De Aldithely, and the whereabouts of his son, we were better satisfied. +And now depart we from this place. Raze the walls. Let not one stone +remain upon another. + +"And thou, De Skirlaw, and thou, De Kellaw, haste ye both to Newark and +see if the rascal bailiff hath yet found the prisoner. He can speak if +he will, and he must be found." + +With feigned zeal the two set out, but, once beyond the view of the +king, their fiery pace lagged to a slow one as they rode toward Selby, +where they were determined to halt for a night's rest. "I care not if +the prisoner be not found," said De Kellaw. "I be tired of this +tyranny; this imprisoning and slaying of children taken as hostages +from their fathers; this razing of castles. John will not be king +forever, and it behooveth us not to make ourselves odious to all men by +helping him to his desires too much. I haste not on this enterprise, +and so I tell thee." + +"Nor I neither," declared De Skirlaw. + +The king now set out on his return to Cawood, from whence, on the +morrow, he would go on to Clipstone again. + +"Yea, and I will go even to Newark," he said to himself as he rode +along. "I will be at hand to put heart into this search, which seemeth +to lag. But have the prisoner I will; and when I have found him, I will +open his mouth for him to some purpose." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + + +To the great joy of Richard Wood, the way seemed to lead across the +wide, flat, marshy country straight in the direction of Yarmouth. "If +the young lord and his serving-man be as weary of the marsh as I and my +companions be," he said, "they have gone directly out of it to +Yarmouth, and there shall we catch them." + +But though the way seemed not to deviate in direction, that of the day +before was easy in comparison with it. + +"Were I but journeying through this vile stretch of country I could +pick a better course," grumbled Richard Wood as he went forward. "But +being on chase of these two, I must even be content to follow. Behold +me now when the day is but half gone, slopped with water and besplashed +with mud till no man may know the color of my garments. It must be that +the young lord hath small wit to take such a course. Or mayhap he +looketh more behind him than before as he rideth, fearing pursuit." + +And now they were come to the Yare; and it seemed that they would be +obliged to swim across it. "Never swam I in my life," declared Richard +Wood, "and I will not now begin." + +"Canst thou not swim on thy horse's back?" demanded one of the +men-at-arms, impatiently. + +"Ay; but how if the beast goeth down in the stream?" said Richard Wood. +"I tell thee, I fear water." + +Then came one of the Saxons to the rescue. "Near here dwelleth a fen-man," +he said, "and he hath a boat. I will e'en call him to take thee +over, and thou canst let thy horse swim." + +Upon hearing this all three of the weary men-at-arms clamored for +places in the boat which Herebald, after a conference with Bernulf, +promised them. + +"Hearest thou not, Herebald," said Bernulf, "that the king's man +feareth the water? We must put him and his men across softly and +bolster up their valor, else shall we fail to entice them aboard the +fishing-vessel, and so fail to ship them off to France; and thus +England is so much the worse off by having still here the vile knaves." + +"Yea, Bernulf, thou art right," was the answer. "And surely we have led +them through toils enough, for they be weary to fainting. This it is +for a vile spy to go round the country with some lumbering men-at-arms, +seeking to entrap a poor young lad to his destruction." + +"Yea," replied Bernulf; "but thou hast left out one thing. Thou +shouldst have said, 'This it is when two Saxons get him and them in the +toils.' They had not been one-half so weary without us. Do but remember +that." + +"Ay," agreed Herebald. "I do think we have some blame for their aching +bones; but they can rest when they be tossing on that good old North +Sea, for I promise them it will take more than a load of herring to +hold the ship steady." + +All this time Richard Wood and his men were impatiently waiting. "Why +tarry ye so long?" called the spy in a loud voice, as he looked in +their direction. + +"We did but talk of what 'twere best to do and a few other matters," +replied Herebald, advancing. "And we think we may promise places to ye +all in the boat. Run, Bernulf; make speed and bring the man and his +boat." + +Away went Bernulf, leaping lightly across a pool here, picking his way +skilfully over long grass and among reeds there, to the amazement of +Richard Wood, who watched. "I would my horse had but the nimbleness and +speed of the knave's legs," he said. "But our toils be almost over, and +so I complain not. I make no doubt we lay hold of the young lord and +the serving-man in Yarmouth." + +At this Herebald looked sceptical. + +"What meanest thou by that look?" asked Richard Wood. + +"Why, nothing," returned Herebald. "Only I did call to mind that there +be many fishing-vessels in the harbor." + +"And what hath that to do with it?" asked Richard Wood. + +"And through the North Sea one may go to France." + +"Why, thou didst say that long ago when we were toiling through the +marsh. Thinkest thou I shall forget to search the ships when I have +searched the town? I forget not so easily, I promise thee." + +The fen-man seemed not to be readily persuaded to bring his boat, for +an hour elapsed before he was seen rowing toward them with Bernulf +lolling lazily in the stern. + +At last he reached the little party, and Richard Wood and his men were +safely embarked. Then the two Saxons, mounting their ponies, directed +them into the stream, and they were off, the fen-man glancing curiously +every now and then at his passengers. He made no remarks, however, but +managed his boat so skilfully that Richard Wood hardly realized that he +was on the water, and, in due time, found himself set ashore with his +men on the other side. + +"And yonder be Yarmouth," said Herebald, cheerfully. "We come to it +surely by set of sun." + +There was no more marks of passage before them, and Richard Wood, +picking his own path, travelled more easily than he had before, and had +also to help him an enlarged appreciation of his own powers, to which +he speedily added a large increase of hope that now the end of his +troubles had come. He therefore went forward with renewed animation, +and when, at set of sun, he stopped before a little Yarmouth inn, he +was well satisfied with himself. + +"Do ye also lodge here?" he asked the Saxons. + +Herebald affected to be uncertain. + +"Surely it were better that ye do so," urged Richard Wood, "that we may +search the town and the ships together on the morrow." + +"Nay," put in Bernulf. "We lodge not here. I do know a cheaper place; +and we be not Normans that we have money to waste." + +Richard Wood frowned. "Speak not against the Normans," he said. "The +king is a Norman." + +"Oh, ay," answered Bernulf, indifferently. And then he added with +determination in his tone, "We lodge not here." + +Herebald now drew Richard Wood aside. + +"Heed him not," he said, "lest he turn surly on our hands and get us +into trouble. I will go with him elsewhere to lodge, and to-morrow morn +will I bring him back to help thee on thy search." + +"Thou art not so sad a knave as he," returned Richard Wood, "and I +thank thee. See that ye both come, and that right early." + +Herebald reiterated his promise to do so, and then went away with +Bernulf, while Richard Wood followed his men into the bar, where they +were already drinking. + +"What meanest thou, Bernulf? Why wouldst thou not lodge here?" asked +Herebald as they rode along. + +"Why, this, Herebald," was the answer. "We have much to do ere we go to +rest. We must find the ship that is loaded and ready to weigh anchor +to-morrow toward noon when the wind and tide will serve. And we must +bespeak the help of the captain to get these knaves aboard." + +"True, Bernulf," responded Herebald. "Thou hast a wit that would match +with the canon's." + +"Yea, I be not so dull as some Normans, though I be counted but a +slow-witted Saxon," returned Bernulf, with complacency. "And now let us +first to our supper and the putting away of the ponies, and then do we +take boat and visit the ships." + +They found an inn suited to their tastes in one of the Rows, and before +the dark had really come down over the harbor they were out on a tour +of the ships. The tour, however, was destined to be a short one, since +the second ship they visited proved to have among her sailors two men +that they knew. And, moreover, they discovered the captain to be one +Eric, whose mother was cousin to Bernulf's father. + +"Here have we luck," said Bernulf. "To Eric may I speak freely." + +"Yea, verily," answered Herebald. "And she is loaded with herring also +and saileth on the morrow toward noon. Go, then, and speak freely, as +thou sayest." + +Bernulf did so; and the Captain Eric entered heartily into his plans as +Bernulf laid them before him. "The loons!" he exclaimed with a hearty +laugh, as he heard of the journey through the fens. "The witless geese! +And thou hast not once told them that the young lord and his serving-man +came in this direction?" + +"Nay, not once. We did but break branches, and make tracks on the edges +of the pools, and ruffle the long grass, and they did read for +themselves that those they sought were just ahead of them. We have hope +that the young lord be, by this time, well and safely sped on his +journey." + +"Ay, and by to-morrow at this time will his pursuers be upon their +journey," said Eric. "I am to refuse to let them come aboard, sayest +thou, until they demand permission in the king's name? And then the +moment they be down the companionway I am to hoist the anchor and be +off?" + +"Yea," answered Bernulf, "that is it." + +"So be it," returned Eric. "And it is a small thing to do for a kinsman +also moreover." + +"And now go we ashore," said Bernulf. "To-morrow morn we aid the king's +spy to search the town. He will have a merry run up and down the Rows, +he and his men." And, with a hearty farewell to the skipper, Herebald +and Bernulf climbed down the side of the vessel to their little boat +gently rocking alongside. + +"The business in hand hath an early end when luck goeth with a man," +observed Bernulf, with satisfaction. + +"Yea," responded Herebald. "And luck most often goeth with the man that +hath good wit of his own." + +Their strong arms made light of the short distance they had to row, and +they were soon back at the little inn and at rest. + +As for Richard Wood, weary as he was, he was long in finding sleep. For +ever he would be wondering in which part of the little town it were +best to begin the search. And how it were best to conduct it so that no +outsider could manage to claim part of the reward when the runaways +were captured. At last, undecided, he fell asleep, and Herebald and +Bernulf were awaiting him when he awoke rather late in the morning. In +haste he and his men ate their breakfast, and in still greater haste +they set off on the search, only to be brought to a standstill before +it was well begun; for there fronting the sea were one hundred and +forty-five little narrow streets called the Rows, and their combined +length made a distance of seven miles. + +"This be a foolish way to build a town," grumbled Richard Wood, "and +none but Saxons would have done it. Why, here be a street only two feet +wide at one end of it. And up and down one hundred and forty-five +streets we must chase, to say nothing of looking in the better parts of +the town." + +"Thou hast well said," observed Herebald, gravely. "It is not an easy +thing, this search. But where dost thou begin? And how wilt thou go +about it?" + +"Why, why," stammered Richard Wood, "I did never search a town before, +and that is but the truth." + +"Were it not best to proceed boldly?" asked Herebald, slyly. + +"Boldly, sayest thou? And what meanest thou by boldly?" + +"Why, by boldly, I mean boldly. Surely thou knowest what boldly is? +Walk into the house with a 'by your leave,' which is, after all, no +leave, since it is done without leave; there look through all, and then +out and away again into the next house, or the next but one, as it +pleaseth thee." + +Richard Wood looked at him in displeasure. "It is easy to see thou art +but a Saxon churl," he said. "And moreover, where is thy sense of time? +This day were gone; ay, and the next before we had entered every house +in one hundred and forty-five little streets." + +"Ay, thou art right. Perchance it were better not to take so much time, +for there be the ships, and some of them do sail to-day." + +"To-day!" exclaimed Richard Wood, in alarm. "And when?" + +"Toward noon," was the reply; "for then wind and tide will serve." + +A look of resolution came over the face of Richard Wood. He turned to +his men-at-arms. + +"Take each of thee a street," he said, "and I will take another. Search +as well and thoroughly as ye can for one hour, and then come to this +point to go with me to the ships. We have had many toils to catch them. +They must not escape us now." + +"And what do we?" asked Herebald. + +Now Richard Wood was quite determined that the Saxons should not share +in the reward, so he answered: "Stand ye here, and watch all who pass. +Let none escape ye." + +"That were an easy task," growled Bernulf. "But why may we not also +take each man his street, and knock and 'by-your-leave' with the rest +of ye? It is because we be Saxons that ye put this slight upon us." And +he affected to be greatly displeased. + +"Peace, man!" said Richard Wood, more pacifically. "It is true ye be +Saxons, but that is by the will of heaven. And ye be in nowise to blame +therefor. So should ye bear with patience the lot of Saxons." + +"Which is to wait on Normans, as ye would say," retorted Bernulf, +scornfully. "But we bide here, as thou hast said." + +"The hinds be jealous," said Richard Wood, as he hastened up the little +street he had chosen, looking narrowly about him for the house, in his +judgment, most likely to be the hiding-place of the runaways. About +half-way up the street he espied it, but when, in the king's name, he +entered, he found nothing to reward him for his pains. Wherever he +stopped he fared no better, and he was fain to believe, at last, the +asseverations of the inhabitants that there were not only no runaways +in that street, but that none were to be found in all Yarmouth,--a town +which, according to them, was a most proper place, where those who +could not give a good account of themselves never ventured. Unless, +indeed, it might be a few Frenchmen now and then, and, as they told him +with much garrulity, every Englishman knew what to expect from the +French. And then they asked him if those he sought were French. And +when he said that they were not, they began at the beginning and went +all over the subject again, telling him what a discreet and proper +place Yarmouth was, and how none such as he was seeking ever ventured +there, until he was like to go distracted, and had not completed the +search of even that one little Row when the hour was up, and he +hastened to the place appointed to meet his men-at-arms. He found that +his experience had been theirs, and, in his disappointment and disgust, +he said some harsh things about Yarmouth tongues, which he estimated as +entirely too nimble. + +The two Saxons heard his comments with covert smiles, and followed +along toward the ships. + +That morning the ship of Eric had slightly changed her position, and +Bernulf so managed that, when the small row-boat he was bidden to hire +was about to put off from land, Eric's ship would naturally be the +first one boarded. + +"Do we go with thee?" asked Herebald. + +"Nay," answered Richard Wood. "Here be two men who will row for us. Do +ye stay where ye be and watch." + +Then they all climbed into the small row-boat and were pulled away +toward Eric's ship. + +"Ay, we will watch," said Herebald to Bernulf. + +A little later the boat went alongside, and the spy and his men-at-arms +climbed heavily and clumsily aboard, after a brief parley with skipper +Eric, in which he had at first refused them permission to do so. + +"They be here!" exulted Richard Wood in his thought, "else why should +we be forbidden to come aboard?" + +"What seek ye?" demanded the skipper, in a gruff tone when they were +safely on deck. + +"Two runaways," answered Richard Wood, loudly, for already the anchor +was being lifted. + +"There be no runaways here," returned the skipper, positively. + +"We will see, we will see," returned Richard Wood. And laying firm hold +of the rail he lunged down the steep companionway, followed by his +men-at-arms and one of the seamen, whom the captain by a nod of his head +bade to follow them. Once down, they gazed about them and knew not +which way to turn. + +"Where is the captain?" said Richard Wood, sternly. "Bid him come down +and show us all parts of the ship at once." + +"Skipper may not come. He is busy," answered the seaman. "But I can +show thee. Thou wilt see all?" + +"Yea, all." + +Then the seaman very obligingly began to do as he was bid. There was +very little to see in the close quarters; but he, being loquacious, was +a long time in showing it, and more than half an hour had elapsed +before Richard Wood was thoroughly persuaded that there was nobody +secreted on board. And all this time, in his eagerness, he had not +noticed that the ship was moving. He now turned to the companionway. + +"What motion is this?" he asked, turning pale. "Hath the ship gone +adrift from her moorings?" + +"Nay," answered the seaman; "the ship is not gone adrift." + +Laying fast hold on the rail, the spy managed to climb up to the deck. +He looked about him, but no row-boat was alongside. He then turned to +the skipper. + +"Surely we be gone adrift from our moorings," he said. + +"Nay," answered the skipper, calmly. "I did forbid thee to come aboard, +but thou wouldst come. Now are we under sail." + + + + +CHAPTER XX + + +The priest of the parish at Oundle had Hugo and Humphrey up and off +betimes the next morning, as he had said. "It must be he liketh not our +company over well," observed Humphrey, as they jogged on after a very +brief and hasty leave-taking. + +"Perhaps he taketh thee for a wolf in sheep's clothing," said Hugo, +with a meaning glance at the priest's habit in which the stalwart +Humphrey was engulfed. + +"And thee for the cub, dear lad," retorted Humphrey. "But it may be +after all that he looketh but to his own safety, and desireth not to +fall into disgrace with the king by harboring us. But hark! Let us +withdraw ourselves into the wood. Here come travellers this way. And I +cannot feel safe in the priest's garb. The wood, methinks, were a +better protection." + +With the celerity of practice the two concealed themselves in the wood +in such a position that they could see the path. And presently there +came into view a small party of knights on their way northward. + +"They look not so dangerous," commented Hugo. + +"Nay," agreed Humphrey. "I would liefer see them than king's spies. But +bide we here a bit and see if more will come." + +It was very still in the wood that morning and a little sound seemed a +great one. So the two, while they waited, talked together in low tones. +"The merry-hearted canon is in most things wise, I do suppose," +observed Humphrey. "But I feel not like a priest though I wear his +garb. And I fear to do something which will betray me to be but the +Saxon serving-man which I am. Still, I must wear it?" And he looked +inquiringly at Hugo. + +"Yea," replied the boy. "The land is so full of priests that few scan +them closely. And, moreover, there be Saxons among them. He was born +but a Saxon serf who was the great pope Adrian IV." + +"Sayest thou so?" said Humphrey. "I will e'en take courage and wear the +priest's garb as well as I can. I suppose thou knowest all this from +thine uncle, the prior?" + +[Illustration: Humphrey in Priest's Garb] + +"Yea," answered Hugo, with a smile. + +A while there was silence, while both listened. Then Humphrey said, +"But I like not the canon's plan that we go to St. Albans." + +"And wherefore?" asked Hugo. + +"That I cannot tell. I do but know that I like it not. It were better +to go straight to London. So think I, and so do I say." + +Hugo reflected. He knew that the way was not particularly safe for them +anywhere. "If it should be discovered that we have been at +Peterborough," he said at length. + +"Yea, lad," broke in Humphrey. "I had not thought of that. But would +they not straight seek for us at St. Albans, where the merry-hearted +canon hath sent us? And neither did I like the parish priest at Oundle. +He did speed us too gladly. And he knoweth that we go to St. Albans." + +"Thou mayest be right, Humphrey," said Hugo. "It will doubtless cost +the monks at St. Albans small grief if they do not see us. We will go +to London as thou sayest." + +Humphrey regarded him approvingly. "It is easy to see that thou art far +from being a fool," he said. "Hiding and skulking through wood and fen +are making thee wary." + +The two now resumed their journey, and Humphrey asked, "Hast ever been +on this Watling Street?" + +"Nay," replied Hugo. "I was bred up, as thou knowest, by mine uncle, +the prior, and all my travels have been by ear. What I did hear him +speak of I know, but not much else." + +"And he did never speak of the Watling Street?" + +"Yea, he hath oft spoken of it. But it is a long road, and here in +England since the time of the Romans. I know that it goeth to London." + +"Then we go to St. Albans after all?" + +"Why, St. Albans lieth on the Watling Street. So said the Canon +Thurstan. But we need not stop long there." + +"Unless we be stopped," said Humphrey. "I would we need not go nigh the +place." He now halted and looked about him carefully. "Said the priest +at Oundle where we should first come to the Watling Street?" he asked. +"Nay," replied Hugo. "He did say only, 'Go till thou come to it,' even +as the Canon Thurstan said." + +"I hope we be on the right way," observed Humphrey. "I would fain find +not only the Watling Street, but a town and an inn also. For the +breakfast of the priest at Oundle was more of a fast than a feast." + +They were now traversing an undulating country and going in a southerly +direction. + +"We may not ask our way," said Humphrey, decidedly. "It is as much as I +can do to wear the priest's garb and speak when I be spoken to. Were I +to speak of myself, it would speedily be known that I was no priest, +for I have not the mind of a priest." + +Hugo smiled. He had already learned that, although one might turn the +mind of Humphrey for a little from its accustomed track, yet it +speedily turned back. He had taken a little courage at the mention of +the Saxon pope, Adrian IV, but now he was as fearful as ever. + +"I wear this garb only till we be through London," resumed Humphrey. +"The Canon Thurstan bid me wear it only so far. He said naught of what +should be done later. And once we leave London I will be again Humphrey +the serving-man, and no make-believe priest. I like not make-believes." + +Hugo smiled again. "How likest thou my being a make-believe Josceline, +and no Hugo?" he asked. + +"That be a different matter," was the decided answer. "Thou hast saved +our young lord's life, and thou art a brave lad. But I would rather +skulk and hide in the fen than in the priest's garb. How likest thou to +be a novice?" + +"Why, very well," replied Hugo, "so that it serve my turn and help me +on my way in safety. I should have been a true novice had I heeded my +uncle. But, as thou knowest, I will be a knight." + +"Ay, and a bold one thou wilt be," was the response; "as bold as our +lord who is in France." + +All day they held slowly on their way, and, though they frequently met +other travellers, they attracted no more attention than an occasional +curious glance. And toward sundown they came to the town of Dunstable. + +"Now," cried Humphrey, joyfully, "here be a town. Let us make haste to +enter before the curfew and find an inn. We have had a long fast." + +"Shall we not rather go to the priory?" asked Hugo. + +"Nay, verily," answered Humphrey. "I go to no priory to-night. I will +go to an inn, and I will have there a mighty supper, and a good bed, +and no priestly duties to perform. I know not how to perform them if I +would. And I proclaim to no man that we be counterfeits. And moreover, +the priests here may be even as the parish priest of Oundle. Mayhap he +will not set the pursuers on our track, but I trust him not. I trust no +man who sendeth forth travellers with such a breakfast." So saying, he +rode boldly down the main street which he had entered till he came to +where it intersected another main street at right angles. There he +stopped. "Here be inns in plenty," he said. "It must be this town is on +the Watling Street." And he questioned the groom who came to take their +tired horses. + +"Yea," answered the groom. "This be the town of Dunstable. And here it +is that the Watling Street crosseth the Icknield Street." + +"_Pax vobiscum_," said Humphrey. "I will in to the fire and my supper. +Do thou care well for the beasts." And, followed by Hugo, he strode off +with a gait which was not often seen on a priest. + +The inn which Humphrey had chosen displayed the sign of the Shorn Lamb, +and was one of the smallest in the neighborhood; it made its patrons at +home in its large kitchen while they waited for the meal to be served. +There was but one other guest in the room when Hugo and Humphrey +entered, and the moment the faithful serving-man saw him he was +grateful for his priest's garb; for the fierce little man who was +giving orders in a peremptory manner was none other than Walter +Skinner. + +In great fear he had fled from Newark at the instance of the courtier, +but his courage, after three days of wandering, had returned to him; +for his hope of one day being a duke died hard. "Though I be the king's +spy no longer," he had said to himself, "I have been the king's spy. +Therefore I have had a certain measure of preferment and may hope for +more." And in this humor he had come into Dunstable by way of the +Icknield Street, and by chance had chosen the very inn Humphrey had +selected. That he had fled from Newark and was no longer in pursuit of +them Humphrey did not know; and he, accordingly, withdrew deeper into +the concealment of his hood, while Hugo did the same. + +As for Walter Skinner, he looked at them with contempt. "Here cometh a +beggarly priest and a novice," he thought, "to keep company at the +table with me. I will none of it." And he said haughtily to the +innkeeper: "Worthy host, I have no liking to priests. Seat them not at +the table with me. Give me thy company, if it please thee, but serve +the priest and his novice elsewhere." + +The innkeeper happened to be in a surly humor. Certain affairs had gone +contrary and vexed him. Therefore he made answer: "I keep but one table. +There may ye all feed or ye may look elsewhere. There be other inns." +And he added slowly and impressively, "They--be--all--full--also." + +"Why, here be a circumstance!" cried Walter Skinner. "The inns of this +town be full, sayest thou? Why, all the inns in London be not full, I +warrant thee. And why should they be full here in this bit of a town, +with one street running this way, and one another way, like a cross? I +would have thee to know that I have been servant to the king, and am +used to be served accordingly." + +"And what service hast thou done the king?" demanded the surly +innkeeper, unbelievingly. + +"I did watch from the top of the high tree the De Aldithely castle," +was the boastingly given answer. "I did see the young lord and his +serving-man flee through the postern and enter the wood." He was about +to rehearse all the particulars of his pursuit of the runaways when the +innkeeper interrupted him. + +"Thou must, then," said he, "be the spy for whom the king is looking, +and I will give thee to him." + +"Nay, nay," said Walter Skinner, his fierceness all gone as he suddenly +remembered the warning given him in Newark by the courtier who had set +him free. "That thou mayest not do. I do journey toward the south. Thou +mayest not delay me." + +"I could if I would," returned the innkeeper, his surly mood vanishing +as he saw before him the opportunity of enjoying himself by tormenting +somebody. "But thou art such a sprat of a man that my compassion +forbids me. The king looketh for thee to hear thee tell what thou +knowest of the whereabouts of the young lord and his companion. If thou +canst not tell, he will have thy head; so hath he sworn. For he is in +an evil rage, and heads are as nothing to him when he rageth, as thou +knowest. He searcheth also for the bailiff who had thee in charge and +let thee escape. I warrant thee the bailiff hath a wit too sound to go +proclaiming how he was some great man, even a bailiff in the town of +Newark." + +All this was lost on Walter Skinner, however, who grasped but one +thought, that he was in danger, and had but one anxiety, how to escape +it. He turned now with some degree of humility to Humphrey. + +"What!" said the innkeeper. "Dost thou turn to the beggarly priest whom +thou erstwhile didst despise? But it shall not avail thee. It is with +me that thou must deal. Knowest thou that I might lose my head for +harboring thee, if I give thee not up? But I will hide thee, my little +sprat, so that the king himself would not know thee. Come with me." + +The little spy, his importance all gone, did as the burly innkeeper +bade him, and Hugo and Humphrey were left alone in the kitchen with the +servants. + +"What do we?" asked Humphrey, in a low tone. "Flee?" + +"Nay," replied Hugo. "That were to invite pursuit." + +"This innkeeper is a knave," said Humphrey. + +"The more reason for caution," answered Hugo. + +"I have heard that some priests be great sleepers and great eaters," +said Humphrey a few moments later. + +"Some priests be," agreed Hugo. + +"Then I be one of them. I do now drowse in my chair, and naught but the +call to supper shall awake me. And then will I play so busily with my +food that no words can escape me save _pax vobiscum_. This rascal +innkeeper learns naught of me." + +Presently back came the innkeeper with Walter Skinner in his turn +playing scullion. "Here, sir priest," cried the innkeeper. "Here is he +who shall serve thee at thy meal." + +But there was no response. The priest's head was sunk on his breast, +and he seemed asleep. His novice also appeared to sleep. + +The innkeeper, emboldened, now gazed openly and curiously at the two. +"They have not come far," he said to himself. "Their garments be not +travel-stained enough for that. They be some dullards of small wit on +their first journey, for the groom did say they knew not that this was +Dunstable." + +His observations were here cut short by the appearance of three other +travellers; but their entrance failed to arouse the priest and his +novice, who remained, as before, apparently asleep. + +"Yea, verily," thought the innkeeper, as he slowly advanced to meet the +newcomers, "they be but two dullards. There is neither game nor gain to +be made of them as there is of this Walter Skinner, from whom I will +take his horse before I let him go. I will e'en bid priest and novice +pack to make room for these newcomers, from whom I may win something, +and to save room for others who may come." + +Accordingly he set to work, but it was with great difficulty that he +roused the two. "_Pax vobiscum_," murmured Humphrey, sleepily. "Is the +supper ready?" + +"Yea, but at some other inn," returned the innkeeper. "Here be three +worthy people just come in. There is not room for them and ye. The +groom bringeth your horses, and ye must go." Without a word of +objection Hugo and Humphrey rose to do the innkeeper's bidding and +depart. But they walked like men half awake, and followed the innkeeper +stumblingly; and mounted their horses clumsily, to the great merriment +of the groom. It was now dark, and they knew not which way to turn. "I +choose not another inn," said Humphrey, "though we bide supperless in +the streets." + +"Then choose I," returned Hugo. And he rode off down the street with +Humphrey close beside him. + +"Lad, lad!" cried the serving-man, "thou must not lead. It will betray +us." + +At once Hugo fell behind, and the two rode on until, at a little inn +called the Blue Bell, the boy bade the serving-man stop. The two +alighted, gave their horses to the groom, went in, were promptly served +a good supper, and, in due time, were shown to their beds. + +"There be dangers on the Watling Street as well as in the fen," said +Humphrey. + +In the meanwhile the keeper of the Shorn Lamb was having his enjoyment +at the expense of Walter Skinner. He bade him serve the three strangers +and fear nothing, as no one would recognize him in the guise of a +scullion. + +"Why, here didst thou come strutting it finely," said the innkeeper, in +a mocking tone. "And dost thou strut now? Nay, verily; but thou art as +meek as any whipped cock. And since it was by thy strut that men did +recognize thee, how shall they make thee out when thy fine strut is +gone? Wherefore serve the strangers, and be not afraid." + +In spite of this exhortation the manner of Walter Skinner still +betrayed doubt, and even timidity. And at last he made the innkeeper +understand that it was he whom he feared and not the strangers. + +The innkeeper laughed. "Dost fear me?" he said. "Why, thou needst not-- +that is, thou needst not if thou observest my conditions. Thou hast a +horse that thou needest not, since thou hast legs of thine own. +Somewhat short they be, and somewhat stiff in the joints, being more +made to strut with than for the common gait of mankind. Still I doubt +not they will carry thee whither thou wouldst go after I have dismissed +thee. Serve the strangers, therefore, and afterward thou shalt sup." + +In great meekness Walter Skinner obeyed, and the innkeeper, observing +him, sat down later with satisfaction to his own meal. + +Now it chanced that the strangers had ordered liquor, and Walter +Skinner paused in the bringing of it long enough to take a drink of it +and fill up the measure again with water. And in a few moments his +fears were gone. He surreptitiously drank again, and yet again, for the +strangers were convivial. And, by the time they were served and his +task done, he had forgotten his danger and remembered only the +injustice of the innkeeper. + +"What!" he said to himself. "Here be a degradation! Here be a putting +of fine metal to base uses! I who have been servant to the king am made +a scullion to traveling strangers who be drunken, moreover, and fit +only to be served by this rascal innkeeper who hath made a scullion of +me. And shall he have my horse also? Nay, he shall not. I will away to +the stables this moment and set out and gain my liberty." + +Nobody noticed him as he went out the kitchen door, and nobody saw him +as he entered the stable and prepared his horse for the journey. And, +still unnoticed, he mounted, after many a crazy lurch, and set off down +the street. In due time he came to the gate, and the watchman +challenged him. + +"Dost stop me, sirrah!" demanded the half-drunken Walter Skinner. "I be +the servant of the king; and, moreover, I be but just come from the inn +of the Shorn Lamb. Pass me outside the walls." + +The watchman, at the mention of the Shorn Lamb, made haste to lead the +horse through the narrow side gate, for he and the innkeeper were +confederates in villany; and away went Walter Skinner at a great pace +toward London. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + + +Knowing nothing of the escape of their old enemy, Hugo and Humphrey +arose the next morning and, after paying their reckoning, departed +without having incurred the suspicion of any one in the town. + +"This cometh of leaving the inn of the Shorn Lamb in good season," +observed Humphrey, with satisfaction. + +"I did think we were put out of the inn," said Hugo, demurely. + +"Ay, lad," agreed Humphrey; "thou art right. If all who go to the Shorn +Lamb were thus put out, and so did leave in good season, there would be +fewer lambs abroad without their fleece. Didst see Walter Skinner in +the guise of the scullion?" + +"Yea," answered Hugo. + +"If I be so good a priest as he is a scullion, I fear detection from no +man. Why, he doth look to be a good scullion, whereas when he is clad +as the king's spy, he looketh a very poor spy; and he doth act the part +moreover very lamentably. We had come badly off had he been as good a +spy as he is a scullion." + +"Ay, and had he been less drunken," said Hugo. + +"Thou hast well said, lad," agreed Humphrey. "Let a man that would have +ill success in what he undertaketh but befuddle his wit with drink, and +ill success he will have, and that in good measure. And the scorn and +contempt of his fellows, moreover, even as hath this little spy." + +"And yet," observed Hugo, thoughtfully, "it were hard to find a man who +is not at some time drunken." + +"Hadst thou that from thine uncle, the prior?" asked Humphrey, quickly. +"Or didst thou gain it from thine own very ancient experience?" + +"Now I have angered thee," said Hugo, frankly. + +"Yea, lad, thou hast. This is a time of great drinking, that I know; +but never have I seen my lord drunken. And never hath any man seen me +drunken, nor my father, nor my grandsire. There be ever enough sober +ones in the worst of times to keep the world right side uppermost. And +that thou wilt find when thou hast lived to be forty years old. But +thou art but fourteen, and I am foolish to be angered with thee for +what is, after all, but lack of experience. How soon come we to this +St. Albans?" + +"Why, it is but thirteen miles from Dunstable," answered Hugo, +pleasantly. + +"Then may we pass it by without stopping," cried Humphrey, joyfully. +"And how much farther on lieth London?" + +"Twenty miles," replied Hugo. + +"Then do we rest in London to-night, if we may," said Humphrey. "Our +horses be not of the best, but neither are they of the worst; and it +were an ill beast that could not go thirty-three miles before sunset on +the Watling Street." + +"Ay," agreed Hugo. "But we may not ride too fast, else shall we arouse +wonder." + +Humphrey sighed. "Thou art right, lad," he said. "And wonder might lead +to questions, and questions to a stopping of our journey. For how know +I what answer to make to questions that I be not looking for? I will +therefore go more slowly." + +The road was now by no means empty of passengers. Trains of packhorses +were going down to London. And just as they reached St. Albans came a +nobleman with his retinue, going down to his town house in London. "So +might my lord ride, but for the wicked king," said Humphrey, in a low +tone, as they stood aside. Then passing into the city of St. Albans, +they at once sought an inn and made the early hour suit them for dinner +that so they might journey on the sooner. + +They had entered St. Albans in the rear of the nobleman's party. They +passed out of it an hour later unnoticed in a throng of people. "And +now," said Humphrey, looking back at the town on the slope, "let the +priest at Oundle play us false if he like; we be safely through the +town." + +"It was near here that the Saxon pope, Adrian IV, was born," observed +Hugo. + +"Ay, lad," answered Humphrey, indifferently. "But I be nearing the +place where I be a priest no longer. If we may not make too much haste, +let us turn aside in the wood and find a hut where they will take us in +for the night, and where, perchance, I may get a dream. 'Tis a mighty +place, this London, and I would fain see what 'twere best to do." + +Hugo made no objection, and when they were within ten miles of the +great city they turned their horses to the left and sought shelter in +Epping Forest. + +"I like the wood," observed Humphrey, with satisfaction. "It seemeth a +safer place than the Watling Street; for who knoweth what rascals ride +thereon, and who be no more what they seem than we be ourselves?" + +"Why, so they be no worse than we, we need not fear," returned Hugo, +with a smile. + +But Humphrey was not to be convinced. "I be forty years old," he said, +"and what be safer than a tree but many trees? And the grass is under +foot, and the sky above, and naught worse than robbers and wardens to +be feared in the wood." + +Hugo laughed. "And what worse than robbers on the Watling Street?" he +asked. + +"King's men, lad, king's men. A good honest robber of the woods will +take but thy purse or other goods; but the king's man will take thee, +and the king will take, perchance, thy life. I like not the Watling +Street, nor care to see it more." + +They were now going slowly through the wood in a bridle-path, one +behind the other. Presently they came out into a glade, and across it, +peeping from amid the trees, they descried a hut. "That be our inn for +the night, if they will take us," said Humphrey, decisively. And, +crossing the glade, he rode boldly up to the door and knocked. + +The hut was very small and was made of wattle and daub. A faint line of +smoke was coming from a hole in the roof. The knock with the end of +Humphrey's stick was a vigorous one. Nevertheless it went so long +without answer that he knocked again, and this time with better +success. The door opened slowly a little way, and through the aperture +thus made an old and withered face looked out. + +"What wilt thou?" asked a cracked, high voice. + +"Entrance and shelter for the night," replied Humphrey, promptly and +concisely. + +The door opened a little wider and the man within stepping outside, his +person was revealed. He was of medium height and spare, and he wore a +long gray tunic of wool reaching to his knees. Beneath this garment his +lean legs were bare, while on his feet he wore shoes of skin which +reached to the ankle, and which were secured by thongs. Such as he Hugo +and Humphrey had often seen, but never before a face like his, in which +craftiness and credulity were strangely mingled. For several minutes he +stood there, first scrutinizing Humphrey and then Hugo. + +At last Humphrey grew impatient. "Do we come in, or do we stay out?" he +demanded. + +"Why, that I hardly know," was the slow answer. "There be many rogues +about; some in priests' robes and some not." + +"Yea, verily," responded Humphrey, fervently; "but we be not of the +number. _Pax vobiscum_," he added, hastily. "I had well nigh forgot +that," he said in an aside to Hugo. + +But the old man's ears were keen, and he caught the aside meant for +Hugo's ears alone. "Thou be but a sorry priest to forget thy _pax +vobiscum_," he said with a crafty look. "Perchance thou art no priest," +he added, coming closer and peering into Humphrey's face. + +He looked so long that Humphrey again grew impatient. "What seest thou +on my face?" he asked. + +"Why, I do see a mole on thy nose. It is a very small one, and of scant +size, but because thou hast it thou mayest come down from thy horse, +thou and the lad with thee, and I will give thee lodging for the +night." + +Instinctively Humphrey raised his hand and touched a tiny mole on the +side and near the end of his nose. The man of the hut watched him. "I +see thou knowest that a mole near the end of the nose is lucky," he +said. + +"Not I," declared Humphrey. "I had not before heard of such a thing." + +The man of the hut regarded him pityingly. Then he said: "Come down +from thy horse, thou unwitting lucky one, and come thou and the lad +within while I do hide thy horses in a thick, for I would share thy +luck. Dost not know that to show kindness to a lucky one is to share +his fortune? Thou hadst not come within the hut but for thy mole, I +warrant thee. For I do know that thou art the false priest and the +young lord from Oundle that stopped not at St. Albans as ye were bid." + +Hugo and Humphrey looked at each other. Then Humphrey said, "I know +not, after all, whether to come in or not." + +"Come in! come in!" cried the old man, eagerly. "I must share thy luck, +and that could I not do if I played thee false. Come in!" + +Still hesitating, Humphrey glanced about him. He knew not who might be +on his track. And then he decided to go in. + +"No matter who knocketh while I be gone," said the old man, earnestly, +"give heed to none. Only when I come and knock four times: one for +thee, one time for the lad, and two times for the two horses, which +signifieth that I know ye; listen close. And when I say 'mole,' open +the door softly and not over wide." + +Humphrey, who with Hugo was now within the hut, promised to obey, and +the old man, closing the door after him, departed with the horses. + +At once Humphrey put out the smoking embers of the fire burning on the +earthen floor in the centre of the hut. "If any knock and see the smoke +and hear no answer, will they not break in the door?" he said. + +The old man had been gone but a short time when a tramp of horses was +heard. The riders paused before the door of the hut as Humphrey had +done, and one of them knocked heavily upon it with his stick. But there +was no answer. Again there came a knock and a cry, "Open, old +Bartlemy!" + +Meanwhile, old Bartlemy had come creeping cautiously back, and from +behind a screen of vines which hung from an oak beheld them. "Ay, ye +may knock and cry," he muttered craftily; "but which one of ye hath a +mole near the end of his nose? Not one of ye. Therefore I will have +none of ye. And ye may be gone." + +"The old rascal groweth deaf," said one of the riders. + +"Nay," answered the second. "There cometh no smoke out of the roof. He +is doubtless from home for the night." + +Old Bartlemy hastily glanced toward the roof of the hut. He had left a +smouldering fire, and now no fire was there. "The false priest hath put +it out," he said joyfully. "Now know I that he hath luck with him, and +I will serve him faithfully. Ay, knock!" he continued. "Knock thy fill. +I did but now hear thee call me 'old rascal,' though I have helped thee +to thy desires many times, for which thou didst pay me by ever +threatening to bring the ranger upon me for the game I take to keep me +alive. Thou wantest naught of old Bartlemy but to further thine own +schemes." + +There was silence a moment, and then the first speaker said, "The +priest of Oundle hath cheaply bought his altar cloth if we find not +these two. We know they be between St. Albans and London. And we do +know they be, for the present, gone from the Watling Street, for the +carter from London whom we did meet did tell us that he had met them +not on the way. Therefore go thou to London by way of the Ermine +Street, while I go down by the Watling Street. They may be now straying +about in the wood, but we shall have them on one road or the other as +they go into the city. The false priest rideth a gray, and the young +lord a black. We shall have them without Bartlemy's aid, fear not." + +Then the riders withdrew, each going his way, and Bartlemy a few +moments later knocked on the door of the hut and was admitted by +Humphrey. At once the old man made up the fire in the centre of the hut +again. + +"What doest thou?" demanded Humphrey. "Wouldst have other visitors?" + +"Do not thou fear," responded Bartlemy. "Am I not here? And can I not +hide thee and the lad beneath yon heap of rushes if a stranger come? No +man will look for thee here. They that seek thee think that Bartlemy +will aid them; and so he would but for thy mole. I be an old man, and +never yet hath fortune come my way, and all because I did not before +meet thee. For it hath been foretold me that a man having a mole near +the end of his nose would bring me fortune. Wherefore I cleave to thee, +and will protect thee with my life, if need be." So saying, he threw +another fagot on the fire and, from a hidden cupboard, brought out a +substantial meal of venison and bread. When the meal was finished he +commanded: "Lie down and rest now, thou and the lad, while I keep +watch. Thou wilt need thy wits on the morrow." + +Humphrey reflected. Then he turned to Hugo. "Lie down, lad," he said +kindly. "The old man is crazed when he talketh of moles, but he is +right when he saith we have need of our wits on the morrow. And that +meaneth we must rest in faith to-night." + +The old man smiled triumphantly. "I be not so crazed as thou thinkest, +neither," he said. "Thy mole is not only thy good fortune, but mine +also." With that he put the remains of the meal back in the cupboard, +shut the door, and replenished the fire. He then threw himself down on +the earthen floor beside it, and lay there grinning and grimacing at +the flames till Hugo and Humphrey fell asleep. A dozen times before +dawn old Bartlemy rose to bend over the two, grinning and grimacing as +he did so, and clasping his hands in ecstasy. But when the two awoke he +was gone. + +Humphrey, when he discovered Bartlemy's absence, started up in alarm. +"I did get no dream, lad," he said to Hugo, whom his movements had +aroused; "and the old man is gone. I know not what to do." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + + +An hour went by and still old Bartlemy did not come; an hour of silence +broken only by occasional whispers between Hugo and Humphrey. + +Then the old man softly opened the door and stood smiling before them. + +"Thou didst think me false, is it not so?" he said, addressing Humphrey +and casting an affectionate glance as he did so on the small mole near +the end of the Saxon's nose. + +Great as was his anxiety, Hugo could but laugh to see how the serving-man +was placed before himself, and all on account of an unfortunate +blemish on his countenance. And his enjoyment was heightened by the +embarrassment and half-concealed irritation it occasioned Humphrey. + +But old Bartlemy paid no attention to Hugo and his merry mood. He +proceeded with despatch to set out the morning meal from the hidden +cupboard. "Eat well and heartily," he exhorted both his guests; "for so +shall ye be able to set your enemies at defiance. A full stomach giveth +a man courage and taketh him through many dangers. But why," he +continued, addressing Humphrey solicitously, "why shouldest thou have +many dangers? Why dost thou not let the young lord ride forth alone?" + +Humphrey's answer was a look so full of indignation that the old man +ventured to say nothing more, except, "I see that thou art not to be +persuaded, and I will e'en help ye both." + +So saying, he went outside and brought in a bundle or pack which he +had, on his return to the hut, secreted in a convenient hiding-place. +"I have been to a spot I wot of," he began, "and there did I borrow +this raiment. I did borrow it, I say, and ye must put it on. When ye +have no further need of it, then I will return it to its owner." + +[Illustration: Bartlemy Bore Garments for Disguise] + +Humphrey gazed at him in astonishment. At last he said, "Thou knowest +that we journey hence this morn and shall see thee no more. What +meanest thou?" + +"Why, this," was the response. "I go with thee." + +"Thou goest with me!" repeated Humphrey. + + +"Ay," was the stubborn answer. "Thinkest thou I will lightly part with +him who is decreed to make my fortune? Thou art the man the +fortune-teller spake to me of. 'Cleave to him that hath a mole near the +end of his nose,' saith the fortune-teller, and I will of a surety do +so. But tell me truly, should the young lord be captured, would thy +ability to make my fortune be diminished?" + +"Yea, verily," answered Humphrey, positively. "Were my dear lad +captured, I could do nothing for thee." + +"Thou needst say no more," said the old man, for the first time that +morning looking full at Hugo. "He seemeth a good lad. I will protect +him also with my life, if need be. For what will a man not do if he may +thereby escape the marring of his fortune?" + +Old Bartlemy now ceased speaking and devoted all his energies to +hastily undoing the bundle he had brought in, and sorting out a portion +of what it contained. + +"What hast thou there?" asked Humphrey, contemptuously, as he pointed +to a woman's robe, tunic, and hood of green. "Here be no fine ladies." + +"Nay, speak not so fast," replied old Bartlemy, stubbornly. "Thy young +lord will don these things, and then shalt thou see a fair lady on a +journey bent." + +Hugo flushed. "I wear no woman's dress," he said with determination. + +"Why, how now?" demanded old Bartlemy. "Art thou better than Longchamp, +bishop of Ely? When he did flee he fled as a woman, and in a green +tunic and hood, moreover. When thou art as old as thou now art young, +thou wilt welcome the means that helpeth thee safely on." The old man's +manner was so changed from that of the night before, and he displayed +so much energy, foresight, and knowledge, that Hugo and Humphrey looked +at each other in wonder. He was still old, but he was no longer senile. + +"Knowest thou not," he continued, "that the king's men look for thee +either as the young lord or as the false priest's novice? Dally no +longer, but put on this woman's garb." + +"Yea, lad," counselled Humphrey, "put it on. It will suit thee better +than the king's dungeon." + +Thus urged, Hugo obeyed, and presently was stepping about the hut most +discontentedly in the guise of a woman. "Stride not so manfully or we +be undone," cried old Bartlemy. "Canst thou not mince thy gait? There! +That hath a more seemly look." + +The pack he had brought in was very large, and from it he now took the +garments and armor of an esquire, which he handed to Humphrey. "When +thou shalt don these," he said, "it will come to pass that thou hast +been sent to bring thy young lady safe to London town." + +With alacrity Humphrey tossed aside his priest's robe and clad himself +in what old Bartlemy offered him. "Now may I forget my _pax vobiscum_ +and no harm be done," he exclaimed joyfully. + +Hugo could but smile at the pride and pleasure of Humphrey's manner as +he arrayed himself. "Ah, my good Humphrey!" he cried; "I have found +thee out. Thou wouldst be an esquire, even as I would be a knight." + +Humphrey sighed. "Yea, lad," he confessed, "but I am but a Saxon +serving-man." + +Like a hawk the little old man was watching both. "And I have found +thee out," he said, turning to Hugo. "The mole on his nose doth signify +the good fortune thou wilt bring him, even as it signifieth what he +will do for me. Be sure, gentle lady, I shall serve thee well." + +Hugo laughed and, in his character of lady, inclined his head +courteously. + +Humphrey, who could not for a moment forget the business in hand, +ignored this pleasantry and inquired curtly: "But how goest thou with +us, Bartlemy? Will not the men who were here last night know thee?" + +"Nay, verily," replied Bartlemy. "I have a friend to my counsel that +they know not of. 'Tis he who did lend these disguises, and did +instruct me, moreover, in many matters. He did bid me overcome the +young lord's objections to wearing woman's dress by naming Longchamp +and his green tunic and hood. And many other matters he hath helped me +to, even the whole conduct of the journey, as thou shalt presently +see." With one last look at Humphrey's nose he backed out of the hut +and made off in a surprisingly agile manner for one of his age. + +"Now a plague upon his foolishness!" exclaimed Humphrey. "I had all but +forgotten my nose, but he will be ever bringing it to my mind. Yet, if +the mole on it take us safely through London, I complain not. And I do +hope he forget not his instructions and become again upon our hands the +witless old man of last night." He advanced to the door and glanced +out. "But here come two horses and a mule," he continued. "Whose they +be, I know not, nor what hath been done with ours." + +Hugo at this also looked out the door. "In size and in gait these +horses be ours," he said. + +"Yea, lad; but what should be thy black is a rusty brown with a star in +his forehead and one white foot. And what should be my gray is that +same rusty brown with two white feet and a patch on his side. And the +tails of both be bobbed, and the manes cropped, and the saddles and +housings be different. This is more of Bartlemy's 'friend to his +counsel,' perchance. And I hope his friend be not the Evil One." He +paused a moment. "Seest thou the old woman on the mule that leadeth the +horses?" he continued. + +"That is Bartlemy," replied Hugo. + +"Ay," agreed Humphrey. "But we had not known it had we not been made +ready for mysteries. He looketh like an ancient crone, and will be thy +old nurse, no doubt, going with thee on thy journey. Well, they be wise +men that would know the five of us." + +"Five?" questioned Hugo. + +"Ay, lad. Thou and Bartlemy and I and the two horses. Perchance the +mule is honest and what he seemeth to be." + +Bartlemy, having tied the animals, now came up to the door of the hut +in great exultation. "What thinkest thou of these strange horses, +Humphrey?" he asked. + +"I do think they lack their tails," answered Humphrey, gravely, "which +is a sad lack in summer." + +The old man grinned. "And what more thinkest thou?" he asked. + +"I do think they have need of manes also," was the reply. + +With an air of pride the old man, clad in his woman's dress, consisting +of a long, loose, blue robe surmounted by a long, red head-rail which +reached to his knees, walked back to the horses. "Come hither," he said +to Humphrey. "It were not well to cut off what one may need before it +grow again. Seest thou how only the outside of the tail is cut so as to +bush out over what is braided fine in many strands and caught up +cunningly beneath? And come hither. Seest thou how the mane is +cunningly looped and gummed, so that it seemeth to be short, when a dip +in the stream will make it long again? And this brown is but a stain, +and the white patches a bleach that will last but till the horse sheds +again." + +"This is the work of thy friend?" inquired Humphrey, gravely. + +"Yea," answered old Bartlemy, jubilantly. + +"And he is an honest man?" + +Old Bartlemy frowned. "He is my friend. And he hath served thee well, +if he hath kept thee and the lad from the hands of the king. Ask no +more. He had not done so much, but that I did tell him it was to make +my fortune. And now mount, my esquire! mount, my gentle lady! and I, +thy nurse, will mount. And we will all away to London town." +"By which road?" asked Humphrey, reining in his stained and bleached +horse. + +"By the Watling Street," was the confident answer. + +Humphrey seemed dissatisfied. Seeing which the old man said: "Why, we +must e'en go by the Watling Street or the Ermine Street, since we have +the young lady here in charge. Such is the custom of travellers to go +by one or the other." + +"I like not the Watling Street," objected Humphrey. + +"Didst hear the men at the door of my hut?" asked old Bartlemy, +earnestly. + +"Yea," replied Humphrey, briefly. + +"Didst note how he who watcheth for us on the Watling Street did tell +his plans in a voice that all might hear?" + +"Yea." + +"Therefore I go by the Watling Street and not by the Ermine Street," +said old Bartlemy, with determination. "He that hath so little +discretion that he telleth his plans in the ears of all who may listen +is less to be feared than he that sayeth little. He that watcheth for +us on the Ermine Street hath keen eyes and a silent tongue. Therefore +go we by the Watling Street and, moreover, the friend to my counsel +hath bid me so to do. I warrant thee more than one priest will be +stopped there, while the esquire and the young lady and the nurse +escape notice." + +"Mayhap thou art right," agreed Humphrey, after some reflection. + +Bartlemy did not wait to answer, but, giving his mule a slap with the +reins, set forward, and in a moment all three were crossing the glade, +whence they followed the same bridle-path by which Hugo and Humphrey +had come the day before, and so gained the Watling Street. Many people +were upon it, and Bartlemy, following the instructions of him who had +planned for him, managed to ride near enough to a merchant's party to +be mistaken as members of it by an unthinking observer. + +In his garb of esquire Humphrey was more at home than in that of the +priest, and he looked boldly about him. "Here be a strange thing, lad," +he said. "As we did come upon this road I did see a priest with his +novice pass by. Seest thou that other near at hand? And looking back I +see yet another. He that watcheth for us is like to have his hands +full." + +"Many priests be abroad," replied Hugo, with a smile. "It was to that +the Canon Thurstan trusted when he sent us forth." + +"He should, then, not have sent us to that rascally one at Oundle," +growled Humphrey. "Speak not o'er much with the lady," cautioned old +Bartlemy, riding up. "It is not seemly. Let her stay by me, her nurse. +So hath the friend to my counsel instructed me." + +At once Hugo fell back, reining his horse alongside the mule and a half +pace in advance; whereat old Bartlemy smiled in approbation. + +"Where go we in London?" asked Hugo, curiously. + +"Thou shalt see in good time," answered Bartlemy. "It may be one place, +it may be another. I can tell when we have passed him who watcheth for +us. I know many places." + +The old man, turning his face away, Hugo saw that he did not wish to +talk further, so he contented himself by seeing as much as he could +with his keen young eyes of what went on before him, old Bartlemy +having previously cautioned him against gazing about over much. + +As they drew nearer the city the crowd became more dense, being swelled +by those who were coming out of it on their way north. A little party +of knights, esquires, pages, and ladies travelling at a faster pace +overtook them, and so they were still better protected from observation +than before, as the new party were now obliged, by the throng, to go +forward slowly. So on they went till they came to the church of St. +Andrew, and the Fleet River, and, crossing the bridge, found +themselves, as old Bartlemy said, not far from the New Gate, through +which they must enter the city. They had no sooner entered than old +Bartlemy said to Hugo, + +"Thou didst not see the man at the hut?" + +"Nay," answered Hugo, with a nervous start. + +"Yon at the entrance to the meat market opposite the Grey Friars is he. +Seem not to notice him, but mark him well. He hath a bailiff to his +help, and it will go hard with somebody." + +"He stoppeth not that priest and his novice," observed Hugo. + +"That is because the bailiff knoweth both and hath instructed him," +answered Bartlemy. "Look downward now right modestly till we be safely +past, for thou hast a speaking eye. Thou art not lucky like the good +Humphrey, to have a dull eye, which seeth much and seemeth to see +naught." + +Hugo glanced down as he was bid, and soon they were past in safety. But +Humphrey, half turning in his saddle and gazing back, saw a priest and +his novice stopped. "And the priest rideth a gray and the novice a +black," mused Humphrey, "which is a wonderful thing, and not to be +accounted for except by chance." + +[Illustration: Humphrey Half Turning in His Saddle Saw the Priest] + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + + +The pace at which Walter Skinner had left Dunstable for London he kept +up for some two miles, when he slackened his rein at the bidding of his +half-drunken fancy. + +"I be for London town," he said to himself with a serious look. "And +other men than I have been there before now. Yea, verily, and have got +them safe home again into the bargain. But not so will I do. For in +London will I bide, either till the king make a duke of me or till I +become the Lord Mayor. For I be resolved to rise in the world. And the +first step toward it is to be resolved; yea, and to be determined; and +to look Dame Fortune full in the face and to say to her, 'Play no +tricks on me.'" + +By this time he was come up with a belated carrier who, since his cart +was empty and he upon his return journey, dared to be upon the road at +night. There was no moon, and in the starlight Walter Skinner could see +but imperfectly. "And who art thou?" he demanded loftily, "that thou +shouldest creak and rumble along over the road and block the way of a +rising man? The sun doth rise, and why not I? Only the sun riseth not +in the middle of the night, and neither will I. Nay, verily, but I will +wait to rise till I be come to London town. And so I bid thee, whoever +thou art, make place for me that I may pass thee upon the road." + +The carter, wondering much who this drunken madman might be, made no +answer but drove his creaking vehicle forward slowly as before, and in +the middle of the highway. Behind him, and at the tail of the cart, +followed Walter Skinner with equal slowness. For some moments he said +nothing more as, with closed eyes and heavily nodding head, he rode +along. Then he roused himself. "Stop!" he called fiercely. "Stop, I +say. I will go to bed in thy wagon or cart or whatever it may be, which +I cannot see for want of light." + +"I carry not passengers for naught," observed the carter, civilly. + +"Yea, but thou wilt carry me," retorted Walter Skinner. "I tell thee I +serve the king. Why, the prior of St. Edmund's did give me a horse when +mine own was gone, and wilt thou refuse me a bed? It shall go hard with +thee, varlet that thou art, if thou dost. I be ready to sink from +weariness. Lend me a hand down and into thy cart; lead thou my horse, +and so shall we proceed, I at rest as becometh the king's man, and thou +serving me, thy proper master." + +The carter was slow of wit, and, as most men did, he trembled at the +mention of the king. He therefore did as he was requested, and Walter +Skinner was soon bumping along the road, oblivious to all his +surroundings. In the cart he might have remained until he reached St. +Albans, but that, just at dawn, he had a frightful dream. He was again +at Dunstable, and the landlord of the Shorn Lamb was about to deliver +him to the king who stood, in his dream, a hideous monster with horns +upon his head. In a shiver of dread he awoke. The cart was standing +still, and, at the side of the road, reposed the carter overcome by +sleep. By his side lay his drinking-horn. With trembling limbs Walter +Skinner climbed down from the cart. Then, seizing the carter's horn, he +untied his horse, which was fastened to the tail of the cart, and +mounted; took from the horn a long drink, and once more set out at a +furious pace which shortly became once more a slow one. Pausing only +long enough at St. Albans to procure breakfast for himself and a feed +for his horse, he continued on to London which he reached late in the +afternoon. But he did not go in at New Gate, for, making a sharp turn +at St. Andrew's, he went south till he came to Fleet street, when, +turning to the left, he entered the city through Lud Gate. Clad in his +scullion's garb, and with his face flushed from drink he presented a +strange appearance as he permitted his horse to carry him whither he +would through the narrow streets. + +"Here be people enough," he said to himself, "and yea, verily, here be +noise enough. But I will stop all that when I be Lord Mayor. What! +shall mine ears ring with vile din? If so be I would speak to my horse +could he hear me? Nay, that he could not. When I be Lord Mayor no smith +shall strike on anvil in my presence. And when I pass by, let the +carpenters cease to drive their nails; let all the armorers cease their +hammering; let the coopers forbear to hoop their casks; and then can I +gather my wits together, which is more than I can now do." +He was right as to the din; for here in these narrow lanes the +craftsmen lived and worked. Each one had his tenement of one room above +and one below. In the one below he worked, or in the street, and in the +room above he dwelt with his family. + +As he went uncertainly up one of these narrow lanes and down another, +leading north or south out of Cheapside, as the case might be, the +rabble began to gather about him and to bait him with jeers of various +sorts. + +"Why, how now!" he exclaimed, when he had once more come into +Cheapside. And he put on his fiercest air, which sat strangely enough +on one clad as a scullion. "Do ye gibe and jeer at me who am servant to +the king? What know ye of young runaway lords and Saxon serving-men? +And the perils of a long way, and the keeper of the Shorn Lamb? I could +open your eyes for ye, if I thought it worth my while. But ye be all +base-born knaves--" + +The last words were but out of his mouth when a strong hand jerked him +to the ground. And, not seeing what he did, as he struck fiercely out, +his clenched fist landed on the chest of the warden who was passing, +and Walter Skinner was promptly seized and about to be haled off to +punishment. + +Cheapside was the principal market-place of London. It was broad, and +bordered on each side by booths or sheds for the sale of merchandise. A +sudden disturbance attracted the attention of the bailiff who held +Walter Skinner. And, even as he turned his head to look, the very man +that had dragged Walter Skinner from his horse detached the little man +from the grasp of the careless officer, and bade him flee. "Flee away, +thou half-drunken scullion," said his liberator. "Thou dost lack thy +wits, and so I would not have thee also lack thy liberty." + +Now Walter Skinner was in that condition when, although he could not +walk straight, he could run. And away he went, his first impetus +carrying him well down into Bow Lane, which opened from Cheapside to +the south, where he speedily brought up against a curb post and fell +into the gutter. His appearance was not improved when he rose, but he +started again, and took this time, not the curb post, but a stout +farmer. The farmer instinctively bracing himself to meet the shock of +Walter Skinner's fall against him, no harm was done; but he whirled +round, grasped the little terrified rascal by the shoulder, and hurried +him into the adjacent inn yard. "Had I been an old woman or a young +child I might have been sprawling in the gutter," he began severely, +"and all because of thee. What account givest thou of thyself?" + +"Thou art but a yeoman," returned Walter Skinner, disdainfully. "And +dost thou ask me to account to thee? Account thou to me, sirrah. What +didst thou in the street standing there like a gutter post to obstruct +the way of passengers in haste? But for thee I had been well sped on my +way." + +The farmer heard him in amazement. Then he said: "I do perceive that +thou art a fool; and with fools I never meddle." And seizing him once +more by the shoulder, he thrust him into the street. "Speed on thy way, +little braggart," he said, "even till thou comest to thy master, who +must be the Evil One himself." + +Walter Skinner sped away, by degrees slacking his pace till, after much +wandering, he came to a low public house on Thames Street, where he +slipped in, hid himself in a corner, and went fast asleep. It was noon +of the next day before he was discovered and routed out by a tapster. +"This be no place for a scullion," said the tapster. "Get to thy +duties." + +"I be no scullion," retorted Walter Skinner, indignantly. "Till now I +was the king's man with good hope to be a duke or the mayor of London." + +"I go to tell master of thee," returned the tapster. "And he will set +thee to scour knives in a trice." + +The tapster was as good as his word, and Walter Skinner, much against +his will, was soon at work. "Here be another degradation," he muttered +over his knife blades, "and I stand it not. I be not so mean-spirited +as to labor, nor to do the bidding of other men who should do mine." So +saying, he stole from the kitchen and the house into the streets, where +he became a vagabond, and so remained, along with thousands of others +like unto him. + +Meanwhile Hugo and Humphrey and old Bartlemy were having troubles of +their own. The places in London suitable for them to stop at which old +Bartlemy knew proved to be known to him by report only. And, lacking +the present help of him whom Humphrey was pleased to call Bartlemy's +"friend to his counsel," the whole party soon knew not where to go; for +the old man had lost the energy with which he had escorted them to +London, and seemed to have sunk back into the semi-helpless mixture of +shrewdness and credulity which he appeared when Hugo and Humphrey had +first met him. One thing, and one only, seemed to engross most of his +attention, and that was Humphrey's mole. And he was ever prating of the +fortune it was sure to bring him. + +"Lad," said Humphrey at last, when they had been two days in the town, +"if we are to come safely off we must be rid of him. The gumming up of +the horses' manes and the braiding of their tails have already made the +innkeeper look strangely at us. Had he not set it down as the trick of +some malicious groom, it had been worse for us. And I do fear the old +man's babbling tongue. I will sound him to see how much will content +him, and perchance from thy pouch and mine the sum may be made up." + +Old Bartlemy was growing weary of his woman's dress, and weary of +hovering around Hugo in the assumed capacity of his nurse. He was not +in his apartment when Humphrey went to seek him, and further search +revealed the fact that he was not in the house. So, somewhat disturbed, +Humphrey went forth to find him, taking with him in his bosom Hugo's +pouch as well as his own. The inn where they were now stopping was the +White Horse in Lombard Street, and as Humphrey issued forth into the +street he knew not which way to turn. "The old nurse did go south +toward the waterside," volunteered a groom, who observed Humphrey's +hesitation. "She seemeth like one that lacketh wit, and so I did keep a +watch upon her till she went beyond my sight." + +Humphrey flung the groom a penny and went south himself at a good gait. +"If he be not at some public house I shall find him at a cock-fighting, +no doubt," said Humphrey to himself. It was now the second day of July +and clear and warm. The streets were full of hucksters having for sale, +besides their usual wares, summer fruits and vegetables. But to all +their cries Humphrey turned a deaf ear as he pushed impatiently on, +keeping a sharp lookout for old Bartlemy. And what was his amazement to +come upon him at last at the river side clad, not as the nurse, but in +his own proper character. + +"How now!" exclaimed Humphrey, with a frown. "Where is thy woman's +garb? And what meanest thou to cast it aside in this manner?" + +The old man peered up at him with a sly look on his face. "Ay, thou +mayest storm," he said; "but if I be tired of woman's garb, what is +that to thee?" + +"Why, this," returned Humphrey. "Thou dost endanger our heads by this +change." + +The old man shook his head and smiled a silly smile. "Nay," he made +answer. "I would not endanger thy head, for that would endanger the +mole upon thy nose, and so my fortune. Thou doest me wrong." + +Humphrey looked at him attentively and saw that a temporary weakness of +mind due to his age had overtaken him. So he said in a soothing tone: +"Where didst thou leave thy nurse's garb? I pray thee put it on again." + +Again there came the sly look over the old man's withered face. "I do +know where I did leave it," he said; "but I put it not on again. The +friend I have to my counsel did bid me put it on, and I did obey him, +for he is a magician. But I like it not, and I will wear it no more. +Why, look thou," he continued earnestly. "When I wear it I must remain +with the young lord, and be not free to consort with other men, and see +and hear all that goeth on. Wherefore I will wear it no more." + +Humphrey looked at him in despair. Then he said with assumed +cheerfulness: "I will now make thy fortune for thee. So mayest thou +return to the wood while we journey on." + +Old Bartlemy, as he listened, smiled with the delight of a child. "Said +not the fortune-teller truly?" he cried. "And how much is my fortune +that thou wilt make?" + +"Why, that I hardly can tell," returned Humphrey. "What callest thou a +fortune?" + +Old Bartlemy looked at him craftily. "The friend to my counsel did say +one hundred and fifty gold pieces, and that will pay for the +disguises." + +"No less?" asked Humphrey. + +"Nay," returned old Bartlemy. "If thou dost leave me, I may never see +the mole upon thy nose again. Therefore pay to me the one hundred and +fifty gold pieces before I ask thee more. For the friend to my counsel +did say, 'Take no less, and as much more as thou canst get.'" + +"Thou art hard to content," said Humphrey. "But come thou to the +nearest reputable inn, where we may be unwatched, and I will pay to +thee the one hundred and fifty gold pieces which thou dost require. +Should they of the street see thee receive it, thou wouldst not keep it +long." + +The old man, with a crafty shake of the head, followed along in +Humphrey's wake. "I have the wit to keep my fortune," he said. "No man +may wrest it from me." + +Without further words Humphrey led the way, his mind full of anxious +thoughts as to how he was to get himself, Hugo, and the horses away +from the White Horse in Lombard Street without rousing suspicion when +the mule of old Bartlemy was left behind and the old man himself in his +character of nurse was missing. He was still busily thinking when they +came to a respectable little inn called the Hart. Turning to old +Bartlemy, who was following close behind, he said, "Here do we stop +till I pay thee what thou hast asked." + +Old Bartlemy said nothing, but he rubbed his hands together in delight, +and kept so close to Humphrey that he almost trod on his heels. + +"Now," said Humphrey, when they were alone and the old man had been +paid, "I ask thee this grace, Bartlemy. Wilt thou not once more put on +the nurse's garb and come back with me to the White Horse till I can +pay the reckoning and get away? After that thou mayest cast it aside +and wear it no more." + +"Nay," replied old Bartlemy, jingling the gold pieces and looking at +them with gloating eyes. "Nay, I will put on woman's dress no more." + +"Not if I pay thee to do so?" + +"Nay. I have here my fortune. What have I need of more?" And he sat +down obstinately and became at once absorbed in counting over his gold +pieces. + +Humphrey, seeing that nothing was to be gained, and anxious for Hugo's +welfare, at once left the room and the house and set out for the White +Horse. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + + +Through the same crowded streets, and entirely unmindful of the people +who jostled him, Humphrey mechanically pushed his way on his return +journey. How should he and Hugo get away from the White Horse? He knew +very little of the world, but this much he knew, that for them to +attempt to leave with the old nurse missing would be to thoroughly +arouse the suspicion which, so far, was half dormant. + +"I will pay the reckoning now," he said to himself as he entered the +inn yard. "And then we must do as we can to give them the slip. I know +not why, but dreams be slow to come in this town. I would we were +safely out of it." + +He had but just paid it, and the innkeeper was about to inquire +concerning his departure, when a great excitement arose. One of the +frequent fires, for which the London of that day was noted, had broken +out. + +"A fire, sayest thou?" cried Humphrey. + +"Yea," answered a groom, bursting into the bar. "A fire, master! a +fire!" + +Away ran the groom followed by the master. And Hugo coming down at this +moment, Humphrey hurried to him. "Make haste, lad!" he cried. "Come +with me to the stables. We must e'en serve ourselves and get out the +horses and be off, ere the fire abate and the innkeeper and the grooms +come back." + +Hugo wondered, but said nothing, for he saw that Humphrey was greatly +excited. And with despatch the horses were saddled and led out. "I +would not that people lose their homes unless they must," said +Humphrey, when they were safely away; "but the fire hath saved us, and +I warrant thee we pay not one hundred and fifty gold pieces for the +saving neither." + +"Didst pay so much?" asked Hugo. + +"Yea, lad," answered Humphrey. "It seemeth the 'friend to his counsel' +did set the price he was to ask, and nothing less would content him. He +did even hint at more." + +"And how much remaineth?" asked Hugo. + +"But fifty gold pieces, lad. We be now near our journey's end. Mayhap +they be enough." + +"Yea," replied Hugo, thoughtfully. "I must not go to the priory of the +Holy Trinity unless I have great need. So said my uncle to me." + +"And where is that, lad?" + +"Here in London. It is a powerful and wealthy priory, but my uncle did +say it is as well to pass it by if I can." + +"Mind thou thine uncle, lad. But whither go we now?" + +"To Dover. Then do we take ship to France." + +They had now come to the new London bridge which was of stone. Over it +they went, and had just started on their journey from its southern end +when, in haste, old Bartlemy, clad as the nurse, arrived at the White +Horse. He had slowly and laboriously counted his gold pieces three +times before it occurred to him that one hundred and fifty of these +treasures was no great sum. And that, if he did as Humphrey had +requested, he would be able to add other gold pieces to his store. Thus +thinking, he had repaired to the hiding-place of his disguise, put it +on, and set out. + +At the same moment of his arrival the innkeeper came back, and a little +later the grooms began to straggle in. + +Old Bartlemy, however, paid no attention to who came in or who went +out. His sole concern was to find Humphrey. Not succeeding, he appealed +to the innkeeper to know what was become of him. + +"Why, that I know not," replied the innkeeper, indifferently. "Most +like he hath not yet returned from the fire." + +Impatiently old Bartlemy, forgetting that he was a woman, and nurse to +a young lady of the better sort, sat down in the inn yard upon a bench. +And ever and anon as no Humphrey appeared he got up and mingled with +the knots of other men standing about, only to return to his seat. +Finally he could restrain himself no longer, but eagerly began to +inquire of all newcomers as to the whereabouts of Humphrey. Now while +his were questions which no man could answer, they were put in such a +manner as to make men stare curiously upon him. For they were such +questions as one man would ask of another, and not the timid inquiries +of an ignorant old woman. Finally, one of the bystanders more daring +than the rest advanced, and boldly turned back the hood of the head-rail, +letting it hang down over his shoulders, and the head of an old +man was revealed. A murmur of surprise and expectation now ran through +the crowd, and the same bold hand bodily removed the head-rail and the +robe beneath it; and there stood old Bartlemy in his gray woollen +tunic, his legs bare from the knees down, and his feet encased in skin +shoes reaching to his ankles. + +"Well done, mother!" cried the bold revealer of his identity. "And now +do thou tell us speedily who is this esquire Humphrey whom thou +seekest. Mayhap he is as little an esquire as thou art an old woman." + +Bartlemy looked from face to face, but he answered nothing. + +At this moment a groom came running from the stables. "Master! master!" +he cried, addressing the innkeeper, "the horse of the esquire Humphrey +be gone." + +"Gone, sirrah!" repeated the innkeeper. "And whither is he gone?" + +"Why, that I know not, master. I only know that the horse of the young +lady did bear him company. But the mule of the nurse is still there, +wherefore there is no thievery, since he did take but his own." + +The bystanders now crowded more closely around Bartlemy, with the +innkeeper at the front as questioner. "Tell us truly, old man," said +the innkeeper, threateningly; "who is this esquire Humphrey, and who +is the young lady that beareth him company? Make haste with thine +answer, or it shall be worse for thee." + +"Why," replied old Bartlemy, slowly, as his gaze wandered from face to +face, "the esquire is the false priest from Oundle, and the young lady +is his novice." + +At this reply a man from the rear elbowed his way to the side of the +innkeeper. "I know not how it may please thee," he said, "but, on the +Watling Street by the meat market two days and more agone, a man with a +bailiff to his help did stop a priest and his novice. And he did act +like a madman when he did discover that he had stopped the wrong +persons, and prated of a reward from the king which he must lose." + +Old Bartlemy grinned as he listened. Seeing which the innkeeper pounced +upon him. "Were these the priest and his novice?" he asked fiercely. + +"Yea, verily," answered old Bartlemy, proudly. "And they would have +been caught but for me. And now I know not whither they be gone," he +added disconsolately. "And perchance I shall see them no more; nor +shall I see the mole on the nose of the good Humphrey more; and so, +farewell to the fortune it might bring me." + +"And who is the young lady?" said the innkeeper, with a fierce look. + +"Why, she be a fine lad," replied old Bartlemy. + +The innkeeper reflected amid a low hum of comment. Then he turned on +the man who had told him of the priest and his novice. "Thou sayest the +king hath a reward for this priest and his novice?" he asked. + +"Yea." + +"And who be they?" asked the innkeeper. + +"They are like to be as little priest and his novice as they be esquire +and young lady. Who be they, I say?" + +"I had speech later with the bailiff, and he did say that the priest +was a Saxon serving-man, and the novice was the young lord, Josceline +De Aldithely, escaping to his father." + +"After them! after them!" cried the innkeeper, furiously. "They be a +prize!" + +In the hurly-burly and din that now arose old Bartlemy slipped out to +the stables, got possession of his mule, and rode off unnoticed. + +There were in the London of this time many great town houses of the +nobles. And that of Lord De Launay was situated in Lombard Street, not +far from the White Horse. To it he went riding, at this moment, with a +small retinue in livery. He looked in surprise at the commotion before +the White Horse, and beckoning a retainer he said, "Find me the meaning +of this uproar." Then he rode slowly on to his home. + +He had but entered the great square courtyard when the retainer came in +on a gallop. "Your lordship, it be this," he said. "They have but just +struck the trail of the young Lord De Aldithely and will presently run +him to earth, hoping for the reward offered by the king. He rideth now +disguised as a lady, and the serving-man rideth as his esquire." + +Now Lord De Launay was he who in the guise of a scullion had set Walter +Skinner free, and all for the friendship he bore Josceline's father. So +calling up twenty of his men-at-arms he sent them in pursuit. "No doubt +they ride to Dover," he said. "Make haste to come up with them. Bid the +young lord cast aside his woman's garb, and stay ye by them as an +escort on the road. Leave them not till they be safely aboard ship and +off to France." + +The men-at-arms of Lord De Launay were of the best of that time, being +both bold and faithful, and their master stood but little in awe of the +king. Not that he openly flouted the king's authority, but that, at all +times, he dared to pursue the course that seemed to him best. And this +he could do for two reasons; he pursued it quietly, and the king felt a +little fear of him. Moreover, the king did not discover how much he +owed to him for the thwarting of his plans. Else, powerful noble though +he was, Lord De Launay would have been punished. + +Meanwhile, Hugo and Humphrey were making the best of their way, and +stopping not to look to the right hand nor to the left. After them +galloped the men-at-arms, and not many miles out of the city they +overtook them. + +Upon their approach the fugitives gave themselves up as lost. "Lad," +said Humphrey, despairingly, "we have done our best, and we be taken at +last. No doubt these be the king's men-at-arms that ride so swiftly +upon our track. See how they be armed, and how their horses stride!" + +Hugo looked over his shoulder, and his face was pale. But there was no +regret in his heart for the attempt he had made to save Josceline, even +though the king's dungeon seemed now to open before him. He said +nothing, and a moment later the men-at-arms swept up and surrounded +them, their leader saluting Hugo, much to the boy's surprise. "My lord +bids thee cast aside thy woman's dress," said he, "and ride in thine +own character." + +"And who art thou? And who is thy lord? And wherefore art thou come?" +demanded Humphrey, bravely, as he spurred his horse between Hugo and +the man-at-arms who had spoken. + +The man-at-arms laughed. "I see thou hast cause to dread pursuit," he +said. "And, in truth, we did pass some vile knaves riding fast to +overtake ye. One and all they do hope for the king's reward, for the +old man at the White Horse hath betrayed ye." + +Closer to Hugo's side Humphrey reined his horse, and the captain of the +men-at-arms laughed louder than before. "Why, what couldst thou do for +the lad against us?" he said. "And yet, thou art brave to try. But put +away thy fears. Lord De Launay is, as thou shouldst know, the sworn +friend of Lord De Aldithely, and he hath sent us to overtake ye and to +carry ye safe to the ship at Dover. So let us on and set a merry pace +for these knaves that would follow us. But first, off with that woman's +robe, my young lord Josceline." + +"Willingly!" cried Hugo, who did not even now betray the secret that he +was not Josceline, not knowing what might come of it. And he threw off +hood, cloak, and robe while Humphrey looked from the captain to the boy +and back again. But without a word to the faithful serving-man, the +captain gave the command to the troop, and immediately all were in +swift motion. + +A mile was left behind them,--two miles,--and now Humphrey looked at +Hugo amazed. Among these men-at-arms who treated him with a respect +which was like an elixir to him, the boy sat transformed. He held +himself proudly, and seemed, as he sat, a part of his horse. His +handsome eyes shone, and a genial smile parted his lips. + +"Who art thou, dear lad?" thought Humphrey. "And though that I cannot +tell, yet this I know, thou art the equal of any De Aldithely." And +then Hugo's eyes fell upon him, and they filled with a most kindly +light. + +Meanwhile the motley crowd that had started in pursuit from the White +Horse had become appreciably thinned upon the road. For one was no +rider, and was promptly pitched over his horse's head. Another, in his +haste, had but imperfectly saddled his horse, so that he was speedily +at the side of the road with his horse gone. Others had chosen poor +mounts that could go but slowly, being waggoners' horses and not +accustomed to any but a slow motion. + +All these, with disappointment, saw the hope of the king's reward +slipping from them, and looked with envy upon the few who passed them +and vanished from their sight, with determination written on their +faces. Yet even these were destined to failure and, before Rochester +was reached, were fain to turn back, having seen nothing of those whom +they sought. + +But the troop of men-at-arms with Hugo and Humphrey still sped, halting +for the night in a safe spot, and rising betimes in the morning to +hurry on, until, their duty done, and the two safely aboard, they +turned back at their leisure. + +And all this time, upon the sea going down from Scotland was a ship +which bore Lady De Aldithely and Josceline. Even in the wilds of +Scotland she could not rest, knowing that no spot would remain +unsearched if it should be discovered that it was Hugo Aungerville and +not Josceline who had fled to France. So she and her son had embarked, +and, two days before Hugo and Humphrey, they reached Lord De Aldithely. +And there they found William Lorimer and his men-at-arms, but, to Lady +De Aldithely's distress, no Hugo nor tidings of him. + +"What lad is this thou speakest of?" asked Lord De Aldithely. + +And then Lady De Aldithely told him all. "And his name," she ended, "is +Hugo Aungerville. Knowest thou aught of him?" + +"I should," replied Lord De Aldithely. "Though I have never seen him, I +do know he must be the son of my cousin, Eleanor De Aldithely; for he +hath her brave spirit, and her husband was Hugo Aungerville. And the +lad shall be knighted or ever he arrive. For if he elude the king +successfully and on such an errand, risking his own life to save that +of another, he hath won his spurs." + +Thus it was that when Hugo came welcome was waiting for him in the warm +hearts of his kinsfolk. And when he had received his spurs, and Lord De +Aldithely asked him what reward he could give him for saving Josceline +from the king's hands, the boy smiled archly upon the faithful Humphrey +who stood by. "I do ask thee," he said, "that Humphrey may be my +esquire." + +And from that day Humphrey, a serving-man no longer, followed his dear +lad, not only in France, but later in England, when Magna Charta had +been signed, and it was safe for them all to return. + +THE END + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Boy's Ride, by Gulielma Zollinger + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A BOY'S RIDE *** + +This file should be named bride10.txt or bride10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, bride11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, bride10a.txt + +Produced by Patricia L. Ehler, Suzanne L. Shell, Charles Franks +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we usually do not +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +We are now trying to release all our eBooks one year in advance +of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing. +Please be encouraged to tell us about any error or corrections, +even years after the official publication date. + +Please note neither this listing nor its contents are final til +midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement. +The official release date of all Project Gutenberg eBooks is at +Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. A +preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment +and editing by those who wish to do so. + +Most people start at our Web sites at: +http://gutenberg.net or +http://promo.net/pg + +These Web sites include award-winning information about Project +Gutenberg, including how to donate, how to help produce our new +eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter (free!). + + +Those of you who want to download any eBook before announcement +can get to them as follows, and just download by date. This is +also a good way to get them instantly upon announcement, as the +indexes our cataloguers produce obviously take a while after an +announcement goes out in the Project Gutenberg Newsletter. + +http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext03 or +ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext03 + +Or /etext02, 01, 00, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90 + +Just search by the first five letters of the filename you want, +as it appears in our Newsletters. + + +Information about Project Gutenberg (one page) + +We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work. The +time it takes us, a rather conservative estimate, is fifty hours +to get any eBook selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright +searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc. Our +projected audience is one hundred million readers. If the value +per text is nominally estimated at one dollar then we produce $2 +million dollars per hour in 2002 as we release over 100 new text +files per month: 1240 more eBooks in 2001 for a total of 4000+ +We are already on our way to trying for 2000 more eBooks in 2002 +If they reach just 1-2% of the world's population then the total +will reach over half a trillion eBooks given away by year's end. + +The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away 1 Trillion eBooks! +This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers, +which is only about 4% of the present number of computer users. + +Here is the briefest record of our progress (* means estimated): + +eBooks Year Month + + 1 1971 July + 10 1991 January + 100 1994 January + 1000 1997 August + 1500 1998 October + 2000 1999 December + 2500 2000 December + 3000 2001 November + 4000 2001 October/November + 6000 2002 December* + 9000 2003 November* +10000 2004 January* + + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been created +to secure a future for Project Gutenberg into the next millennium. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +As of February, 2002, contributions are being solicited from people +and organizations in: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, +Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, +Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, +Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New +Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, +Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South +Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West +Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. + +We have filed in all 50 states now, but these are the only ones +that have responded. + +As the requirements for other states are met, additions to this list +will be made and fund raising will begin in the additional states. +Please feel free to ask to check the status of your state. + +In answer to various questions we have received on this: + +We are constantly working on finishing the paperwork to legally +request donations in all 50 states. If your state is not listed and +you would like to know if we have added it since the list you have, +just ask. + +While we cannot solicit donations from people in states where we are +not yet registered, we know of no prohibition against accepting +donations from donors in these states who approach us with an offer to +donate. + +International donations are accepted, but we don't know ANYTHING about +how to make them tax-deductible, or even if they CAN be made +deductible, and don't have the staff to handle it even if there are +ways. + +Donations by check or money order may be sent to: + +Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +PMB 113 +1739 University Ave. +Oxford, MS 38655-4109 + +Contact us if you want to arrange for a wire transfer or payment +method other than by check or money order. + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been approved by +the US Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) organization with EIN +[Employee Identification Number] 64-622154. Donations are +tax-deductible to the maximum extent permitted by law. As fund-raising +requirements for other states are met, additions to this list will be +made and fund-raising will begin in the additional states. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +You can get up to date donation information online at: + +http://www.gutenberg.net/donation.html + + +*** + +If you can't reach Project Gutenberg, +you can always email directly to: + +Michael S. Hart <hart@pobox.com> + +Prof. Hart will answer or forward your message. + +We would prefer to send you information by email. + + +**The Legal Small Print** + + +(Three Pages) + +***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS**START*** +Why is this "Small Print!" statement here? You know: lawyers. +They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with +your copy of this eBook, even if you got it for free from +someone other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our +fault. So, among other things, this "Small Print!" statement +disclaims most of our liability to you. It also tells you how +you may distribute copies of this eBook if you want to. + +*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS EBOOK +By using or reading any part of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +eBook, you indicate that you understand, agree to and accept +this "Small Print!" statement. If you do not, you can receive +a refund of the money (if any) you paid for this eBook by +sending a request within 30 days of receiving it to the person +you got it from. If you received this eBook on a physical +medium (such as a disk), you must return it with your request. + +ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM EBOOKS +This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBooks, +is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor Michael S. Hart +through the Project Gutenberg Association (the "Project"). +Among other things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright +on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and +distribute it in the United States without permission and +without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth +below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this eBook +under the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark. + +Please do not use the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark to market +any commercial products without permission. + +To create these eBooks, the Project expends considerable +efforts to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain +works. Despite these efforts, the Project's eBooks and any +medium they may be on may contain "Defects". Among other +things, Defects may take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged +disk or other eBook medium, a computer virus, or computer +codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. + +LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES +But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below, +[1] Michael Hart and the Foundation (and any other party you may +receive this eBook from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook) disclaims +all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including +legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR +UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT, +INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE +OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE +POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. + +If you discover a Defect in this eBook within 90 days of +receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) +you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that +time to the person you received it from. If you received it +on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and +such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement +copy. If you received it electronically, such person may +choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to +receive it electronically. + +THIS EBOOK IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS +TO THE EBOOK OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A +PARTICULAR PURPOSE. + +Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or +the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the +above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you +may have other legal rights. + +INDEMNITY +You will indemnify and hold Michael Hart, the Foundation, +and its trustees and agents, and any volunteers associated +with the production and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm +texts harmless, from all liability, cost and expense, including +legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the +following that you do or cause: [1] distribution of this eBook, +[2] alteration, modification, or addition to the eBook, +or [3] any Defect. + +DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm" +You may distribute copies of this eBook electronically, or by +disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this +"Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg, +or: + +[1] Only give exact copies of it. Among other things, this + requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the + eBook or this "small print!" statement. You may however, + if you wish, distribute this eBook in machine readable + binary, compressed, mark-up, or proprietary form, + including any form resulting from conversion by word + processing or hypertext software, but only so long as + *EITHER*: + + [*] The eBook, when displayed, is clearly readable, and + does *not* contain characters other than those + intended by the author of the work, although tilde + (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may + be used to convey punctuation intended by the + author, and additional characters may be used to + indicate hypertext links; OR + + [*] The eBook may be readily converted by the reader at + no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent + form by the program that displays the eBook (as is + the case, for instance, with most word processors); + OR + + [*] You provide, or agree to also provide on request at + no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the + eBook in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC + or other equivalent proprietary form). + +[2] Honor the eBook refund and replacement provisions of this + "Small Print!" statement. + +[3] Pay a trademark license fee to the Foundation of 20% of the + gross profits you derive calculated using the method you + already use to calculate your applicable taxes. If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation" + the 60 days following each date you prepare (or were + legally required to prepare) your annual (or equivalent + periodic) tax return. Please contact us beforehand to + let us know your plans and to work out the details. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +Project Gutenberg is dedicated to increasing the number of +public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed +in machine readable form. + +The Project gratefully accepts contributions of money, time, +public domain materials, or royalty free copyright licenses. +Money should be paid to the: +"Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +If you are interested in contributing scanning equipment or +software or other items, please contact Michael Hart at: +hart@pobox.com + +[Portions of this eBook's header and trailer may be reprinted only +when distributed free of all fees. Copyright (C) 2001, 2002 by +Michael S. Hart. Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be +used in any sales of Project Gutenberg eBooks or other materials be +they hardware or software or any other related product without +express permission.] + +*END THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS*Ver.02/11/02*END* + diff --git a/old/bride10.zip b/old/bride10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6637b9d --- /dev/null +++ b/old/bride10.zip |