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diff --git a/37102-8.txt b/37102-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index ceb25fd..0000000 --- a/37102-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6815 +0,0 @@ - CEDRIC, THE FORESTER - - -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 http://www.gutenberg.org/license. - -Title: Cedric, the Forester - -Author: Bernard Gay Marshall - -Release Date: August 15, 2011 [EBook #37102] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CEDRIC, THE FORESTER *** - - - - -Produced by Elizabeth Oscanyan, Suzanne Shell, Eeyore004, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net. - - ---- - -[Illustration: _NOW HE RAISED HIMSELF ON HIS ARM AND CLAIMED THE -VICTORY_] - - - - - - - CEDRIC THE FORESTER - - - BY BERNARD MARSHALL - - - - - - - - - - D. APPLETON AND COMPANY - NEW YORK : LONDON : MCMXXVI - - - - - COPYRIGHT, 1921, BY - D. APPLETON AND COMPANY - - Copyright, 1920-1921, by The Sprague Publishing Company - PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - - - DP Transcriber's notes can be found at the end of the book. - - - - - - ---- - - - CEDRIC THE FORESTER - - - - ---- - - - - -Contents - - - - CHAPTER I--THE SIEGE OF CASTLE MOUNTJOY - - - CHAPTER II--THE TAPPING ON THE DUNGEON WALL - - - CHAPTER III--CEDRIC THE FORESTER - - - CHAPTER IV--THE CHAMPION OF MOUNTJOY - - - CHAPTER V--THE FESTIVAL OF THE ARCHERS - - - CHAPTER VI--WOLF'S HEAD GLEN - - - CHAPTER VII--THE OUTLAWS OF BLACKPOOL - - - CHAPTER VIII--"THE FORTRESS OF THE MONKSLAYER" - - - CHAPTER IX--CHURL AND OVERLORD - - - CHAPTER X--THE PASS OF THE EAGLES - - - CHAPTER XI--BY KIMBERLEY MOAT - - - CHAPTER XII--THE IRON COLLAR - - - CHAPTER XIII--ON THE ROAD TO RUNNYMEDE - - - ----. - -*ILLUSTRATIONS* - - Now he raised himself on his arm and claimed the victory - - Two huge stones, hurled by Alan the Armorer, came down on the - heads of the luckless churls in the moat - - Dame Franklin and the old soldier were frozen in their places - - The force of my blow drove him backward, but my weapon pierced - him not - - We had gone scarce half a mile when 'twas plainly to be seen - that my little mare was no match for the long-limbed steeds of - the Carletons - - While I spoke my mother had grown pale as death - - Then Elbert did come to the mark and, with a merry grin, sent - five arrows toward the target - - We made a procession through the field, all the men and maidens - shouting and dancing and making a most merry and heartening din - - He gave no inch of ground save to leap from side to side in - avoiding my downward strokes - - In a twinkling armed and mounted men were all about us - - Old Marvin had his cross-bow ready drawn, and he shot young - Montalvan through the face at the very first onset - - Hard we rode, indeed, and with little mercy on our mounts - - The water at the ford was filled with mounted men and bullock - carts, laden with spoil and making their difficult way through - the swift-flowing current - - The leader had his great sword thrust aside by Cedric's bow, - then was seized about the waist and hurled to the rocks below - - Both were red of face with hurry, and their horses were well - lathered and breathing hard - - Then with loud menaces I drove him to the wall where I made him - stand with hands above his head - - Sir Cedric rose to his feet and for a moment looked from one to - the other of our company - - With a mighty shout, we rode down upon the bridge, trusting all - to the darkness and the fury of our attack - - - - -CHAPTER I--THE SIEGE OF CASTLE MOUNTJOY - - -That was a blithe spring morning when the messenger from the King -brought to my father the order to join the army at Lincoln for the great -expedition into Scotland. Six armored knights with their squires and a -hundred men-at-arms made up the Mountjoy quota; and these my father, -liege lord of the domain and loyal subject of the crown, lost no time in -bringing together. - -Messengers, on horseback and afoot hurried out with his commands; and at -the castle we were all in a pretty flurry of making ready. - -The armorers were hammering and riveting in the courtyard, making a most -merry din; the big ox-carts lumbered in over the drawbridge, bearing -meat and grain for my father's company while on its way to the assembly -ground and for us who were to remain at Mountjoy; and our men in their -leathern jackets and hoods and with their cross-bows slung on their -backs were coming in by ones and twos and in groups of half a score. - -Now my lady mother drew near to Father's side as he watched the labor of -the armorers, and I, having no will to lose any word of his, came -forward also. - -"My lord," she said, "I would speak with thee where the noise of these -hammers will not deafen our ears." - -My father laughed as one laughs at the sorriest jest when he is gay. - -"Gadzooks! my lady," he said with a curtsy which my mother says he -learned in Italy, and which, try as I may, I cannot copy--"a daughter of -the Montmorencys should find in the din of armorers' hammers a music far -sweeter than that of the lute or viol." - -"'Tis well enough," said my mother, hurriedly, "and I should sorrow to -live where it never was heard. But I have a grave matter upon which to -consult thee. Hast thou given thought, my lord, to the castle's defense -during thine absence and that of the best part of our men?" - -My father's brow became furrowed. I opened my mouth to speak, but Mother -frowned at me so I held my peace. Methinks she sometimes thinks of me as -naught more than a child, forgetting that it was my fifteenth birthday -that we marked at Candlemas. - -"Some little I have thought of that," began my father, "and, indeed, -Kate, I would not have thee think I would leave thee unsecured. Marvin, -the old cross-bowman who attended me through all my campaigns, and whose -eye for the homing place of his arrow, is, in spite of his years, like -that of Robin Hood himself, shall be thy right-hand servitor, and with -him six good serving men, who, like him, are of the older day and unfit -for the long marches, but who can handle the cross-bow or, at need, the -spear as well as in their best days. These shall be at thy command; and -will be ample for these quiet times." - -"Nay, my lord," she answered, quickly, "these days are none so quiet, -with the Old Wolf of Carleton sharpening his fangs for us and ours." - -"The Old Wolf hath his summons to the King's banner as I have mine. Our -smaller quarrels must be laid aside while the war is on; and if Fortune -desert me not, I shall return far higher in the favor of the King than -e'er before. It is this very business, well and faithfully done, that -shall put an end to Carleton's insolence. The Wolf shall snap his jaws -in vain. The fat goose of Mountjoy for which he hungers shall show -itself an eagle with beak and talons." - -"I hope it may be as thou sayest, my lord. Still, leave with us Old -Alan, the armorer. He too is past the days of hard campaigns; and thou -wilt have the young smith, Dickon, for thy work in the camp. Alan shall -make for us such a store of cross-bow bolts as will make Old Marvin and -his men seem a score in case of need." - -"As thou wilt, Kate. I had need of Old Alan's head far more than his -hands; but 'tis true enough he's not the man who followed my father to -the wars." - -Then he turned to me and smiled as on that greeting day of his return -from the Holy Wars. - -"But, Kate," he cried, "here is the Champion of Mountjoy now. We had -forgot the chief of our defenders. Mayhap Sir Dickon here, if any seek -to do thee harm, will find better marks for his bolts than rooks and -hares." - -I knew that he made a jest of me; for he, too, hardly knows that I lack -but half a foot of being as tall as himself and that when I am not put -about by hurry or the like, my voice is as low a bass. But I answered in -goodly earnest: - -"That I will, Father. An if any varlet throw but an unmannerly word at -my lady mother, I'll stop his mouth with a good steel bolt. Let but any -one--Gray Wolf or other--threaten Mountjoy while thou'rt away, and come -within bow-shot of our walls, and he shall rue it well." - -"Ha! The young eagle tries his wings," laughed my father. "Spoken like a -true Mountjoy, Dickon. Thou'lt do. Give thee but a few more years and -thou'lt serve the King like all thy line." - -"And like a true Montmorency, my lord," put in my mother. "Forget not -that." - -"'Pon my soul, 'tis true," he laughed, "Dickon hath as good blood on the -distaff side as any his father can boast.--But to the matter of the -castle's defense in need. Will-o'-the-Wallfield shall stay behind also -to see that stores of grain and beef are ample. He's ever a good hand -with the farmers and as sound as an oak staff." And with a kiss for my -mother and a pinch o' the ear for me, he hurried out again to the -armorers. - -His spirits in good sooth were high that morning, as well might they be. -It was full two years since his return from the Holy Land. I had seen -him in London, riding in his shining mail with those who had helped -redeem the Blessed Sepulcher, and he the bravest, finest figure of them -all. Since that time he had stayed here at the castle with naught to do -save to judge the suits of the countryfolk and now and again chase down -and hang some forest-lurking robber. His comrades in arms and those that -knew his temper and his deeds were at the Court, a hundred miles away; -and many a dull day must have seemed a week in passing. Here in the West -we have no tourneys and of travelers from the farther world not many. -Only lately some little stir of life did we have. The Gray Wolf of -Carleton from his castle at Teramore, three leagues away, had sent to us -an insolent demand for tribute, claiming forsooth that the Lords of -Mountjoy were but a younger line of the House of Carleton and that we -held our fiefs on sufferance and at the will of them, our superiors. - -Always shall I remember the language of my father's answer. The clerkly -knave who brought Lord Carleton's message shrunk and shriveled before it -like a leaf too near the fire. Just so will I meet all such threats and -insolence when I have but a few more years. - -"Suzerain of Mountjoy, forsooth! Let the Gray Wolf look well to -Teramore, lest we of Mountjoy smoke him from his lair. Mountjoy banners -will dip before those of Carleton when England pays tribute to the -Saracen, and Beelzebub, thy master's friend, sits on the throne." - -The knave slunk back to Teramore; and for some weeks the Gray Wolf's -pack had yapped and yowled. Two of Lord Carleton's bailiffs had their -heads well broken by Mountjoy tenants of whom they demanded rental; and -an armed party was sent out to avenge them. These men-at-arms were even -more roughly used by some of our Mountjoy cross-bowmen who spied the -Carleton banner from afar as it entered the village. - -Real fighting would surely have come of it, and we of Mountjoy -outnumbered three to one, had not the King sent messengers to Teramore -and Mountjoy also, commanding all of us to cease from any violence in -the quarrel till his men could report to him the rights and wrongs of -it. - -Now came the King's call to his vassals, great and small, to serve in -the Scottish war; and my father was gay with the thought of service -under his sovereign's banner,--service that might place the name and -fame of Mountjoy high in his master's favor, and show what manner of man -and subject it was whom the Gray Wolf would rob of his lands. - -A week from that morning my mother had in hand a letter brought by a -courier from the King's army and bearing my father's greetings. They -were well on their way to the north, and believed the Scots would soon -have reason to repent them of their folly. Father had been given a post -in the advance guard, and was in high feather over rejoining some of his -comrades of earlier years. - -On the same day, and from another source, we had news that the Gray Wolf -was delayed at Teramore by an illness,--the same that had plagued him at -times since his campaigns in the Holy Land, but that he had sent word to -the King that he would overtake the banners ere they reached the -Scottish border. - -At seven of the next morning, I stood with Old Marvin by the drawbridge -wheel. He had seen to its lowering, and a wain-load of wheat from the -grange at the Wallfield was coming slowly into the courtyard. Suddenly I -espied a body of horsemen approaching at a trot half a mile away, at a -bend on the wooded road from Mannerley. With pointing finger, I guided -the eyes of Marvin; and for half a minute we both stood watching the -riders without a word. They were soon lost behind the trees, but our old -archer, with his hand on the wheel, now shifted his looks to the road -where it came out of the forest, a scant bowshot below us. - -Now we could hear the hoofbeats and once and again the ring of steel. -This could be no friendly call from our neighboring knights and squires -so early in the day. Besides, the loyal men of the whole region were -with the King's banner. Had the horsemen come by the Teramore road, our -thoughts would have flown at once to the Old Wolf and his designs, and -the drawbridge had gone up in a twinkling; but these came from -Mannerley; and I knew well that the good lady of Mannerley had days -since sent her small quota of knights and men-at-arms to Lincoln. We had -not long to wonder, for now the column came from the wood at a swinging -trot, and with a tall, gray-bearded knight at its head came forward -swiftly toward the open gate. - -Marvin stayed his hand no longer. I seized the crank with him; and we -swiftly turned it. We drew the bridge to a slant, half way to the -upright and barely in time to halt those riders on the yonder side of -the moat. - -"I know thee, my Lord Carleton," shouted Marvin, "what would'st thou at -Mountjoy? Dost think we keep no watch and ward?" - -The Old Wolf (for verily he was the leader of the horsemen) shouted back -to us in tones that made my ear drums ache: - -"Lower the bridge, varlet. Know'st thou not I am liege lord of Mountjoy, -and will hang thee higher than Haman if thou stay'st me by so much as an -instant. Lower the bridge, if thou would'st save thy carcass from the -crows!" - -Before Marvin could say aught in reply he was thrust aside, and my -mother, the Lady of Mountjoy, stood by the sally port. In a moment I -stood close behind her with cross-bow drawn and bolt in groove. - -"My Lord Carleton," she said, and her voice was wonderfully sweet after -the rasping tones that had been filling our ears, "what dost thou here -with three score mounted men when the King hath summoned all loyal -vassals to his banner?" - -So evil a face as he made at this greeting I hope never to see again. - -"Ah! 'tis thou, then, Kate of Montmorency. I have somewhat pressing -business of my own to forward ere I send final answer to the King. Now -deliver to me the keys of this my castle of Mountjoy. Or mayhap thou -wilt send yonder leather-coated varlet to act as thy champion 'gainst -one of my kitchen knaves. Now lower thy bridge, and all shall be well. I -will send thee and the boy there with a convoy of trusty knights to the -Convent of St. Anne. If thou hast the folly to attempt to stay me, I -will take the place by storm; thy varlets shall hang, every one; and -thine own fate thou canst guess. Come now! which, shall it be? I am not -accustomed to stay long for answers." - -"Traitor and Hound of Bedlam!" cried my mother in such a voice as I knew -not she possessed, "thine own head with the gray locks thou dishonorest -shall hang from my battlements ere thou gainest aught by this attack on -what thou thinkest to be a defenseless woman. While my lord fights for -his country under the banner of the King, thou sendest back lying -messengers, and arm thy crew for robbing him of his lands. Now back, -with all thy bloody-handed band, or my cross-bowmen shall see if they -cannot find with their bolts the joints of your harness. I give no more -time to parley. Back with you!" - -Already my cross-bow was leveled at the gray beard of the leader on the -other side of the moat. I would make good my boast made to my father but -a week since. I was trembling and my hair stood up like that of a dog -that meets his bitter enemy. Muttering a little prayer for the bolt, and -closing my eyes with a sudden, foolish dread, I pulled the trigger. But -my mother, just then seeing my design, struck up the weapon with one -swift blow, so that the bolt sped harmlessly over the heads of the -horsemen. - -"Hold thy arrows, boy," she commanded, "we cannot shoot men down at -parley, be they never so villainous. And we shall have fighting enough -ere long." - -Lord Carleton made a move of defiance; but he wheeled his steed and led -his men down the road by which they came. In the shadow of the woods -they halted; and the Gray Wolf called about him three or four knights to -whom he gave hurried orders. Very soon his troop broke into three -parties. One rode to the right and another to the left, while the third, -under the old lord's command, remained opposite the main gate and -drawbridge. Then our watchers on the battlements saw the other parties -posted at points of vantage around the castle and a young squire riding -at full gallop along the road to Teramore. The siege of Castle Mountjoy -had begun. - -We passed some weary hours while the Carleton knights gave no sign of -meaning to attack. The approaches to the drawbridge are steep and rocky, -and the moat is commanded by the cross-bowmen from the slits in the -towers and from the battlements above. I well knew that Carleton was an -old and skillful soldier, even though a cruel and bloodthirsty one; and -it was easy to be seen that he had no mind to lose any of his armored -knights in vain attempts to reach us. Now and again a cross-bow bolt -sped from our battlements toward the besiegers; and some of these rang -on their helmets or breastplates; but the hounds had good Toledo armor, -and no bolt found its way to joint or visor. I found none to stay me -now; and stood by a firing slit, sending arrow after arrow at our -enemies. - -Twice old Marvin had dinted with well-aimed bolts the hauberk on which -rested the long gray beard of the leader of the pack. A younger knight, -whom I took to be Ronald of Egleston, seemed to beg him to take to the -shelter of the trees; but the Old Wolf just shook his head with -impatience, and rode on from one to another of the sentry posts. - -At noon we could see in the edge of the wood, beneath the oak branches -not yet clothed with leaves, leathern wallets opened and bread and meat -passed around, this being followed by horns of ale and skins of wine -from the load of a pack-mule tethered near by. - -Then my mother, aided by old Dame Franklin, her nurse as a child and -ever her faithful servitor, and by me as the Heir of Mountjoy and the -representative of my father here, carried to the sentinels on the -ramparts and at the arrow slits bounteous refreshments of bread and -cheese and ale, encouraging them the while by friendly, confident words -and by her dauntless demeanor in readiness for the attack which we all -well knew was to come. - -"Marvin," she said, as we came near my old friend and worthy teacher of -the arts of war, "shall we give them as good or better than they can -send?" - -"Aye, that we will, Lady," quoth Marvin with an obeisance, losing the -while no glance of what might be happening in the edge of the wood -opposite, "if the wind will but ease a thought, and the Gray Wolf take -not to some shelter, I will land an arrow yet at the roots of that beard -which flaunts there in the breeze like a banner for those robber -hounds." - -"God speed thy bolt, good Marvin. An thou dost that, 'twill be as loyal -a service as e'er them did'st the House of Mountjoy. His band would not -linger long to annoy us, I think. And that cottage and half dozen acres -by the mill shall be thine in fee simple." - -"Lady Mountjoy," he said, with another bow, "I have served my Lord of -Mountjoy and his father before him for fifty years. Your bounty is ever -welcome, but, with it or without, I serve while I live. But hold! -there's the Gray Wolf again, looking our way with hungry eyes,--" - -He took long and careful aim, while I who had often seen him bring down -a running hare at a greater distance, watched him with halted breath. -But Fortune smiled not on him. A gust of wind came just as he drew -trigger, and turned his bolt enough in the hundred and fifty yards of -its flight to make it pass harmlessly to one side of our enemy. Old -Marvin made a bitter groan at this bad hap, and stood looking at the -knight with grinding teeth. - -"Better luck and a quieter air next time, good Marvin," quoth mother, -"thou'lt wing him yet, be sure." And she passed to another embrasure to -greet old Alan, the armorer, who was busy with carrying fresh supplies -of bolts to the archers. - -At two o' the clock a cry came down from our lookouts that -reënforcements were coming for our enemies. My mother and I hurried to -the battlements and from there descried a motley array of a hundred or -more men-at-arms, archers and peasants with axes and spades, tramping -along the road from Teramore. - -For a moment we were frightened at what we saw. Here was proof indeed -that the Old Wolf meant no hurried foray but an attack in such force as -might be expected to gain the castle and the lands of Mountjoy. - -Most of its proper defenders were far away, marching with other loyal -men under the banner of the King; and now it was clear that Carleton had -let no man go forward from all his lands, reserving all for this -treacherous blow. Armored knights could not swim the moat or climb up -its steep sides; but the Carleton force was now twenty times greater -than ours, and the Gray Wolf was well skilled in all the arts of attack. - -We had not long to wait in suspense. The men-at-arms and the peasants -turned into the wood before coming within range of our archers. Soon -after we heard the sound of many axes. Before a half hour had passed -there came from the forest a body which seemed like a part of the wood -itself. A hundred men ran out, clad in leathern jackets or the peasants' -homespun, and carrying no weapons save axes or poniards stuck in their -belts, each bearing before him a great, withe-bound armful of branches. -Following these came a score with planks and beams from a little lodge -in the wood which they had torn down; then eight huge fellows, running -with a tree, trimmed of its branches and carried butt foremost as a -battering ram. This was the thing that made me quake for the safety of -the castle, for it was clear to all of us that if those robber beasts -could fill the moat with their fascines and lumber, they could swarm -across, force down the drawbridge and with that accursed log break down -the inner gate. Once inside the courtyard, they would hold all in the -castle at their mercy. - -Surrounding the churls who acted as ram-bearers, and running as best -they might in their heavy armor, was a group of knights and squires, led -by the savage old graybeard of Carleton. Last of all came a dozen -cross-bowmen with bows drawn and bolts in groove. - -A half dozen of our bolts hummed through the air at their on-coming -line. I was at one of the arrow slits, glad indeed of a fair chance at -the Carleton curs, and using as best I might the good steel bow which my -father had brought back from the Crusade. Some of our first volley of -bolts found their marks, but most flew over their heads or buried -themselves in the bundles of branches which served them well as shields. -With might and main we loaded and fired again, this time with more -effect. One of my bolts felled the leader of the ram-bearers and threw -his fellows into confusion. But now the line was at the moat, the -fascines were hurled into it, the planks and beams followed helter -skelter, and a few of the boldest of their men-at-arms dashed out on the -footing thus made. - -Now indeed our bolts began doing their work. The fascines gone, the -leathern jackets were but the sorriest protection, and at twenty to -forty paces hardly a bolt failed to bring down its man. We were firing -as fast as we could lay the bolts in groove. All their burdens were in -the ditch, but it was not filled enough to allow a crossing. Some of -those who had ventured on the planks and branches became foot-caught, -slipped through to the water below and perished miserably like thieving -rats caught and drowned in a trap of meal strewn on the water of a tub. - -The Carleton cross-bowmen could do little against our stone walls -pierced with narrow firing slits. Some of their arrows came through, but -none of us were injured. Two huge stones, hurled by Alan, the armorer, -from the battlements above, came down on the heads of the luckless -churls in the moat and helped to scatter the scanty footing. Thrice more -had old Marvin dinted with his bolts the armor of the Gray Wolf, who was -running up and down behind his men, shouting threats and orders; but -still the arrows failed in drawing blood. Two other knights were not so -fortunate, for bolts struck them full in the faces, and they were borne -from the field by their comrades. - -In time, mid curses and threats, old Carleton shouted an order for -retreat. It was none too soon, for already half the homespun varlets and -men-at-arms, seeing no hope of reaching us, and expecting any moment the -fate which was falling on their comrades, were on their way to the -shelter of the woods. The Carleton crew recrossed the open ground more -quickly than it had come. Twenty or more of their number remained -behind, in the ditch or on its bank, and the battering ram lay where its -bearers had dropped it when their comrades broke and ran. - -[Illustration: _TWO HUGE STONES, HURLED BY ALAN THE ARMORER, CAME DOWN -ON THE HEADS OF THE LUCKLESS CHURLS IN THE MOAT_] - -Hardly had the last of them disappeared under the oaks when Marvin and -Alan appeared in the moat, armed with long-handled pikes. Quickly -hauling together some of the planks and beams to make a raft, they began -pulling and pushing apart the rest of the matter which had been meant to -form a crossing. There had not been enough of the brush and lumber for -the Carleton purpose but could they place as much more in the same spot, -it might make them a footway. We who guarded them from above and stood -ready to give warning of any new attack were able to tell them over and -again that none of our enemies were showing their heads. So holpen, the -old soldiers made a thorough piece of work, and in half an hour had -hauled out all the planks and beams and so scattered the brush bundles -that they would be of little use to the attackers should they find -stomachs for another assault. - -That night was a weary one for all of us. The camp fires of the Carleton -robbers made a kind of circle about our place and gave us warning of how -close they made the siege. My mother gave orders that half her men -should lie down to sleep, though with their arms beside them, while she -and Marvin often made the rounds to be sure of the watchfulness of the -others. She would have had me go to my bed like a very child; but I -begged it as a boon to share the watch, to which prayer she most -unwillingly gave ear. That night I could not have slept in the downiest -of couches, e'en with the softest music of well-played lutes. There was -men's work afoot; and ours were all too few. At midnight the sleepers -were awakened and the watch changed; but always we three remained on -guard. - -The night was quiet, even so; and so was the whole of the day that -followed. Beyond bowshot on the open ground, we could see the groups of -our enemies and watch the sentries pacing their beats. Nearer at hand on -the wooded side, we could hear from time to time the calls of men and -the strokes of axes. - -In the afternoon my mother found a few hours for sleep, leaving Marvin, -who seemed to have no need for rest, in charge. Our old soldier and -worthy lieutenant had told her that the siege might last for weeks, and -that it would be folly for her to wear out her strength in its very -beginning. To this good advice I made bold to add my urging. Dame -Franklin had followed her mistress everywhere, bringing her food and -drink when of herself she would have forgotten, and trying always to -place herself between Lady Mountjoy and her enemies. - -The first night had been starlit, but that which now came on was cloudy -and so dark that one could scarce discern an enemy at a dozen paces, and -not then unless his figure were seen against the sky. None of our men -were allowed to sleep, for it was felt that the Carletons might come at -us again at any moment and with much better chances for success than -before. No one in the castle forgot that our enemies outnumbered us by -almost a score to one or had any doubts as to what would come to us if -by force or by treachery, the Gray Wolf and his pack made their way into -our courtyard. - -Soon after midnight we heard a loud tramp and roar of footsteps in the -direction of the wood. Arrows we sent hap-hazard toward the attack, but -in the darkness these did little more than tell our enemies that the -Mountjoy men were at their posts. In a moment the other side of the moat -was thronged with half-seen figures. Cries of command rang out and the -waters of the ditch splashed high with the strokes of fascines, logs and -sacks of earth. Now again our archers found victims, but in the murk and -mid the wild cries and running to and fro these were but few. Most of -our bolts struck harmlessly into the ground or the water or rang against -the stones of the moat wall. - -The frontmost of the churls who bore the brush and sacks, when they had -cast their loads into the ditch, turned and ran back to the edge of the -wood whence they presently returned with fresh supplies. Had it not been -for the good labors of old Marvin and Alan in moving the matter cast -down in the first attack a way would soon have been laid to the foot of -the drawbridge. As it was, our ditch was fast filling. There seemed to -be thousands of the burden bearers, running like Imps of Darkness with -planks and great bundles; and in the pitchy dark of that black night the -fire of our garrison had no effect. - -I was firing as fast as might be from one of the arrow-slits; but, like -the others, could not tell whether any of my bolts were finding victims. -Each moment the numbers of our enemies increased. The pile of planks and -brush now reached nearly to the inner wall of the moat. My mother ran -back and forth behind the archers, carrying new supplies of missiles, -and shouting heartening words. Old Marvin was hurling bolts as fast as -he could load, and roundly cursing the hounds of Carleton and the -blackness of the night that sheltered them. A moment more and I could -hear axes ringing against iron. The bloody crew were hacking at the -fastenings of the chains of the drawbridge. - -Suddenly a thought crossed my mind like a shooting star; and I sprang -away from my firing port. - -"Mother," I cried, "we must have light to shoot by or we're undone. -Quick! the torches!" - -Throwing down my cross-bow, I ran into the great hall and caught up a -torch from the mantel. Thrusting it deeply into the fireplace embers, I -quickly kindled it; then sped up the stairs toward the battlements. - -Not for nothing is my lady mother a Montmorency of the old fighting -line. In a trice she had understood my plan and was following me with a -lighted torch. Close behind her came old Dame Franklin, bearing another. -The three of us ran with all our might up the crooked stair and the -ladders, and came out on the battlements, under the black sky. - -As if the castle were all aflame, the moat and the farther bank were -lighted by the glare. In an instant the cross-bowmen found their targets -among the fascine bearers and the men-at-arms who were already swarming -across. At once we heard their cries of rage and pain, and could see -corpses rolling down the bank into the muddy waters. Alan heaved great -stones from his supply on the battlements on to the heads of the -men-at-arms in the ditch who but now had been raising a shout of -victory. Old Marvin took most careful aim at a gray beard which caught -the flare of light, and sent forth a mighty yell of joy as the knight -spun around on his heel and fell to the ground. - -Oh, the crowding and shouting and trampling under foot in the ranks of -our enemies! The threats and the fear and the curses! Our arrows kept -pouring from the firing slits. A younger knight caught his chief by the -shoulders while another seized his legs, and they bore him quickly away. -There was no need for any order to retreat. The whole body was in -headlong flight in the winking of an eye, pursued by the whizzing bolts -and the jeering yells of our fellows in the towers. On the battlements -above stood my lady mother, old Dame Franklin and I, holding aloft our -flaming torches. - -Suddenly the old nurse screamed that I was hurt. And indeed, I now felt -a most sharp pain through my shoulder where, it seems, had struck a bolt -discharged by some Carleton archer. My doublet was covered with blood; -and I felt a most unmanly giddiness. It was over in a flash; but my -mother, pale as a ghost under the torchlight, had seized me by one arm -while Dame Franklin grasped the other, fearing forsooth lest I fall from -the battlements to the moat below. Between them, I made my way down to -the hall where they led me to a couch, they all the while mumbling and -weeping and forgetting our glorious victory which had all my thoughts. - -Soon old Marvin had drawn the arrow and dressed the hurt with the -simples he had at hand. 'Twas my first wound, and, truth to tell, as -Marvin plucked the bolt away my stomach was none too well at ease, and -the room and all its folk swung slowly round and round. Yet when I heard -him declare to my lady mother that the young master was now a man in his -own right and a worthy son of the Mountjoys, I closed my eyes to the -dizzying hall with its dancing armor suits and its nodding pictures of -my long dead forbears, and soon slumbered, well content. - -For two hours and more I slept as one drugged. When my eyes opened, the -hall had ceased its swinging, and my mother sat by my couch and did hold -my hand in both of hers as she was wont to do long, long ago when I was -but a child. Dame Franklin, in a chair near by did slumber deeply and -with most comical groans and snores. Just then returned old Marvin, -fresh from new labors in the moat. He and Alan had again cleared away -all the contrivings of our enemies; and he was in high feather at our -victory. - -"Lady Mountjoy," he said, making due obeisance, "we have beaten the -wolf-pack full soundly. The Old Wolf himself is sore stricken, if not -dead; and the others will gladly crawl to their holes. Sir Dickon will -have a merry tale and true to tell my lord when he comes from the -Scottish war." - -"Say'st thou so, good Marvin?" quoth my mother in reply. "Dost think we -have smitten them so they will give over all their evil design?" - -"My word upon it, Lady. We have beaten off all their strokes, killed a -score and more of their men, and gi'en to the Old Wolf himself some -measure of his just deserts. The morning will show their camp fires cold -and the woods and fields of Mountjoy deserted by the whole wolf-pack. -Ere three days have passed thou shalt walk abroad with thy women and -without fear of any Carleton, lord or churl." - -These goodly words were to me better than physic; and the smile which my -lady mother gave to me was a fair guerdon for any service. Soon I slept -again and dreamed of riding my white mare on the banks of Tarleton Water -on a day most fair to see. But I wakened to a gray and frosty dawn and -to things far other than my dreams. My mother had just returned from the -ramparts. The besiegers were still at their posts, and their camp fires -burned brightly. She had made out messengers speeding along the road to -Teramore, but of a breaking of the siege could see no signs around the -camps of our enemies. - -When she brought this news to me, I spurned the quilted robes and the -silken coverlet which she had laid over me, sat up on the couch and -asked for boots and cross-bow. She was deeply frightened at this, -fearing my giddiness had returned and that I knew not what I said. But -Marvin, coming into the hall just then, did say that my wound was too -slight a thing to keep a fighting man in his bed; and thus aided I had -my way, and soon was on the ramparts again. - - - - -CHAPTER II--THE TAPPING ON THE DUNGEON WALL - - -As before, the siege went on, the sole variance being the absence of the -gray-bearded horseman from the groups of knights and squires who made -the circuit of the sentry-posts. Days and weeks went by, and they made -no further assaults, but so closely were the siege lines drawn that, -without wings no creature could enter or leave the castle. It was -evident that the Carleton men hoped to starve us into submission. We -smiled at this when we thought of the loads of grain and salted meats -which had been brought into the storerooms in the first week of my -father's absence, and which would be enough to feed all our little -garrison for a year. A well of most sweet water in the courtyard had -never been known to run dry; so we had little cause for fear of either -hunger or thirst. - -What with Marvin's simples, my wound was fast healing, and I longed for -another fray where I could use my bow at close quarters. Scarce a day -passed without one of my bolts striking the steel harness of some -Carleton knight; but none found their way to armor joints; and the -peasants and leather-coated men-at-arms kept well beyond a hurtful -range. - -One dismal morning, when a month had passed, my heart sank, as did those -of all the Mountjoys, as we made out the tall figure in black armor and -the long gray beard of the Lord of Carleton, again making his rounds at -the head of a group of knights and squires. Plain to see, he had -recovered from his wound and was as bent as ever on Mountjoy's fall. The -old Gray Wolf was hungry not only for the house and lands of Mountjoy -but also for the vengeance which to him would be sweeter than all the -lands of England. Now might we expect new assaults, planned with their -two failures in mind, and bringing to bear new plans and schemes and all -their beastly hate and greed. Some of our old serving men shivered as -they spoke of the devilish deeds of the Gray Wolf, and of the fate in -store for them if the next assault should win its way. - -That night, at something after ten, the weather being raw and dismal -with a cold spring rain and the spirits of all the Mountjoy folk -somewhat adroop, one of the archers had been sent to the cellars to draw -a pitcher of ale. In a moment he came up the stairs on the run, and -burst into the hall with the empty pitcher held in shaking hands and -with teeth chattering with fright. - -"Oh, my lady!" he said, catching for his breath, "the Evil One hath us -now, and all our doings are for naught." - -"What say'st thou, Gavin?" called his mistress, "who tells thee tales of -the Evil One?" - -"'Tis--'Tis the truth," answered poor Gavin, "but now, in the cellars, -he goes--_tap tap tap_ in the ground at one's feet. So has he come to -take many a poor mortal. We be called for, and all our sins on our -heads, with no holy man at hand to say him nay with book and bell." - -"Go to. Thou'rt a coward when in the dark by thy lone," said my lady, -scornfully, "though thou fight'st well and truly with comrades at thy -elbow. Marvin, if our watchers are to have their sup of ale on this raw -night, thou must even draw it thyself." - -But our brave old archer, hero of a hundred battles, turned pale and -answered slowly: - -"Nay, my lady, it is not well for mortal men, with mayhap many a word -and deed unconfessed and unpenanced, to meddle with the Powers of -Darkness. For my sins I know them of old, and I dare not face them. Show -me a mortal man, and I'll stand before him with whatever weapons, but -not the spirits that thump on the footstones by night or twist the neck -of a sleeping man with a hand not seen." - -My mother turned pale, and I could see the fringe of her sleeve barely -aquiver in the candlelight. She opened her mouth to speak in reproof of -Marvin; but found no words, and sat gazing toward him with wide and -glistening eyes. Truth to tell, it was a fearsome thing, and for myself -I had but the smallest wish to face the dungeon passages on that black -night. 'Twas not so long since I would not have faced them by my lone on -the most quiet and peaceful of nights with no armed enemies within a -day's journey; and a great round lump came up into my throat as I -thought of it. Yet, even as we sat eying one another in fear, a thought -came to my mind of the duty of a Mountjoy. 'Twas but natural that our -serving men should fear the evil sprites let loose by darkness and -troublous times; and e'en my mother, a fair and gracious lady, and -withal none too strong of body, was not made to face such things. But I -was the Heir of Mountjoy; and my father had knelt before a King of -France and been made Knight of a holy order for his deeds on the Plains -of Jerusalem. I started up and cried: - -"Tush! good Marvin. Methought thee far too bold for frightening with old -wives' tales. Come! I'll go before thee bearing a candle to fright away -thy imaginings." - -"Spoken like a true Montmorency," said my mother with a strange little -laugh, "truly, Dickon, thou'lt shame us all." - -Then she rose and reached to the shelf behind her for a candlestick. - -"Oh, now, my lady!" cried old Dame Franklin. "Go not to the dungeons on -such a night. The men can better want their sup of ale. 'Tis an ill -night for all uneasy sprites. Bide here by the fire, for soon we go to -the battlements again." - -But my lady already stood with her hand on the great latch of the door -at the head of the stairway which led to the donjon keep. I took my -cross-bow. - -"If any of the Imps of Darkness challenge us," I said, "I'll see whether -or no they can stand before a good steel bolt." - -But even in the midst of my confident words, I had a thought anent the -spectral tappings which chilled the blood in my veins. Ghostly visitants -I was ready then to challenge; but I had heard my father tell how the -Crusaders took one Saracen stronghold by means of a mine or tunnel, dug -with weeks of toil under the walls and into the passages of the ancient -keep. Why should not the Old Wolf of Carleton have planned a like -attack? During the weeks when his men had seemed so quiet and had given -the Mountjoys scarcely a chance for a long bowshot, might they not have -been driving such a tunnel under their very feet? Suppose that tapping -that Gavin thought the work of the Evil One were the sound of the tools -of the servants of one scarcely less evil and with even more cause to -wish us ill! - -"Come then," said my mother, her face white but firm. Opening the great -oak door, she led the way toward the dungeons. - -Cross-bow in hand, I followed; and just behind me came Dame Franklin. As -she moved toward the door, Old Marvin picked up his cross-bow, made sure -of the poniard in his belt and followed also, mumbling the while, as -best he might, the words of a Latin prayer. - -We came to pause amid the stillness of the vault which was like unto -that of the Mountjoy tomb at Kirkwald Abbey to which one day, with my -hand tightly clasping my father's, I had paid a well remembered visit. -The candle wavered and guttered in a faint draught, and the light -gleamed on the wide eyes of the old dame and the trembling hands of the -archer. I was standing full still with my eyes on my mother's face. For -long we stood while I could hear no sound save the beating strokes -beneath my doublet. Then, suddenly, from the floor beneath or the solid -wall beside us,-- - -Tap, tap--tap--tap tap. - -No one spoke. The candle shook in my lady's hand till it threatened to -fall and leave us in utter darkness. Dame Franklin and the old soldier -were frozen in their places. Then again: - -Tap tap--tap--tap tap. - -"Oh, Mother," I whispered, "the passage! The secret passage! Our enemies -have found it." - -There was another fearsome silence. Then again--Tap tap--tap--tap tap. - -Then the echoes of the great vault were roused by a loud, clear call -from my lady mother: - -"Oh, my lord! My Lord Mountjoy, is it thou?" - -There came a muffled voice in reply, and again we heard the tapping. - -[Illustration: _DAME FRANKLIN AND THE OLD SOLDIER WERE FROZEN IN THEIR -PLACES_] - -At once she leaped toward the wall with a glad cry: - -"Oh, my lord, my lord, have patience but a moment. I will undo the -door." - -She brushed aside some old and mildewed hangings, all heavy with dust -and grime, and brought to view a small iron door. Snatching from her -girdle the largest key, she fitted it into the lock. Still, try as she -would, she could not turn it till old Marvin came to her help. Then -indeed the rusty lock gave way, the door swung slowly open, and my -father, the Lord of Mountjoy, followed by half a score of knights and -men-at-arms, stepped forth into the candlelight. - -When Lady Mountjoy at last was free from my father's embrace, she stood -with her hands on his shoulders and asked a dozen questions, demanding -that he answer all at once. - -"Whence comest thou, my lord? Are the Scots beaten? Had'st thou news of -the treachery of the Old Wolf of Carleton? How many men hast thou? Oh! I -had forgot this secret passage and the door to which thou gavest me the -key on our wedding day. My foolish men, and almost myself, believed thy -signal was a ghostly tapping. But Dickon remembered the passage; and -when I had thrice heard the signal I knew it for the knock that thou -makest at my door,--the signal that means thee and none else in the -world." - -Meanwhile old Marvin had made fast the secret door, and we all were -moving toward the stairway, my father's arm encased in link armor thrown -around the waist of the castle's mistress. - -"Welladay, my dearest Kate! Not quite so fast and I will tell thee. The -Scots are beaten; and we of Mountjoy had an honorable share in it. The -campaign goes on, but a loyal youth from Mountjoy village found me after -the battle and told of the doings of the traitor, Carleton. Straightway -I took the boy before the King. And he being pleased with some work I -had done that day, did bid me take ten of my best men, make my choice of -ten horses from his train, and ride post haste to the relief of my house -and my lady. We reached the Tarn Rock, half a league from here, at -nightfall, and reconnoitered Carleton's camp. He being in greater force -than we could cope with at once, I bethought me of this old passage from -the wood two furlongs off. And so I have been tap, tap tapping for an -hour, hoping at last to get the news of my coming to thee. And art thou -well, my Kate? And have the rascals done aught to harm thee or Dickon -here?" - -"Not a whit, my lord. Save for an arrow stroke our Dickon hath come by -in open fight, and which is already nearly healed. They have made some -mighty threats, and would have carried them through with right good will -could they have reached us; but, thanks to Dickon, to old Marvin here -and the others, they got much worse than they gave. Many a Carleton -knave will ne'er cut another throat, be it of man or pig; and the Old -Wolf himself was very near to his just reward in the shape of a good -steel bolt from Marvin's bow." - -On the ramparts next morning swung my father's banner of purple and -gold. Watching our enemies' camp, I could plainly see that the display -of this flag, which they knew should signify naught else than the -presence of the head of our house, early brought most of them, and -finally the Gray Wolf himself, to gaze at the flagstaff. They were -telling one another, as I could well imagine, that this was but a ruse -on the part of the castle's mistress, intended to deceive them into the -belief that Lord Mountjoy had come through their lines in the night. -What was their surprise therefore, when Lord Mountjoy appeared on the -battlements in full armor and wearing the purple plume he had brought -from Italy, and yet more when they saw him attended and followed as he -was. Armored knights, in numbers they could not tell, came into sight -and passed from view on the battlements and at the casements. We could -fairly see the rumor flying through the Carleton camp that Lord Mountjoy -had returned with all his men and by stealth or by magic had passed -their sentinels during the night. - -The Gray Wolf stared long and viciously at our battlements, and called -on those with younger eyes to make sure of what he saw. Then with oaths -and curses that made his men quail before him, he gave orders to break -camp and return to Teramore. - -By midday the last signs of the siege were gone, the ashes of the -circling camp fires were cold, and the great drawbridge was down once -more. A messenger was sent to the Tarn Rock to bring in the horses and -their guards. In the sunny spring afternoon, when we went forth to -reconnoiter the deserted camps of our enemies, I rode at my father's -side, wearing for the first time the gold-hilted sword which had been -brought from Damascus. - -Two months later, the King returning to London, confirmed my father in -possession of his estates, and sent messengers to old Lord Carleton -demanding his instant attendance at court. Again the Old Wolf was ill, -too much so to obey the command of his sovereign; but this time he was -not to rise from his bed as soon as the messengers had turned their -backs. - -The wound in his throat made by Marvin's bolt had never fully healed, -and now this, coupled with his old distemper, had laid him low. Even -while the heralds waited, the priest in the great upper chamber was -saying the prayers for the dying. At sunset on that day, I could see -from the Tarn Rock the blue and white banner of Carleton flying at half -mast over the battlements of Teramore. - - - - -CHAPTER III--CEDRIC THE FORESTER - - -It was on a sunny noontide, in fair October, some six months after we -had driven the hounds of Carleton from our castle of Mountjoy, that I -was riding in the forest, three leagues and more from home, on the way -to see my cousins of Leicester at their manor by the edge of Pelham -Wood, and mayhap to share with them one of those goodly pasties of -venison which their table never lacks. - -My bonny white mare, Clothilde, did amble along the woodland path with -dainty and springing steps, as though 'twere joy enough to be abroad and -lightly burdened on such a day; and it seemed to me I felt my youth and -growing bones and sinews as ne'er before. As I passed the Tarleton Water -which was rippling most sweetly under the sun glints, I was minded of a -fair dream that had come to me on that night we halted the second -assault of the Carletons, and after old Marvin had bathed and dressed -the wound I had from a cross-bow bolt. Here was the sparkling water, -just as I had seen it then, and the glimmering of the light on the oak -leaves of red and brown and gold; and here was I astride the goodly mare -that I had raised and broken from a colt, and on an errand far enough -removed from the grim business of that dark and dangerous time. - -By my side was the gold-hilted sword from Damascus which had been mine -since the return of my father, Lord Mountjoy, from the Scottish war; and -I bore no other arms nor thought of any need for them. My sixteenth -birthday would not now be long in coming; and already my mark on the -lintel post was within a handsbreadth of my father's own. My voice had -grown more settled of late; and, in the lonely reaches of the forest, I -was practicing for my own delight a sweet ballad which I had often heard -him sing, and which he had from the minstrels of Provence who had -journeyed with the armies to the Holy Land. - -Suddenly, from the corner of my eye, I marked the movement of a bush in -a little glade two hundred yards to the right of my path. The swing it -made was none such as are caused by the wind; and indeed at the time all -the air about was still and warm with the quietness of the summer of St. -Martin's. Rather was the movement I had scarcely seen the twitch of the -leafy top of a sapling when its stem is roughly seized or when some -heavy thing hath fallen against it. To me it told, plainly and well, -that either was a deer grazing in that thicket or that some man, mayhap -with good reason for not wishing to be seen, was hiding there. - -In a moment I had turned Clothilde's head from the path and was riding -through the light underbrush with my eyes fixed on the ferny glade. Soon -I broke through the bushes that screened it and saw a youth in the -Lincoln green of a forester, stripping the hide from a fine antlered -buck. There had been, in the troublous times of the past year and more, -while most of the knights and gentlemen of the countryside were with the -King's banner in Scotland, far too much of lawless slaying of deer by -poaching villains and forest hiding thieves. Twice had I, in the thick -of the woods, come on the half-flayed and mangled carcasses which had -been left to waste or to feed the wolves after tenderloins and haunches -had been cut away. Now my choler quickly rose within me, and I called -out, full rough and loud: - -"How now! Thou deer-stealing varlet! I have thee red-handed. By my -faith, thou shalt smart well for this." - -The poacher sprang up and faced me; and I saw that he was a youth of not -more than my own time, though perhaps a thought broader of the shoulders -and hips. He seemed not like a forest lurker either, for he had a good -and open English face with the wide blue eyes that low-hearted knaves -but seldom have. Now, however, he answered my threatening looks with a -stare as bold as that of Robin Hood, and flung back at me in snarling -tones: - -"I steal no deer. I am the son of Elbert the forester of Pelham. My lord -of Pelham allows us four good deer in each twelve-month; and this is but -the third we have taken." - -"Thou liest, scurvy knave," I shouted, drawing my sword and making it -whistle through the air about my head, "leave that carcass and walk -before me to Pelham Manor; and we shall see what Lord Pelham says to -this pretty tale of thine." - -For answer the forester leaned forward and seized his cross-bow which -was leaning, ready drawn and with bolt in groove, against the bole of a -sapling near at hand. Leveling the piece at my throat, he growled, full -surlily: - -"Now, Sir Dickon of Mountjoy, turn thy horse and betake thee from here -as fast as may be. I have spoken truth, as you may learn full easily if -you ride to Pelham; but never will I, who go about my lawful business, -consent to walk as your prisoner like a stealer of sheep. Get thee gone -now, for truly my finger itches at the trigger." - -His blue eyes blazed at me with a menace not to be gainsaid. Here was no -crouching knave who might receive a buffet for his insolence, but one -full capable of making good his word. I was looking straight down the -cross-bow groove at the steel bolt which another threat from me would -send flying into my face. The knave was well beyond the reach of my -sword, and could kill me as easily as he had the great buck that lay at -his feet. I wheeled the mare and rode away out of the thicket, throwing -over my shoulder the while a string of threats of the punishment his -acts should bring down on his head when I had but spoken with his master -of Pelham. To all these the young forester answered never a word, but -stood with leveled weapon till I had passed from sight and hearing. - -In the midst of my wrath at being thus balked I could not but admit that -he bore himself well and truly. And I thought of a saying of my father's -that the greatness of England in battle was not the work of her armored -horsemen or even of her stout men-at-arms, but of these same yeomen of -the field and forest, who on many a hard-fought field had stood in -leathern coats or homespun smocks like the oaks of their native woods -and rained their arrows on the faces of the enemy spearmen till the -lines wavered and broke and made way for the charge of the mail-clad -knights. - -I soon regained the pathway, and was riding slowly while I meditated the -things I should say to Pelham of the insolence of his forester,--if -indeed the churl were the son of Elbert as he claimed. And so were my -thoughts disturbed that I saw no more the beauty of the day in the -greenwood nor heard the trills and twitterings of the birds overhead. -Thus engaged, and with my eyes fixed on the track in front, it was with -surprise that I heard the sound of a horse's hoofs and looked up to see -approaching me, and but a hundred yards away, a tall young man, dressed -in the style more affected at the court than in our rough Western land. -It needed but a second glance for me to name him as Lionel, the -twenty-years old son of the old Lord of Carleton, and the bitterest -enemy of our house. - -Early in the summer the Old Wolf of Carleton, as he was known to the -countryside, had died of a wound given him two months before by our old -Marvin with his good cross-bow when the Carletons were carrying forward -their traitorous assault on the Castle of Mountjoy, the while my father -with the best part of his men were with the King's banner in Scotland. - -For five years Lionel had been absent from Teramore, and one of a group -of high-born youths who, at the great London house of the Duke of -Cumberland, were being trained as squires-at-arms whilst they awaited -the day for receiving the order of knighthood. At the news of his -father's death he hurried to Teramore to join his mother and take charge -of the great estate. - -Often had we heard since then of the dire threats that he breathed -against the House of Mountjoy and all its people; but the King himself -had declared our quarrel just and affirmed our rights to the lands of -Mountjoy; and we gave little heed to the mouthings of one who had yet -his spurs to win and his name to make 'mongst fighting men. But now the -thought came over me of a sudden that I was but half a league from -Teramore Castle, mounted on a gentle palfrey and with no weapon save the -good sword at my side. If the threats of Lionel of Carleton were aught -but empty air, he would scarce let slip such an opportunity. - -These thoughts were but too well founded. Carleton was gazing fiercely -at me as he came forward; and as his horse came opposite, pulled him up -with a wrench on the bridle rein so violent that the mettlesome steed -all but cast himself on his haunches. - -"Ha! Well met, young Dickon of Mountjoy!" he snarled. "By my troth, my -good fairy must have guided my bridle to-day to give me this chance to -say my say to this young whelp of a race of dogs! Now shalt thou learn -what it is to have the Carleton for an enemy." - -Carleton was taller and longer-limbed than I. He wore a stout broadsword -and, stuck in his belt on the other side, a poniard of most wicked -design. He had the better of me in respect to four years and more of -practice of arms; and I knew full well that, were their quarrels right -or wrong, the Carletons were no weaklings. But already I smarted with -the affront given me by the poaching varlet; and now this insult to the -honorable name of Mountjoy was not to be borne. I threw his words back -in his teeth. - -"Thou Wolf-pup from a race of thieves unhung!" I shouted. "Get thee down -from yon tall war-horse, and draw that sword if thou darest. Thou'lt -make good thy mighty words or verily thou shalt eat them here and now." - -So saying I swung to the ground and drew my weapon. Carleton lost no -time in doing likewise, and came at me with a fury which I had scarce -expected. I met his thrust with the parry which my father had well -taught me years agone; and had my enemy not sprung aside with the -quickness of a cat, my sword in return had pierced his neck. - -"Ha!" growled Carleton between his gritting teeth, "so the Mountjoy -whelp hath already a trick or two of fence. 'Twill make the game the -more worth the playing. Hast stomach for cold steel? Look now!" - -He danced about me, thrusting and slashing wickedly with his heavy -sword, and displayed not ill the training he had had in the halls of -Cumberland. But since the day I could raise a foil, it had been my -dearest plaything; and whenever my father had been at home, he had made -my teaching his special care. Since his return from Scotland there had -been scarce a day when we had not spent a brace of hours with the foils -or with broadswords and bucklers. Some men are born for sword-play, as -others, like Old Marvin, for the cross-bow; but Lionel of Carleton was -not of these. A minute had not passed, as we circled and danced about -one another, with our weapons striking fire in the shadow of the wood, -before I knew that Carleton, with all his added years and training, was -no more than a match for me, if indeed as much. He panted and cursed as -each trick of thrust was met by its proper parry, and slipped most -dangerously on the oak leaves underfoot as I stepped aside from his -bull-like rushes. Presently my sword nicked him fairly on the arm, -drawing a spurt of blood and a stream of oaths. He lunged wildly -forward. I parried his thrust and drove my sword straight at his breast -bone. - -[Illustration: _THE FORCE OF MY BLOW DROVE HIM BACKWARD, BUT MY WEAPON -PIERCED HIM NOT_] - -The force of my blow drove him backward, but my weapon pierced him not. -Then at once I realized that which made my blood turn cold. He was -wearing beneath his doublet a shirt of linked mail; and I, without -defense of any sort, was fighting an armored enemy. - -"Ho!" I cried, "so thou gard'st thy coward heart with mail, lest -peradventure one might fight with thee on even terms." - -The wicked look he gave me in reply reminded me, even in that moment of -peril, of that on the face of the Gray Wolf of Carleton when he answered -my mother's challenge as to his errand at the gates of Mountjoy. But he -spent no breath in reply, and fought on with fury, bent on pressing his -unknightly vantage to the utmost. Twice I narrowly escaped his blade; -then once mine grazed his neck, for that was now my mark; and again -blood spurted from the gash. - -At this he lost all caution and rushed upon me as a bear upon his foe, -getting within my guard by some ill chance, and seizing me about the -neck and arms. Both our swords were dropped in the struggle; and we -wrestled and fought, not like knights and gentlemen, but like drunken -lackeys who have fallen out over their games of dice. Now, indeed, did -Carleton's weight and strength befriend him. I strove for my life to -topple him beneath me, but all to no purpose. In an instant I was -whirled through the air, and came down with a crash on my back, with -Carleton's knee firmly planted on my breast bone. - -At once he drew his poniard and pressed the point against my throat. - -"Now yield thee, Whelp of Mountjoy," he panted, "quick, ere thou diest." - -"Thou hast won," I answered, "but, fighting thus, 'twere more to thy -honor to have been overcome." - -"None of thy insolence," he snarled, "yield thee now as my prisoner and -vassal, and say that thou'lt ever yield obedience to the Carleton as thy -liege lord." - -At this my gorge rose and the world turned black about me. "Never," I -groaned, "better far to die than suffer such disgrace." - -"Die then," he shouted, hideously, and drew back his poniard for the -thrust. - -I closed my eyes, yet blood-red figures swam across my vision. In an -instant the steel would pierce my throat. Then of a sudden the grip of -my enemy relaxed, and his body rolled heavily from me. - -I started up, and saw the Carleton lying face up on the oak leaves, his -forehead pierced by a cross-bolt. Running toward me through the -undergrowth was a figure in Lincoln green which my staring eyes soon -told me was the young forester who had defied me in the glen but half an -hour gone. His cross-bow was in his hand, and he panted for breath as he -approached and called: - -"Art thou hurt, Master? Has he stabbed thee?" - -"Not a whit," I answered dazedly, examining my limbs and body the while, -"I have to thank thee then for my life. Thou camest in the nick of -time." - -"The Saints be thanked," he answered joyfully. "The Carleton there has -what he well deserves. I heard the sword-play from the glen yonder, and -soon knew the voice of that black caitiff. I was coming softly through -the woods, wishing but to see close at hand a gallant passage at arms, -when he overthrew thee and would have foully murdered thee, his -prisoner. 'Twas well my bolt already lay in groove." - -"Son of Elbert," I answered, offering him my right hand, "thou'rt a -ready man and a true, and willing I am to call thee friend. But what -other name hast thou?" - -He took my hand in a mighty grip and smiled most winsomely. "Cedric," he -replied, "a goodly Saxon name, borne by my grandfather before me." - -"Well then, Cedric, we must bethink us what shall be done in this -juncture. Yonder horse of the Carleton's is ours by lawful spoil. Mount -therefore, and let us betake ourselves from here as soon as may be." I -took up my sword and my cap from the oak leaves. - -He turned toward the horse, and in so doing his glance carried far down -the pathway which there for a quarter mile was straight beneath the -oak-trees. Then he turned back to me with a cry of alarm. - -"Mount and quickly. There be a half dozen of the Carleton men-at-arms. -An they catch us here by the body of their master, they will have our -blood. Come! For our lives!" - -With one bound he vaulted to the saddle of the war horse. Scarcely -knowing what I did, I found myself on the mare's back and spurring away -up the forest path. Cedric had no spurs, but he quickly urged his mount -to a gallop by blows of his heels; and we raced away at full speed. The -Carletonians raised a shout as they caught sight of us, and spurred -their horses in pursuit. Over our shoulders we saw them pause for a -moment by the body of Lionel; then resume the chase with a fury that -boded ill for us. I knew full well the fate in store should they -overtake us; and pressed the little mare for all the speed she had. -Cedric, on the tall war horse, quickly drew ahead, then, seeing me -losing ground, drew rein till I overtook him. Our pursuers were well -mounted, and were spurring and lashing their horses without mercy. The -thunder of hoofs along the forest road was like that at a tourney or a -great race-course. - -If I had had but a better mount, we could soon have drawn away from -them, for the tall steed which Cedric bestrode was the best of the -Carleton stables, and our horses were more lightly burdened than those -of our pursuers. As it was, we had gone scarce half a mile when 'twas -plainly to be seen that my little mare was no match for the long-limbed -steeds of the Carletons. Yard by yard we lost ground; and now we could -hear the clashing of stirrups and scabbards as our enemies panted close -upon our trail. - -[Illustration: _WE HAD GONE SCARCE HALF A MILE WHEN 'TWAS PLAINLY TO BE -SEEN THAT MY LITTLE MARE WAS NO MATCH FOR THE LONG-LIMBED STEEDS OF THE -CARLETONS_] - -We were going up a slope where the path ran between groups of boulders -and great rocks. Suddenly Cedric drew rein and turned aside behind a -sheltering ledge. Clothilde was panting hard, and I gladly followed him, -though knowing naught of what he intended. - -Throwing himself from the saddle, the forester quickly braced his -cross-bow and placed a bolt in groove. Resting the weapon on the corner -of the rock, he took quick aim, and let drive at the leading horseman. -Instantly the rider fell headlong to the ground, and his companions drew -rein in confusion. With a wondrous deftness, my companion loaded again -and let fly. This time one of the horses, struck in the breast by the -bolt, reared up and threw his rider. - -Like a flash Cedric leaped again on his horse's back, and signaling me -to follow rode straight away into the forest. The branches were so low -and the undergrowth so thick that it would seem that no rider could make -his way; but we were riding for our lives, and knew that the limbs would -hold back our enemies even more than ourselves. For five minutes we tore -wildly through the woods, half the time with our faces hidden in our -horses' manes to save our eyes from being plucked out by the branches. -We could hear shouts and curses behind us; but these momently grew -fainter, and then could be heard no more. - -Soon we came to the bank of a shallow brook. Into this, without stop or -parley, plunged Cedric, but instead of riding straight across as I had -thought, he turned his horse's head up-stream and urged him at a trot -along its bed. For a quarter of a mile we rode thus, then coming to a -ford and a half-blind pathway, turned aside in the direction away from -Teramore, and again laying our heads on the necks of our mounts, sped -through the woods at a ringing gallop. When we had covered a mile in -this way, the path merged into a wider one; and I recognized a little -vale to which my father and I had once come a-hunting, and which was -scarce five miles from Mountjoy. - -Here for a moment we paused, and Cedric threw himself down and placed -his ear to the ground. Then he rose with a glad smile and shook his -head. - -"Dost hear nothing of hoof-beats?" I questioned. - -"Not a stroke," he answered. "I had bethought me of a cave hard by here -where we might be hidden if the hounds were close upon us. There, with -the cross-bow, we could have stood off a hundred if need be, but we must -have turned the horses loose, with the chance of their being taken." - -"Nay," said I, "we've shaken them off full well. In half an hour or less -we can be crossing the drawbridge at Mountjoy. That noble steed thou -ridest is too fine a prize to be left to the Carleton wolves." - -Just then something whirred viciously through the air between us, and a -steel cross-bow bolt half buried itself in a tree-trunk close at hand. - -Wheeling about toward the place whence came the arrow, I saw the steel -cap and the ugly face of a Carleton man-at-arms over the top of a rock a -hundred yards away which concealed and sheltered the rest of him. -Cedric, with a twist of the bridle rein and some vicious blows with his -heels, urged his horse behind the tree which had received the bolt; and -I mayhap would have shown more wisdom had I done likewise. But I saw but -the single enemy before me; and for the instant his arrow groove was -empty. Cedric had already taken toll of two of our enemies, while I, the -heir of our house whose quarrel he had espoused, had done naught but fly -before their pursuit. With a yell, "A Mountjoy, A Mountjoy," which is -the battle cry of our people, I set spurs to my horse, and, sword in -hand, charged straight toward the rock. - -The Carleton man was striving sore to draw his bow and place another -bolt; and had he been but half so deft with that goodly weapon as Cedric -had twice shown himself that day, he might have stopped me in full -career with an arrow in the breast or face. But he fumbled sadly with -the string, and ere he could reach another bolt from his pouch I was -almost upon him. In this strait he dropped the bow and, standing erect, -whisked a broadsword from his belt. The scoundrel was tall and long of -arm; and now I saw that he wore a quilted and steel-braced jacket which -none but the heaviest blow might pierce. I had already repented me of my -folly in rushing, for the second time that day, into combat so unequal, -and was bethinking me what trick of fence might serve my turn with this -brawny and ill-visaged swordsman, when once again the skilled and ready -hand of my friend of the Lincoln green saved me from dire peril. Even as -our blades clashed, and I felt in his sword-play the firm, sure wrist of -my enemy, a bolt whizzed past me and pierced his neck, just where the -quilted jacket lay open at the throat. Without a cry, he fell forward on -his face. - -I looked wildly about, in effort to espy more of the men-at-arms, if so -be they were awaiting us in ambush. But I could see no one; and no more -arrows came from hidden foes. The woods were as quiet and serene, and -the westering sun sent its beams as sweetly into the bonny glade as -though men had never killed one another for gain or vengeance. Cedric, -on the Carleton war-horse, came forward at a canter, with his bow made -ready for another shot if need were. - -"Are there more of the hounds?" he called, "if so be, we must take -shelter." - -"I see none," I answered, "though yonder, midst the little birches, is -the horse which this one rode. Mayhap his comrades have ridden by other -roads to cut us off." - -"'Tis truth," said Cedric, "yon Jackboots, that lieth now so still, did -come about by Wareham Road at breakneck pace while we made but slow -riding through the tangle. 'Twas well he had not the skill of a yeoman -with the cross-bow, else one or both of us would ne'er again have seen -Mountjoy. But come! Can thy little mare hold full stride through the -glen and over yonder hill? An if she can, we may soon be where no -Carletons will dare pursue." - -For answer I set spurs to the mare's sides and led the way down the path -to the brook at the bottom of the valley. In a cloud of spray we forded -the stream, then drove on without mercy up the long slope of Rowan Hill. -Soon we were in sight of the towers of Mountjoy, and while the sun had -yet an hour's height, went safely o'er the drawbridge. - - - - -CHAPTER IV--THE CHAMPION OF MOUNTJOY - - -As Cedric of Pelham Wood rode with me into the courtyard, we met my -father, the Lord of Mountjoy, coming from the stables. His favorite -steed, a fine black stallion, Cæsar by name, did suffer from a sprain he -had come by at the tournament at Winchester; and my father was much in -fear would never again be fit to bear him in the lists or to the wars. -We came forward but slowly; and Lord Mountjoy had ample time to note the -mud-stained and foam-flecked sides of our mounts, the rents in my -garments and the bloody scratches which the forest boughs had made on -our faces. Truly, I fear I made but a sorry picture; and 'tis little -wonder that a frown was on my father's brow and a roughness in his voice -as he called to me: - -"How now, Sir Dickon! Hast thou ridden thy little mare through the -Devil's Brake and foundered her once for all? And who is this fellow in -rags and shreds of Lincoln green that rides at thy side like a comrade? -Methinks 'twere better if he kept his place, an ell or two behind." - -Cedric's face grew red with wrath at these words; but I hastened to -answer before he could make utterance. - -"Hold, Father. This is Cedric, a forester of Pelham Wood, and our good -and true friend. Twice or thrice this day hath he with his good -cross-bow (of which he hath a skill like that of Old Marvin himself) -saved me from death at the hands of the Carletons." - -"By my faith! Say'st thou so, my boy?" exclaimed Father, with a wondrous -change of countenance. Then, turning to Cedric, - -"Any who fights the Carleton wolves is a friend to all true Mountjoys. -Come my lad, thy hand! And thy pardon if I did speak a thought rough, -not knowing thy deserts. Wert thou sore beset? And did thy bolts make -good men and quiet of some of those restless knaves?" - -"Some of them, my lord, will ne'er again rob an honest farmer of his -stores or burn a woodman's cottage," said Cedric with a smile. - -"By'r Lady! Thou'rt a man, and shall be a Mountjoy, if guerdon can keep -thee," cried my father. "But hold! Give thy mounts to the grooms, and -come to the hall. 'Tis ill talking with an empty stomach and a dry -throttle. And I'll warrant you're famished, both. There's a hot pasty -and somewhat else to be found, I'll be bound. You shall tell me of this -day's work by the board and the fire." - -In the hall we were greeted by my lady mother, who had heard somewhat of -that which passed in the courtyard. Cedric doffed his cap when I -presented him to her ladyship, and bowed with a grace I looked not for. -And she did ask most eagerly if aught of harm had come to either of us. -Being assured that we were yet whole of skin save for the woodland -boughs, she brought with her own hands a bench before the fire, and bade -Cedric sit as she might have bidden any knight or courtier who visited -the hall of Mountjoy. Then she hurried out and bade the maids bring meat -and drink of the best for our refreshment. - -My father and mother sat down by either side of us as we ate; and when -our hunger had been something dulled, and the maid had been despatched -for a jar of the Mountjoy honey which my mother so closely guards -against the coming of noble guests, I began the tale of the fortunes of -the day. - -"Thou knowest, Father, that young Lionel of Carleton hath often sworn to -have the lives of you and me for the check the Carletons had in their -foray on Mountjoy in the spring and for the bolt which came from -Marvin's bow which laid low his father, the Old Wolf of Carleton." - -"Full well I know it," growled my father, "an if he were aught but a -beardless youth, I would long ago have challenged him to the combat. -When he hath won his spurs, if he be still of the same mind, I'll meet -him with whatever weapons he chooses, and trust to put an end to his -mouthings." - -"That thou'lt never do, Father," I cried, "for Cedric here hath come -before thee. This day, but half a league from Teramore, young Lionel did -meet me as I went my way alone through the forest; and did curse and -revile me and all my house, saying that we of Mountjoy were a race of -dogs. This being more than e'en a Mountjoy could bear, I did challenge -him to mortal fight, and we did meet with swords, on foot there in the -path. I quickly found that he wore, beneath his garment, a coat of -linked mail which shielded him from all my thrusts. All his strokes I -made shift to parry, and at last, when he found he could not reach me -with his sword, he rushed within my guard, seized me with a wrestling -hold and flung me on my back. Then, kneeling on my chest, he placed a -poniard at my throat and sought to make me swear allegiance to the -Carleton, acknowledging him as lord and suzerain. This I would never do; -and truly I thought my last hour had come, for he had drawn back his -dagger for the thrust, when this brave youth, coming through the woods -with cross-bow drawn, did see the Carleton's murderous aim, and let fly -a bolt which struck him through the forehead." - -While I spoke my mother had grown pale as death and my father red, with -blazing eyes and angry clinching hands. When I paused my mother cried: - -"Oh, Dickon! And had'st thou no wound at all?" - -"Not a nick," I answered, "though 'twas close enough, in faith. But we -had more to do in no time at all, for no sooner had the Carleton -breathed his last than there came a-riding towards us six stout -men-at-arms of the Carleton livery. We took horse and rode for our -lives, Cedric here on the Carleton's great war-horse. But my little -Clothilde being no match for their long-limbed steeds, we should have -been overhauled and slain had not Cedric twice turned on them with his -cross-bow, each time landing a bolt that sent one of the robber hounds -to earth. With that, and with hard riding through the woods where no -paths were, we at last got safe away." - -"Ah!" cried my father, joyfully, rising and offering his hand again to -Cedric, "'twas sweetly done, i'faith. Three of the Carleton hounds in -one brief day! Whose son art thou, my friend? And where did'st thou -learn such deadly handling of thy weapon?" - -"Elbert's son am I," answered Cedric, steadily, "he is forester to my -lord of Pelham; and last year did carry away the prize for archery at -the Shrewsbury tourney. Since I could carry bow, I have shot as he did -teach me." - -"What years hast thou?" - -"Sixteen, come Candlemas." - -"The very age of Dickon here," cried my mother. "Cedric, lad, does thy -mother live?" - -"Nay, my lady," quoth he, sadly, "two years agone we buried her." - -[Illustration: _WHILE I SPOKE MY MOTHER HAD GROWN PALE AS DEATH_] - -"Then thou shalt come to live at Mountjoy," she went on with bonny, -flushing cheeks and bright and eager eyes. "Hast thou learned thy -letters? Canst thou read prayer book or ballad?" - -"Nay, my lady," he said again, with a blush. "We of the forest know -little of letters." - -"Then I will teach thee. Thou'rt a mannered lad and well spoken for one -who knows not court or town. Thou shalt be a clerk an thou wishest." - -"No clerk shall he be," I cried. "Saving thy pardon, good Mother, he -shall be my squire-at-arms. A man that fights as he shall be no -shaven-pate. He shall teach me his craft with the bow, and of him I will -make a bonny swordsman. What say'st thou, Father? Have I not the right -of it?" - -My father did smile somewhat to see me so hot and eager in my plans. And -truly, I bethought me then that this lad whom I was choosing for my -comrade-in-arms was one whom but three hours gone I had never seen, and -that now I knew naught of him save that he fought well and truly and -with a wondrous skill of his weapon. Yet, looking at his clear, blue -eyes and his way of holding up his head as a freeman of England, I -repented me not of my words. - -Cedric was gazing at Lord Mountjoy, and quietly awaiting his word, while -my lady mother glanced quickly from one to another of us. When my father -began to speak it was slowly and soberly enough. - -"Not quite so fast, Sir Dickon. There's many a thought to be taken yet -anent thy knightly training. But now it comes to me that Cedric here -e'en must remain at Mountjoy for some months at least, if he would guard -his life and limb. After this day's work, should any of the Carleton men -come upon him at a vantage, his shrift would be short and no prayers -said." - -So was it settled that Cedric should remain with us of Mountjoy. The -next day a messenger was despatched to Elbert, the forester, with the -news of his son's brave deeds and his present safety. I lost no time in -beginning his training for sword-play; and he showed himself the best of -learners. Within a week, moreover, he had shown to me some tricks of the -cross-bow of which I had never heard, and fairly 'mazed our men with the -marks he struck at a hundred paces distance. Already we planned a match -'twixt Cedric and Old Marvin which should be a fête-day for all the -friends of Mountjoy. - -Then came a messenger from Shrewsbury, where for the time the King made -his seat, bearing a scroll addressed to my father and sealed with the -sign royal. Father read it slowly to himself as he stood with his back -to the fire in the hall and the King's messenger was quaffing a cup of -wine in the courtyard. My mother and I waited eagerly to hear its -contents. Cedric sat in a farther corner, saying over to himself the -names of the great letters which my mother had made for him on a sheet -of parchment. - -'Twas plain to see that the message was not to my father's liking, for -he scowled fearsomely as he conned the words. Suddenly he began reading -it in a loud and wrathful voice; and Cedric dropped his parchment to -listen. - - "To Robert, Lord of Mountjoy and Knight of the Holy Sepulcher, - from Henry, King of England, Duke of Normandy and Lord of Anjou, - Acquitaine, and Gascony, _Greeting_. - - "Know thou that there hath appeared before our Court at - Shrewsbury, Elizabeth, Lady of Carleton and Teramore, and relict - of Geoffrey, Lord of Carleton, deceased, who hath, on oath, made - complaint against thee, thy minor son, Richard and a certain - yeoman of Pelham Forest, Cedric, son of Elbert, and now harbored - by thee at Mountjoy, as follows: - - "That, on Saturday, of October the twenty-second day, thy son - Richard did ride in the forests of Teramore without lawful right - and leave from the holders thereof; that Lionel of Carleton, son - of Geoffrey and Elizabeth of Carleton aforesaid, did meet with - him and order him to leave those lands and return not; that thy - son Richard did then and there attack Lionel of Carleton; and - while they did fight, the yeoman, Cedric, being a servitor and - confederate of Richard of Mountjoy did most foully slay Lionel - of Carleton by a mortal weapon, to wit, a cross-bow bolt - discharged from a point of hiding; that the servitors of - Carleton did pursue and endeavor to arrest Richard of Mountjoy - and the yeoman, Cedric, the which they did resist with force and - arms, and that the aforesaid Cedric did again from hiding strike - down and kill two of the Carleton retainers, so that he and thy - son, Richard, did make their way to the Castle of Mountjoy where - thou hast since harbored and protected them. - - "Now therefore, know that it is my will that thou repair to our - Court at Shrewsbury, bringing with thee thy son Richard and the - yeoman, Cedric, and with not more than ten of thy retainers or - men-at-arms, that fair trial of this cause may be had before our - presence, on Thursday, of November the second day, at ten of the - clock. - - "And be thou here solemnly charged and commanded to desist from - all violence and quarrel against the family of Elizabeth of - Carleton or any of her servants and retainers, and to cause all - thy family, thy servants and retainers to likewise refrain. - - "Given under our hand and seal, this thirty-first day of - October. - - "_Henry_ (Rex)." - -When the reading was finished we were silent for a space, my father -pacing back and forth with roughened brow, and Mother gazing anxiously -upon him. At last he turned and said: - -"We must to Shrewsbury. 'Tis the King's command; and the Mountjoys have -ever been loyal vassals, as none know better than the King himself. What -say'st thou, Richard? Canst thou tell in open court the tale of that -day's work even as we heard it here?" - -"That I can, Father," I replied, "'tis the truth, and I care not who -hears it." - -"And thou, Cedric," he said, turning to face the forester who had now -advanced to my side, "darest thou to face thy enemies and ours thus? -Remember, 'twill go hard with thee if we fail to bring the King to see -the truth o't. He might order thy hanging easily as the whipping of a -thief. Shall not I rather mount thee on the good horse thou didst win -from the Carleton, with thy cross-bow on thy back and a bag of gold -pieces beneath thy coat, and send thee to my cousin of Yorkshire, there -to bide till this ill wind hath overblown?" - -"My lord," answered Cedric, proudly, "that were to save myself at thy -cost. The King hath commanded thee to bring me before his court; and if -thou fail, he will visit his wrath upon thee. I will not fly. Rather -will I ride the good steed thou speakest of to Shrewsbury in thy good -company." - -"Well said and bravely," said my father, with a note in his speaking -which I had heard but once, and that when an old comrade-in-arms, whom -he had thought dead in the Holy Land, came in illness and want to our -castle door. Now he gazed for a moment full keenly at the face of -Cedric, then turned and hurried to the courtyard to give orders for the -morrow's journey. - -The King's Court was held in the great hall at Shrewsbury, with such a -brave array of lords and knights and men-at-arms, not to speak of clerks -and counsellors with their mighty gowns and wigs, as was but seldom seen -in our Western country. As I gazed at the King in his robes of state, -seated on the dais in the midst, and noted his cold, gray eye and the -hard lines about his mouth, my heart did somewhat misgive me, for all my -repeating over and over to myself that none could gainsay the justice of -our quarrel. - -A word overheard as we entered the hall had set me thinking deeply; and -though I feared not for myself, I began to wish that Cedric who now sat -so uprightly by my side had thought fit to take the hint my father gave -when first the summons reached us. 'Twas said that the King, in his -youth, more than thirty years agone, had known Elizabeth of Winchester, -before she was the bride of the Lord of Carleton, that she had then been -one of the fairest and proudest maidens in the kingdom, and Prince Henry -had felt for her more than a passing fancy. However this had been, and -whatever its bearing on the day's fortunes, it was now too late to do -aught but await the event. The herald was announcing the cause against -Richard of Mountjoy and Cedric, son of Elbert. - -Two of the Carleton men-at-arms were sworn as witnesses, and told the -tale of the killing of Lionel much as it had been set forth in the -complaint of Elizabeth, their mistress. They declared that when they -first came in sight of us, the Carleton and I were fighting with swords -and hand to hand, and that I, seeming to have the worse of the fray, did -shrilly call to some one hidden in the tangle behind, whereat a -cross-bow bolt came from this ambush and slew their master. From that -time on, their tales of the day's doings kept near the line of truth; -and they did assert full stoutly their honesty in all this business when -the King questioned them, making, 'twas plain to see, no little impress -on his mind. Indeed, 'twas possible they believed the tale themselves, -it being to them most likely from the things that they had seen. - -Then was I called upon for my account; and I did set forth all the -doings of that day from the time the Carleton met me in the path, -forgetting not the foul insults with which Lionel began our quarrel nor -the hidden coat of mail with which he thought to shield him. Cedric, -with head held high and wide blue eyes gazing straight at the King, next -told the tale; and his telling was closely like to mine. - -When we both had done, the King sat with his eyes on the ground before -him; and the hall was very still till Elizabeth of Carleton, tall, -white-haired and queenly, in silken robes of black, rose in her place, -and, stretching forth her hands, addressed the King: - -"Henry of Anjou," she cried, "Elizabeth of Winchester, in her old age -and sorrow, calls to you for vengeance for her murdered son." - -More she would have spoken, but bitter tears streamed down her face, and -her voice was choked with sobs. - -The King gazed steadily at the weeping lady, and made as though to speak -when my father started from his seat and shouted: - -"There was no murder done, my Lord. The Carleton brought his death upon -himself." - -The King turned upon him a stern and heavy look. - -"Mountjoy," he said, "wast thou there in the forest when Carleton was -slain?" - -"Nay, my lord." - -"Then knowest thou aught save what thy son tells thee of this fray with -thy enemies?" - -"Nay, my lord; but 'tis enough. The Mountjoys fight their enemies and do -not lie about them." - -With a wave of his hand the King bade my father be seated. Then he sat -motionless and thoughtful for long, while none ventured to disturb him. -His brow was drawn as with pain and he rested his head on his hand, the -while we of Mountjoy, our enemies of Carleton all the members of that -brilliant company awaited his verdict. - -At last he slowly lifted his head and began to speak: - -"I find the prisoners guilty of the charge that lies against them. To -Richard, son of Robert, Lord of Mountjoy, I extend my clemency in view -of the loyal and valiant service rendered by his father to our house, -commanding only that he desist from bearing arms till he receive our -permission. - -"As for yonder varlet, called Cedric, he shall hang, to-morrow at dawn; -and his body shall swing from Shrewsbury gate as an example to like -evil-doers." - -Some of the clerks and constables strove to raise the shout--"Long live -the King"; but all became utterly silent when my father sprang from his -bench, and with a face of fury addressed his sovereign: - -"Not so, my lord! Not so! By the Holy Sepulcher, it shall not be." - -The King sprang to his feet, and his right hand went to his sword hilt. - -"Mountjoy," he shouted, "thou forget'st thyself. Beware lest thou bring -down on thy head a wrath more terrible than that of any Carleton." - -"By Heaven, my lord!" returned the Lord of Mountjoy in tones that -matched the King's, "that brave youth shall never hang for having done a -deed that should bring him praise instead. I stand on my rights as a -freeman of England, and demand the _trial by battle_. There lies my -glove." - -Tearing from his hand his leathern gauntlet, he dashed it on the floor -at the feet of the King. - -All the assembled knights and soldiers drew a deep breath, as one man. -There was a low murmur of applause, for the Mountjoys have many friends. -The King's hand left his sword, and his face relaxed. - -"Thou hast the right, Mountjoy," he said. Then, turning to the Carleton -benches, went on: "Is there any among you who will take up this -challenge?" - -At this there started forth from a group of knights who had been -standing a little behind the Lady of Carleton, a man of middle age, -short of stature and of wide-mouthed, ill-favored face, but broad of -shoulder and with arms so long that his hands reached nearly to his -knees like those of a great ape I had seen in the train of the Cardinal. - -"I, Philip, Knight of Latiere in Gascony, am cousin of Elizabeth, Lady -of Carleton," he shouted. "I take up this glove as her protector and -champion." - -Then, seizing the glove, he tossed it high in air; and while it soared -aloft, drew a long and slender blade from its scabbard, and as the glove -fell, pierced it with a flashing thrust so that he held it high where -all might see it impaled on the point of his sword. - -"So let it be," said the King. "This cause shall be tried by wager of -battle, here and now. Sir Philip De Latiere, the conditions are at your -will, so they be fair and equal." - -"Let him take a sword like unto this," said De Latiere, carelessly, "and -if he chooses one a handsbreadth longer, I care not. Then let him lay -aside all other weapons, as I do; and I trust, with the favor of Heaven, -to be the means of affirming the righteousness of thy judgment." - -With this speech, he made a low bow to the King and another to the -assembled knights, and, loosening his sword-belt, handed it with his -scabbard and his outer cloak to a squire. - -Then I found voice for a thought that had been boiling within me. - -"'Twere well, my lord," I said to the King, "to have this champion -searched for hidden armor. I have grievous knowledge that the Carletons -scruple not to gain that vantage." - -Some of the friends of Mountjoy raised a shout: - -"Ay! Well spoken! Let him be searched." - -The King quelled the tumult with a royal gesture. - -"Sir Hugh of Leicester," he said to an aged knight of his train, "make -search of both these champions, and tell us whether they wear other arms -or armor than the terms permit." - -In the meantime my father had thrown aside his cloak and belt; and his -sword being far heavier than De Latiere's, had received the loan of a -lighter weapon from one of the King's attendants. Sir Hugh approached -and lightly struck the shoulders and breast and waist of both the -combatants, and announced to the King that neither carried other weapons -of offense or defense than the swords in their hands. - -Thereupon a space some twelve paces across was cleared in the center of -the hall, and Sir Philip and Lord Mountjoy stood facing one another, -awaiting the word. - -On a signal from the King, the herald shouted, and instantly the blades -struck fire, and the champions whirled about one another in mortal -combat. The Frenchman danced and dodged with a quickness that minded me, -even then, of the beast he so resembled. My father had much ado to -continue facing him; and soon 'twas plain to see that the Carleton -champion was such a master of fence as would find few to equal him in -all England. His blade so flashed in thrust and parry that the eye could -not follow its motions; and my father, of whom always I had thought as -the finest of swordsmen, soon had all he could do, and more, in -defending his breast from the assault, and had no instant's leisure to -threaten his enemy. - -Half a minute had not passed ere the Frenchman's slashing blade drew -blood from the Mountjoy's arm, then from his shoulder; and for one black -instant methought the blow was mortal. But for minute after minute, my -father fought on, with lips tight closed and eyes that ever followed the -hand of his enemy. Then I wondered if De Latiere, with all his leaps and -runs, would not tire himself at the last, and slowing in his thrusts, -give my father's slower spent strength its chance for victory. But again -I saw how fast the Mountjoy bled from the two wounds he already had; and -this hope flitted. - -Then truly, in bitterness of spirit, did I perceive how false and cruel -is our vaunted trial by wager of battle. Here was my father, a good man -and true, fighting to defend the life of an innocent youth; and this -dancing Frenchman, to whom the sword was as the wand of a juggler, would -soon kill him before our eyes. That Cedric, the forester, was guiltless -of the treacherous deed with which he stood charged altered not a whit -the devilish skill of the champion who fought to see him hang. And if De -Latiere overcame my father at the last, and left him dead at the feet of -the King, the tale that I had told would be no whit less true for such -an outcome. Verily at that moment my eyes were opened, and thoughts came -to me that shall remain while yet I live. - -Now the end fast approached. Blood streamed from my father's wounds, and -he breathed fast and thickly. He scarce moved from his tracks save ever -to turn and face his ape-like enemy, whose blade flashed as swiftly as -ever, and in whose eyes gleamed a look of deadly purpose. - -My eyes could never follow the stroke which brought to a close this -desperate, unequal combat. What I saw was that the Frenchman's blade had -pierced my father's breast. Then--all the Saints be thanked!--one last -fierce blow from the Champion of Mountjoy. - -This instant was the first since the duel began when De Latiere's -matchless guarding had not fenced his body from my father's thrust. As -quick as the light's rebound when it strikes the surface of still water -was the Mountjoy's return of the stroke he had received. The next moment -both the champions lay on the floor; and King and knights and lords -rushed forward to their succor. - -De Latiere was thrust clean through the body; and he never moved nor -spoke. But my father's wound, though grievous, it now appeared was far -from mortal, his enemy's blade not having deeply pierced him. Now he -raised himself on his arm and claimed the victory for Mountjoy and the -right. - - ---- - -Ten days thereafter, we bore home the Champion of Mountjoy in a -sumptuous litter, which had been the gift of the King himself. Near the -gentle palfrey which bore its van, I rode on my faithful little mare, -for now we had no fear of lurking enemies. By the open side of the -litter, and oft in gay and heartening speech with him who lay on the -silken pillows within, rode Cedric of Pelham Wood, on the captured -war-horse of Carleton and wearing, full well and bravely, a new-made -suit of the Mountjoy purple and gold. - - - - -CHAPTER V--THE FESTIVAL OF THE ARCHERS - - -Young Cedric, the forester, who was now my constant companion, was -walking with me on the path that led by the Millfield. There, since the -raising of the siege of Castle Mountjoy, Old Marvin, the archer, and his -gray-haired dame had had their cottage and half dozen acres of mowing -and tillage. 'Twas on a fair December morning, when yet no snow had -come. The hoar frost still covered all the western slopes, and the -wood-smoke that came down from a clearing in the forest above did -sweeten the air more to my liking than all the scents and powders that -the traders bring from Araby. - -We had had an hour at the foils, wherein I was master, and another with -the cross-bow. And at this good sport Cedric did show such skill that -once more I spoke my wonder at the magic of it. He had no more than my -own sixteen years; and when 'mongst men and soldiers, he but seldom -lifted his voice; but his handling of this weapon would honor any man of -middle life who had spent more years with the bow in his hands than -Cedric could count, all told. - -"Cedric," I cried, "methinks Old Marvin himself could not best thee; and -for thirty years he of all the Mountjoy archers hath borne the palm." - -Cedric smiled, but shook his head. - -"Mayhap Old Marvin knoweth a many things anent the placing of his bolt -that have not yet come to me. My father, Elbert of Pelham Wood, who -taught me what I know, hath often told me that with the long-bow one man -and one only in all of England could best him,--and that one no other -than Robin Hood of Sherwood Forest; but with the cross-bow, Marvin of -Mountjoy could ever lesson him. And did not thou tell me that 'twas Old -Marvin who laid low the Gray Wolf of Carleton, at the siege? 'Tis one -thing to strike a fair bull's-eye on target, in broad daylight and quiet -air, and another far to strike the throat of one's enemy in battle and -by torchlight." - -"Aye, and 'twas thou, Cedric, who struck down young Lionel of Carleton -and two of his robber hounds of men-at-arms, in our fray in the woods -but six weeks gone. Thy bolts did not then fly by guess or by luck, I -trow." - -Cedric smiled again, but had no words for this; and I went quickly on: - -"I tell thee that when thou'rt my squire indeed, and I a knight in -truth, and not by courtesy only, I'll have thee ever ride beside me with -thy bow upon thy back, though thou shalt wear garments of velvet instead -of Lincoln green and a good broadsword shall swing by thy side. Then can -we strike down any caitiff from afar, if need be. And many a night when -we make bivouac in the forest or on the moorlands we shall sup right -royally on the hares or moorfowl which thy skill will provide, and snap -our fingers at the inns and all the houses of the towns." - -"'Tis a fair thought," sighed Cedric. "An oak-leaf bed in a glade, by a -goodly stream, is ever more to my liking than any made in a dwelling, -save in the wet or bitter weather. But, for Old Marvin now--Methinks -'twould please me well to shoot against him at archer match. Were I -bested by such as he, 'twould be no honor lost." - -"By my faith!" I shouted, "such a match we will have. 'Twill be a fair -sight indeed to see two archers such as thou and Marvin at the marks. -We'll have a festival for all the friends of Mountjoy, noble and simple, -and roast an ox for their regalement. Since the Shrewsbury court and the -battle trial that freed thee and me from all charges of foul play in the -matter of Lionel of Carleton, and now that my father is nearly well of -his wounds, the Mountjoys have reason enough to rejoice. We'll have a -day to be remembered." - -Just then Old Marvin, who did chop for firewood a fallen yew in the -field near by, caught sight of us, and, dropping his ax, came forward to -greet us. - -"A fine morning for the woods, Sir Dickon," he said, doffing his -headgear to me and nodding to Cedric. "Could not one get the leeward of -a buck on such a day?" - -"Aye," I answered, full the while of my new thought, "and if either thou -or Cedric here did come within a hundred paces, we should eat on the -morrow of a fair pasty of venison. But what say'st thou, Marvin to an -archer match with Cedric? Thou knowest he is newly in our service, but -that he hath an eye for the homing of his bolt. Of all the Mountjoy men -he alone is worthy to shoot against thee." - -"Aye," cried Marvin, eagerly. "I have heard much of his skill. 'Tis said -that for such a youth he shoots most wondrous well. For twenty years no -Mountjoy hath striven with me at tourney; and a fair day at the marks -would like me well. Will there be a prize, think'st thou?" - -"Aye, that there will be," I returned full gaily, for now methought the -day promised such sport as we had not had for years; and I was fair -lifted up with the picture of it that filled my mind. "I'll make my -father give to him who wins the day the best milch cow in all the -Mountjoy barns. How likest thou that, Marvin? Could'st thou use such a -beast on thy little farm?" - -"Marry! Well could I," answered Marvin, his eyes shining as brightly as -a youth's. "My dame did tell me yesterday 'tis what we most do lack." - -"And I," put in Cedric, "should any wondrous luck or chance bring the -prize to me, could give her to my father. He hath a little meadow by his -cottage in Pelham Wood where a cow could find sweet pasture, and, in the -cot, three little ones who'd thrive on the milk. Marvin, be sure I'll -take the prize from thee if ever I can." - -"An thou winnest it, thou'lt shoot well, Cedric lad," answered Old -Marvin with a grin. "'Tis now full many years since I found any man to -best me." - -But now I caught sight of my father, Lord Mountjoy, astride the palfrey -he rode in those days of recovering from the hurts he had at Shrewsbury, -and riding toward the clearing on the hill where the woodmen piled the -logs for our fireplace burning. I waved and beckoned to him till he -paused and turned his horse's head toward us. In a moment we three stood -about him and told of our plans for the archery match. Most of the words -were mine, but Cedric and Old Marvin himself were not a whit less eager. -Soon I had drawn from Lord Mountjoy the promise that we should have our -will, and that the archer festival should be held in the Mountjoy lands -in three days' time. - -But, hot and eager as I was, I noted even then a backwardness in my -father's answers that puzzled me. 'Twas not like him to care for the -gift of a cow or a colt to any of his faithful retainers; and I knew he -loved a fair match at the targets as well as any. After we had said -"good day" to Marvin, and as Cedric and I walked down the road toward -the wood on either side of his horse, Father gave utterance to his -worrying thought. - -"Dickon, 'tis but natural at thy years to be eager and headlong in thy -thinking; but has the thought not come to thee at all that this match -that thou dost plan so joyously may end in sorrow to thy old instructor -in arms?" - -"How so?" I questioned,--but even in the saying, I saw a glimmer of his -meaning. - -"For thirty years and more Old Marvin hath been leading archer of -Mountjoy. He nears three score and ten; and may the saints bespeak him -many years of peace after all the toils and perils he hath undergone for -our house. Mayhap his eye is as clear and his hand as true as ever; but -I have seen somewhat of the shooting of Cedric here; and it may be that -he'll best Old Marvin at the thing which is his dearest pride. Should -that happen, canst thou warrant Marvin will not carry home a bitter -heart from thy festival?" - -"Oh, Father! Surely thou dost jest. Marvin is no child to grieve at -being beaten in fair play, should that chance befall him. I warrant -we'll see never a sign of it." - -"'Tis true enough," said my father slowly, "we'll never see a sign of -it; but the bitterness may be there ne'ertheless. But I bethink me -now,--get John o' the Wallfield or some other Mountjoy archer to make a -third. Then Marvin can be but second at worst, and 'twill make a fairer -show for all these friends we are to bid come to our fête. John is ever -a hopeful youth, and will shoot as though his life depended on it." - -Saying thus, he set spurs to his horse, and, with a nod and smile at -Cedric, rode away up the forest path. - -That afternoon messengers went out from the castle, to bid to the -festival the tenantry and all the friends of Mountjoy for ten miles -'round; and an ox was slain for the roasting. - -Three days later, on another perfect morn without cloud or breath of -wind, there assembled in Yew Hedge Meadow, a furlong from the Mountjoy -gate, a concourse which might have graced a tournament. The Pelhams were -there and the Leicesters and even a half dozen of the Montmorencys, my -mother's kin from Coventry. The yeomanry of the Mountjoy lands had come, -e'en to the last man and maid and child, and nigh two hundred of the -neighbor folk from Pelham Manor, Leicester and Mannerley. The gentry -were gathered on some rows of benches, covered with gay-colored robes, -which had been placed on a little hillock at the left; and the commoners -stood or walked about on the good brown sward, having many a gay crack -and jest between them, and enjoying, methought, a better view of the -archery than their betters on the higher ground. - -Many of the Mountjoy men had brought their cross-bows; and were now -taking random shots at the white-centered target, a hundred paces down -the meadow. Others had long-bows and the cloth-yard shafts that the -forester loves. When Cedric's father, Elbert of Pelham Wood, came on the -ground with his long-bow in his hand a cry went up for a match with that -noble weapon to come before the prize shooting of the cross-bow men. - -My father came and full warmly greeted the Pelham forester, and gave his -word for the long-bow trials. Two of our Mountjoy lads shot each five -shafts at the three-inch bull's-eye; and of these Rob of the Rowan -Grange was in high delight at thrice fairly striking it. Then Elbert, -with a merry grin that showed his toothless jaws, did come to the mark -and sent five arrows toward the target, suffering none to touch them -till the last was sped. When he had finished there was a shout from all -the people, with Rob o' the Rowan's voice among the loudest, for every -arrow point had pierced the white. - -Now came Marvin, bonnet in hand, before Lord Mountjoy; and began to -speak with a quickness and a shortness of breath that I had ne'er before -noted. - -"My lord, methinks 'twould better the match for those that come to see -our archery if we had, besides yonder target, a moving mark. What -think'st thou of the rolling ball such as I used a score of years agone, -and with which thyself did have much good sport?" - -"Marry! Well bethought, good Marvin!" cried Father. "Have the lads bring -planks from the courtyard and set up the trough as thou bid'st them. We -have bowling balls enough. Truly, 'twill make the match a gayer sight. -There are many here that never have seen thy skill so displayed." - -[Illustration: _THEN ELBERT DID COME TO THE MARK AND, WITH A MERRY GRIN, -SENT FIVE ARROWS TOWARD THE TARGET_] - -Marvin turned away full eagerly to give orders for the making of the -slanting trough of planks down which the bowling ball should roll; and -as I saw the light in his eyes my heart did warm toward our faithful and -stout-hearted old follower that he should devise this play to save his -archer fame. For plain it was to me that my father had been well pleased -at this thought of Marvin's, believing that in this game which was his -very own, and practiced by none beyond the lands of Mountjoy, he would -display such mastery as would far outweigh any vantage that young Cedric -might gain at the bull's-eye shooting. - -Many hands made light work of the making ready. Soon a trough of planks -went up to one side of the arrow course, and eighty yards from the mark -at which the archers stood. One end was raised four yards from the earth -on a scaffolding on which a lad might climb to place the bowling balls -in groove. When, at the word, he rolled one from him, it dashed down the -slope and rolled and bounded o'er the sod for thirty paces, full like a -hare started from his covert by the hunters. To strike this ball in full -career with cross-bow bolt was no child's play. To this could I well -swear, for never yet had I succeeded in doing so, when, two years agone, -Old Marvin had sought to teach me. As I recalled my many bootless -trials, I laughed to think of Cedric and the game Old Marvin now had -played on him. - -Now came the cross-bow men to the mark for the target shooting. Old -Marvin began, and in high confidence. But verily, Fortune frowned on -him, for the wind that had been but a breath before, sprung up just as -he laid finger to trigger; and his first two bolts missed the white by -half an inch. Then came three well within the circle; but the old -archer's face bore a piteous frown as he made way for Cedric, for he had -thought to equal the long-bow shooting of his old gossip of Pelham Wood. - -Cedric quickly sent three bolts to the bull's-eye. Then his hand seemed -to tremble; and methought he suffered from the eyes of such a crowd of -witnesses. His fourth bolt struck just outside the black, and the fifth -went two inches wide. - -"What ails thee, lad?" questioned his father, full sharply. "Marvin had -the wind to fight; but the air was quiet for thee. Methinks the fare of -Mountjoy hall too rich for a plain forester. Thou handled thy weapon -better on rye bread and pease porridge." - -"Mayhap thou'rt right, Father," returned Cedric with a laugh. "Or mayhap -I grow soft with sleeping on so fair a couch of wool. To-day I cannot -shoot, it seems. Another day may better it." - -John o' the Wallfield was now making careful sight at the bull's-eye; -and all the assembly watched him close, for it had been whispered that -but the day before he had made five bull's-eye strokes with ne'er a -break, and at the same distance as now. He had many friends among the -younger men and maids; and these now called to him words of cheer and -bade him show his mettle. Thus besought, he showed a skill that -surprised us all and filled me with a worry I could scarce suppress. -Four of his bolts landed fair within the white, and the fifth but barely -missed it. At the target he was winner; and, a few years back, he had -been the best of all the Mountjoy archers, save only Marvin himself, at -striking the rolling ball. It began to seem that John o' the Wallfield -who had been brought into the match to make a third in the scoring, -might end by leading off the prize. - -Next Marvin came to the mark to shoot at the rolling ball. All the -yeomanry crowded round for a nearer view; and the knights and ladies -left their benches and came forward that they might miss nothing of this -strange test of archery. Now indeed did Marvin display something of the -craft that had made him for so many years the leading archer of -Mountjoy. Four of his bolts struck the swiftly running mark full -squarely; and the fifth was wondrous close. When he had finished all the -older yeomen and men-at-arms raised the shout of "Marvin! Marvin!" and -some did already talk of bearing him aloft as winner of the day. For -never in his life had the old marksman bettered the record he had just -made at the rolling ball; and it was not believed an archer lived who -could equal it. - -'Twas Cedric's turn to shoot next at this strange target. As he came -forward he seemed to be more wrought upon than ever; and I bethought me -that he bore but ill the fortunes of the day. He drew his bowstring to -charge his weapon with a most unseemly twitch; and then exclaimed in -wrath at a broken cord. - -"Ho!" he called, "I must lay me a new string, it seems. This one was -sadly frayed, and now is gone. But let me not delay the match. Let John -go on in my turn while I knot and stretch a stouter one." - -Nothing loath, John stepped forward to the mark. My father gave the -signal, and the ball rolled down the incline to the sward. Before it had -bounded a half dozen paces it was pierced by John's bolt; and there rose -a great cry from all the younger men. Next came a miss; then another -stroke; and the hubbub rose again. For the fourth and fifth shots, John -aimed full carefully along the course the ball should go and before the -word was given; but all his care availed him not, for both the bolts -missed clean. - -Now again the meadow echoed with the cries of "Marvin! Marvin!" Some too -did call out a cheer for Cedric as he came up with bolt in groove; for -the young forester was well bethought at Mountjoy, and to-day he had not -shamed the old-time leader as some had thought he might. As soon as the -first ball touched the sward he pressed trigger; and in a moment 'twas -seen that his bolt had nicked its edge. Then twice he missed it fairly; -and twice more his bolts struck home. With but one more stroke he would -have equaled Marvin's score. As it was, his points were six, even as -those of John o' the Wallfield, while Marvin had thrice struck the -bull's-eye and four times the rolling ball. - -[Illustration: _WE MADE A PROCESSION THROUGH THE FIELDS, ALL THE MEN AND -MAIDENS SHOUTING AND DANCING AND MAKING A MOST MERRY AND HEARTENING -DIN_] - -When Lord Mountjoy announced the prize was Marvin's, the elder Mountjoy -men broke out afresh with cheers; and in these all the company, led by -my father himself, speedily joined. Two of the stoutest yeomen hoisted -Marvin to their shoulders; and with them in the lead, we made a -procession through the fields and toward the hall, all the men and -maidens shouting and dancing and making a most merry and heartening din. - -The tables were spread in the courtyard, and already were laden with -bounteous platters of the roasted beef with bread and cakes and ale and -goodly Yorkshire pudding. The yeomanry here sat them down while my -father did lead his guests of gentle blood to the tables spread in the -castle hall. For an hour we feasted sumptuously, and many a tale was -told of archery and of the deer hunting of olden days, when, as I -learned from the talk of my elders, men were taller and stronger and of -keener eye than now, and such craft of the bow as Elbert and Old Marvin -had that day displayed was the boast of many archers in any goodly -company. - -In all this talk Cedric, the forester, had no part; though he listened -full courteously to any who would address him. I had been rejoiced at -Marvin's victory; but now I bethought me that Cedric might be feeling -bitterness at his own poor showing. That he should strike the rolling -ball but thrice in the first five trials seemed not strange; but he had -done no better at the bull's-eye target; and his father's words might -well have cut more deeply than he chose to show. I found a place beside -him, and, speaking softly so that no other might hear, did say: - -"'Twas not thy day to-day, Cedric; but mind thee not. There'll be many -another match whence thou'lt carry off the prize." - -Cedric turned to me and smiled, methought a bit grimly, and I went on: - -"'Twas hardly fair to thee to make thee shoot at the rolling ball at a -match and for the first time. 'Tis Marvin's own game; and at it he hath -always excelled all others." - -"Sir Dickon," said Cedric, speaking as softly as I, "canst thou keep a -secret?" - -"Of a certainty," I answered. "What now hast thou to reveal?" - -"I will show thee something which I would fain have thee know, if thou -wilt promise me to tell no soul whatever nor to give any hint of it." - -"'Tis well," I answered, "I promise it." - -"Listen!" he whispered, "I go now to the Yew Hedge Meadow. After some -minutes do thou follow me, and speak not to any one." - -Speaking thus, he rose and quickly left the tables. I was full of a -desire to learn his meaning; and did wait but the shortest space before -following him. I found him, with his cross-bow ready drawn, at the -archers' mark in the meadow. - -"Do thou climb upon yon scaffolding," said Cedric, "and roll me a ball -that I may try my hand once more at this strange game of Marvin's." - -I did as he did ask; and his bolt struck it fairly in mid career. - -"Well shot!" I cried, "thou'lt yet be Marvin's match at this game too." - -"Prithee, another ball," called the forester. - -Again I rolled the ball and again 'twas fairly struck. A third and -fourth and fifth and sixth went down the trough; and I grew fairly -'mazed, for Cedric met each with a bolt as surely and as easily as if -they stood stock still. I leaped down from my perch on the scaffolding -and ran to him. - -"Cedric!" I cried, "what means this? Thou passest Marvin's self. Did thy -hand tremble to-day from the gaze of so many onlookers?" - -Cedric laughed again; and now he wore such a gay, light-hearted look as -I bethought me had not been on his face for three days past. - -"Hush!" he said, "tell it not so loud lest some may hear thee. But was -it not the will of my Lord Mountjoy, who risked his life for me at -Shrewsbury, that Old Marvin should win this one last archer match? It -cost me but a broken bowstring and some little work of the head when -John o' the Wallfield seemed like to win the day. He needs must shoot -before me that I might know how to guide my bolts. Had he struck the -rolling ball with but one more bolt, he would have equaled Marvin's -score; and I must have done likewise that we three might shoot again. If -with two more, he would have bested Marvin, and I must take the prize -from him. But with only two strokes in the five, 'twas easy quite; and -now Marvin hath the prize that it were shame to keep from him." - -Then indeed I understood; and I wrung Cedric's hand in gladness. - -"My father shall know of this," I cried; "and he'll give thee a prize -also. Another cow, second only to the one that Marvin chooses, shall go -to thy father's cottage." - -But Cedric's face, which had been merry, now quickly altered; and he -shook his head. - -"Sir Dickon," he said steadily, "dost thou not recall that thou didst -promise not to reveal what I did show thee?" - -"Why! But of that word thou'lt release me, Cedric. 'Twas but a notion of -thine. Truly, Lord Mountjoy should know of this." - -But Cedric still shook his head. - -"I told thee not in order that I might gain a prize. And for my shooting -this day no prize will I take. I somehow could not bear that thou -should'st think me so poor an archer as this day's work did show; but -now I hold thee to thy knightly word, well and freely given." - -I could think of no word more to say nor any way of moving him from his -resolve. So we walked slowly back to the hall, and in silence, for -Cedric was ever of few words, and I was thinking deeply on his -obstinacy. - -In the courtyard and in the hall we found the feast was yet in progress. -Truly, if our men of England do work and fight as valiantly as they eat -and drink, 'tis no wonder that our land grows in power and holds up its -head among nations. I left Cedric at his former seat, and walked -straight across the hall to my father. Cedric's eyes followed me, for it -was plain that he yet feared I might tell Lord Mountjoy how our archery -meet had been guided. And I cast back at Cedric, as I went, a sly and -crafty look which did nothing [to] reassure him. - -Soon I gained the ear of my father; and for half a minute did speak to -him full earnestly. To which he straightway made answer in his strong -and goodly tones which Cedric and many others might well hear above the -hum of voices and the clatter of the serving-men: - -"Marry! Well bethought, Dickon. It were indeed a shame to let such -archery at our festival go unrewarded. 'Twill pleasure Cedric also; and, -truly, he hath borne himself well this day." - -Rising, he addressed the company: - -"Ho! good friends all! Fair ladies and most worshipful knights and -gentlemen: I go to the courtyard to say to our yeomanry assembled there -some words that you may also wish to hear." - -Then he passed out of the hall, and all the lords and ladies rose to -follow him. Cedric and I were last. As we waited for the crowd to pass -through the doorway, he whispered, sharply: - -"Hast thou then told Lord Mountjoy after all?" - -I smiled in answer. - -"Contain thyself, good Cedric, and hear what thou shalt hear." - -He would have questioned further, but at that moment my father's voice -was heard in the courtyard. - -"Friends and Well Wishers of the House of Mountjoy: I know full well, -'twill pleasure you to hear that the prize that our good Marvin hath so -truly won this day is not the sole prize of our festival. The cross-bow -is a noble weapon, but the long-bow of Merry England is no less; and we -have seen some archery to-day that must not go without a guerdon. -Therefore to Elbert, Forester of Pelham and father of Cedric, now of our -house, I give his choice of any cow in the Mountjoy herds, saving only -that which Marvin chooses. To John o' the Wallfield also I make gift of -a good steel cross-bow of the sort which Marvin tells me he much -desires, and with which he may better even the archery he hath bravely -shown to-day. - -"Now here's a health to Merry England and long life to her honest -yeomanry! So long as they guide bolt and shaft as now they'll confusion -bring to all of England's enemies." - -So it befell that in the dusk of that fair day Elbert, the forester, did -lead home to Pelham Wood a goodly, milk-white heifer. A proud man was he -of this prize of his archery; but, had he known the full tale of the -day's doings, he might have been, without vainglory, prouder still. - - - - -CHAPTER VI--WOLF'S HEAD GLEN - - -I think that that spring morning whereon Cedric and I set out on the -forest road to Coventry was the fairest that ever I have seen. The sun -shone gloriously in the open glades and on the moorlands, and white -clouds sailed aloft like racing galleons. The bird chorus among the -little new leaves overhead was as the mingled music of harps and lutes -and voices in the choir at Shrewsbury, and flowerets of blue and pink -and gold full gallantly bedecked the pathside and the brown forest -floor. Withal 'twas not a day for idleness and dreaming, for a chill air -breathed in the darker vales, and here and there in the deep woodlands -and on northern slopes a graying patch of snow yet lingered. - -Old William, a faithful archer of Mountjoy, rode with us as guide and -counsellor--this by the insistence of my father, Lord Mountjoy, who had -a sorry lack of faith in the judgment and discretion of what he called -"two half-broke colts" like Cedric and me. - -"I know full well," he had said when I broached the plan of riding the -ten leagues to Coventry to pay due respects to our kinsfolk of -Montmorency,--"that Cedric hath a wondrous skill and quickness with his -cross-bow, and that thou, Dickon, in thy sword-play, art not far behind -many a man that calls himself knight and soldier. You will be mounted -well; and mayhap, if danger beset, can fight or fly, saving whole skins -as on that day the Carletons hunted you in the woods of Teramore. But -all is not done by eyes and limbs, be they never so keen and skilled. -Your veteran of three-score will step softly and dry-shod around the -quagmire in which your hair-brained youth of sixteen plunges head and -ears." - -"Never fear, Father," I cried, "with William or without, we'll keep -whole skins. These are now full quiet days, and we ride for pleasure, -not for brawling." - -"'Tis true," he answered slowly, "with the hanging of Strongbow, we now -have the outlaw bands in wholesome fear; and the Carletons have raised -no battle cry since the fall. 'Tis like they have little will for it -since they were so sorely smitten at the siege and first the Old Wolf -and later young Lionel received their just dues from us and ours. They -have no leaders now save the widowed lady and a fifteen-years old lad -that bears his father's name of Geoffrey and shall be Lord of Carleton. -Mayhap we have before us some few years to build the fortunes of our -house without let or hindrance from any of that crew at Teramore. But -William shall go with thee to Coventry, ne'ertheless, to see that thou -miss not the road and seek no useless brawls. Listen well to what he -tells thee, and thou'lt make a safe return." - -Now all three of us had our cross-bows slung upon our backs; and I wore -at my side the good Damascus blade which was my dearest pride. We -carried in leathern pouches a store of bread and meat for the midday -meal; and William had made shift to shoot a moorfowl that he spied -running midst the gorse by the wayside. - -So, an hour past the noonday, we made camp by a fair stream, set a fire -alight to roast the bird, and feasted right merrily. As we sat about the -embers, filled with the comfort of hunger well sated, I lifted up my -voice in a ballad of which I had many times of late made secret -practice. It went right merrily and clear; and when I had once sung it -through Cedric and old William both urged me on to repeat it. When I -sang again Cedric surprised me much, seeing the untaught forester that -he was, by joining me with a sweet, high contra-melody that wondrously -enhanced the music; and old William too, after a few gruff trials, did -bravely swell the chorus. - -Thus pleasantly occupied, and with our carol ringing through the vale, -we heard no sound of hoofbeats, and I looked up with a start to see, -passing along the path, fifty paces from our camp fire, three armed and -mounted travelers. - -There were two stout men-at-arms, wearing the braced and quilted jackets -that, against arrows or javelins, so well replace breastplates of steel, -and armed with great two-handed broadswords and poniards. Between them, -and a little to the fore, on a proudly stepping little gelding, rode a -youth of somewhat less than our own years, wearing an embroidered tunic -of white and rose and a sword which hung in a scabbard rich with gold -and gems. - -William snatched at the cross-bow which lay on the grass beside him; but -the strangers paid little heed to us, the men-at-arms but glancing -surlily in our direction. In a moment they had passed from sight, and -the forest was quiet again. For a little we talked of who they might be -and what their errand was in these parts; but none of us could name any -of their party. We were now some eight leagues from Castle Mountjoy and -mayhap three from Mannerley Lodge. It seemed not unlikely that the -stranger youth might be of some party that visited the good lady of -Mannerley, and that he was now riding abroad under the escort of two of -her stout retainers. - -The passing of the strangers, and the sour looks of the two men had -driven the carol from our minds; and we loosed our horses from the -saplings to which they had been tied, and soberly remounted to resume -our journey. It had been ten of the morning ere we left Mountjoy, and we -had come but slowly along the narrow forest paths. Now the sun was well -down in the West, and clouds were gathering darkly overhead. William -urged us to make haste lest we be caught in the cold rain that he -prophesied would be falling ere night. So we took the road again, and, -after all our good cheer and merry chorusing, with our spirits strangely -adroop. - -We rode but slowly, for we had no wish to overtake the travelers. On our -woodland roads, 'tis well to beware of strangers, especially when night -approaches and one is not yet in sight of friendly castle walls. If they -too made for Coventry, 'twas well, and we might follow them into the -town without exchanging words; and if their way lay elsewhere, we could -willingly spare their company. - -A mile or so we rode in quietness. Then, coming to the top of a rise -where the path emerged from the woods and half a mile of open moor lay -before us, we beheld a sight which caused us to draw rein full suddenly -and to gaze again, under sheltering hands, at the place where the road -again made into the forest. There were our three strangers in desperate -fight with half a dozen men. The outlaws--for such they seemed--were -roughly clad in gray homespun and Lincoln green, and armed with bows and -quarterstaves. They did swiftly run and dodge from behind one tree-trunk -to another, evading the sword strokes of the horsemen and sending shaft -after shaft against them. Even as we gazed, an arrow pierced the quilted -jacket of one of the men-at-arms, or found a spot uncovered at the -throat, and brought him heavily to the ground. - -For one quick-throbbing moment I looked at Cedric, to spell, if I might, -his thoughts at this juncture. Should we turn back ere the outlaws spied -us, and make good our 'scape in the forest? The band might be far larger -than it seemed; often a hundred or more of these robbers consorted under -the banner of some famous outlaw chief. If we went forward, we might but -add to the number of their victims. - -Then came the voice of old William, cracked and broken with his fear for -our safety, and striving hard to stay us from an emprise which seemed -certain death: - -"Turn, Masters! Turn ere they sight us. We are too few and too lightly -armed to face such numbers. An we go forward, they'll spit us with their -shafts like a roast at the fire. Come, Sir Dickon! Come, I pray thee. My -Lord Mountjoy leans upon me to bring thee safe through. Back to the -greenwood while yet there's time." - -I uttered not a word, and firmly held my restive steed; but I saw in -Cedric's face no thought of flight nor care for life or limb,--rather -the look of a noble hound that spies the frothing, tusker boar at -slaughter of his comrades, and beseeches but the word that looses him -against the monster's flank. - -And now Cedric's horse and mine sprang forward together. To this day I -know naught of any settled thought of riding to the attack. Mayhap the -limbs that came to me as my heritage from a line of fighting men that -never endured to see foul ambush and treachery have their way did move -without any guidance and set the spurs against my horse's sides. Cedric -rode the great war-horse which he had won from the Carleton; and though -my own mount was a fair tall stallion, half of Arab strain, the forester -drew ahead on the rough pathway e'en while he drew his cross-bow cord -and fitted bolt to groove. In a moment I had charged my weapon also; and -then I found old William by my side, his cross-bow in his hands and all -his protests forgotten. - -Now the hoofs of our mounts thundered most sweetly on the sward, and for -all the folly of our venture, I felt such an uplifting of the heart as I -had known but once or twice before in all my life. As we neared the fray -at the wood's edge, I shouted the battle cry of Mountjoy; and, my two -companions joining with a will, we came down upon the varlets like a -troop of armored horse. - -As we approached 'twas clear that the outlaws had all the better of the -fight. One of the men-at-arms lay dead on the ground, and the other -though still fighting blindly had twice been pierced by arrows in neck -and face. The robbers had a chieftain who carried no bow, but a sword -only, and who had been ordering and cheering on his men while striking -no blow himself. Now the youth in the white tunic, who had received no -hurt as yet, dashed toward him and struck full bravely with his -golden-hilted sword, but wildly and in a way unskilled. The robber met -the blow with a twisting parry that struck the hilt from the boy's hand -and sent the blade whirling away into the underbrush; then leaping -forward he seized the youth's shoulder and pulled him from his horse. - -[Illustration: _HE GAVE NO INCH OF GROUND SAVE TO LEAP FROM SIDE TO SIDE -IN AVOIDING MY DOWNWARD STROKES_] - -Drawing rein at fifty yards, we all three let fly our bolts, Cedric and -old William each bringing down his man. My own bolt flew wide of the -robber captain because of my fear of striking the youth who was now his -prisoner. Then, dropping the bow, I betook me to a weapon more natural -to my temper, and, sword in hand, was instantly in combat with the -chief. He pushed the boy behind him and gave me blow for blow; and, -truth to tell, he handled his blade--the weapon of a knight and -gentleman--with a skill far beyond that of any yeoman I had known. Our -blades flashed merrily in the sunlight that now streamed through a rent -in the western clouds; and I lost all knowledge of the fray around us. - -I fought on horseback, and he on foot; but he gave no inch of ground -save to leap from side to side in avoiding my downward strokes. All his -thrusts I managed to parry; but, somewhat with swordsmanship and more -with wondrous quickness of foot, he likewise foiled mine. Twice had I -essayed the best of all my tricks of fence only to fail in reaching my -tall and nimble enemy. - -I was gathering my wits for another stratagem, the which might take him -off his guard, when suddenly, and to my great amaze, he leaped aside -from my attack and sprang behind a tree trunk. From there he leaped to -another, farther in the forest; and so by running and hiding, quickly -disappeared in the greenwood. - -I looked about me, dizzied with the quickness of that which had -befallen; and beheld a sight for tears and groaning. Both the stranger -men-at-arms lay dead on the oak leaves amidst the bodies of five of the -outlaws who had been slain by their swords and our cross-bow bolts; and, -lying with his shoulders half supported by Cedric's arms, was our -faithful old William, his breast pierced by a cloth-yard shaft and his -eyes just closing in death. - -Cedric sadly laid down the body of our old retainer; and I thought it -fitting to make a hasty prayer for his soul's peace. Then, as I rose, -the stranger youth came forward haltingly. Methought he had a most -winsome face, with honest eyes of blue and with brown and curling hair. -I was about to offer some friendly greeting when our ears were affrayed -by a loud blast of a hunting horn which came from a furlong's distance -in the wood. - -Cedric's face changed instantly; and he grasped at my elbow. - -"Quick, Sir Dickon!" he cried. "Let us mount and away. Yon notes are the -call of the robber chief to all his band. They'll be here anon and slay -us every one if we make not haste." - -"Come then," I answered, and, seizing the youth's hand in lieu of other -greeting, I drew him swiftly toward his horse, and mounting my own, -wheeled back into the pathway. Cedric, with one bound, was on his -horse's back; but the stranger was slower in his movements, seeming -mazed and like one in a dream with the suddenness of these turns of -fortune. I caught the bridle rein of his horse which had somewhat -strayed; and then indeed he came quickly forward and climbed to the -saddle. But a precious moment had been lost; and now, just as we emerged -on the moor, there came a deadly flight of arrows from the wood. The -archers were yet a hundred paces off; and low-hanging boughs did much -deflect their shafts; but my horse was sorely stricken and reared and -flung me to the earth. Another arrow struck mortally the stranger boy's -bay gelding, and a third pierced my doublet sleeve and drew a spurt of -blood. - -"Quick!" shouted Cedric. "Mount with me, both of ye. Quick for your -lives!" - -Reaching down, he fairly lifted the stranger to a place in front of him, -while I seized his belt and madly scrambled up behind. Then the forester -set spurs to his horse's sides, and that splendid steed, despite his -triple burden, was off with a bound. - -But now, alas! the outlaws were at the wood's edge. Another flight of -arrows whistled about our ears; and the stranger, with a groan, clapped -his right hand to his side and tried manfully to pluck away a shaft -which was quivering there. His violent clutch served but to break the -wood, and left the barb embedded in the flesh. Cedric threw one arm -about him, lest he fall, and shouting to me to cling tightly to his -waist, spurred madly on, blind to all but the path before him. - -The robbers came streaming from the wood, and seeing that our one -remaining horse was now burdened with the weight of three riders, dashed -after us on foot with the hope, not ill-founded, of overtaking and -slaying us. Some of these men of the greenwood can leap and run very -like the deer they chase; and, had not our horse been the best and -strongest that ever I bestrode, they might have gained upon us on the -open heath enough to have made sure work of their archery. - -But momently we drew away from them; and none of their whizzing shafts -did further harm. Indeed, had not Cedric been fain to check our speed -lest our burdened mount stumble in the rough and treacherous pathway, we -might have shortly distanced them. As it was, we came again to the -forest which we had left a quarter hour before, and the smoother road -beneath the oak trees, with the shouting robber band a furlong behind -us. - -Then for the first time spake the youth that rode so unsteadily before -us. Deathly pale he was, and his voice like that of one on a sick-bed. - -"Masters," he murmured, "I fear my hurt is mortal, and you vainly risk -your lives for mine. Put me down, I pray you, on the oak leaves, that I -may die in peace, and you may 'scape with no more hurt." - -"That we will not," I cried, hotly. "We'll bear thee away to safety, -spite of all. Look but now! We gain upon them. A quarter hour will see -us well beyond their reach." - -"I cannot bear it," he answered faintly. "I bleed full sorely, and I -needs must rest." With that his color left him utterly; his blue eyes -twitched and closed; he fainted, and but for Cedric's arm must surely -have fallen. - -Cedric turned to me and whispered: - -"Save him we must, or we are no true men." - -"Surely we must save him," I echoed, "but how shall we compass it? If he -have not rest full soon and the dressing of his hurt, he will surely -die." - -"One chance there still remains," he answered softy, "though in the -essay we give o'er our own near sight of safety. What say'st thou? Shall -we attempt it?" - -"With all my heart," I cried. "Shall we make stand in some rock cranny -hereabouts?" - -To this the forester made no reply. We were riding down a slope toward a -wide but shallow stream which we must ford. The outlaws were hid from -view by the rise behind us, but we could still hear their shouts and -knew that they had by no means given o'er the hope of reaching us. - -Midway in the current Cedric sharply pulled his horse's head to the -right, and leaving the pathway utterly, spurred him at a trot up the -sandy and pebbly bed of the stream. A turn soon hid the ford from view, -and this not a moment too soon, for now again we heard the outlaws -coming down the hill in hot pursuit. Cedric drew rein for an instant, -and we heard them splashing through the shallows of the ford, and then -their running feet on the path beyond. A bow-shot farther on we drew out -from the stream bed and made better going in the open woods of a valley -which led upwards toward the rocky hills to the northward. - -"Dost know this place?" I asked of Cedric. - -"Aye," he answered shortly, "'tis known as Wolf's Head Glen." - -Then we came to thicker wood growth; and he had much ado to guide the -war-horse safely in the tangle and to keep the boughs from the face of -the stricken youth before him. Once more we entered the stream bed, and -again emerged where the forest was of older growth and had little -underwood to check us. We had come a mile or more from the pathway when -of a sudden the forester drew rein and looked with care about him. Then -he leaped down, leaving me to hold the wounded boy, and made his way up -a rocky slope to a tangle of saplings and thorn bushes. These at one -point he drew apart; then he disappeared, crawling on hands and knees -into the darkness beyond. - -Speedily he returned; and now a glad and hopeful look was on his face. -"'Tis well," he said, "we yet will save him. Here is shelter and safe -hiding if I mistake not." - -He lifted down the boy, and together we bore him up the slope and -through the narrow, thorny pathway. Beyond was a rocky cave with space -enough for half a dozen men to lie on the beds of leaves the winds had -drifted in, though nowhere high enough to let one stand erect. The mouth -was safely covered by the growth of sapling trees and briers; and one -might pass at twenty paces and ne'er suspect it. - -We laid our burden on the leaves. The poor youth's face was so white and -still and his hands so cold that truly I thought we were too late and -that his spirit had fled. But Cedric stripped away the garments from the -lad's breast and laid his ear against it. Then he rose and nodded -brightly. - -"He lives. We yet will save him. First let us make ready a bandage, then -pluck this shaft away and bind the wound." - -I quickly stripped me of a linen garment of which Cedric did make a soft -dressing and shield for the hurt. Then I held the quivering side while -Cedric firmly drew away the arrow. As it came forth the boy gave a -piteous groan and his eyes flickered open, but quickly closed again. The -bleeding started afresh, but the forester, with a wondrous deftness, -applied the bandage and closely fastened it with strips that went about -the body and over the shoulders of the lad. Then we brought water in an -iron cup which Cedric carried at his girdle, and bathed the boy's white -face. Soon his eyes opened once more, and he asked for drink. - -When the lad's thirst was sated and he knew us again, Cedric stole out -with cross-bow drawn to make his way a little down the glen and see if -any of the robber band had trailed us. Seeing naught of them, he quickly -returned and took our good steed and, first giving him to drink at the -stream, tethered him in a close thicket half a furlong off where he -might browse in quiet and mayhap escape the notice of our enemies. - -An hour later we re-dressed our companion's hurt, using a poultice of -healing leaves which Cedric had found by the brookside and crushed -between stones. Soon the lad fell asleep, and though sometimes beset -with grievous pains and babbling dreams, did rest not ill for one who -had been so near to death. - -Cedric and I watched the night out, sitting with drawn bows at the cave -mouth. The stars were bright, but there was no moon and little wind; and -our talk was low lest after all some of the outlaws might be near. Half -in whispers he told me the story of the glen and its name. It seems that -an honest yeoman, John o' the Windle, who had been his father's friend -in his youth, had had the mischance to quarrel with a sheriff's man, -and, to save his own life, had pierced him with a cloth-yard shaft. Then -John Windle had fled to the forest and become a wolf's head, which is -the name the commonalty have for outlaws, since the killing of either -wolves or outlaws may bring a bounty from the Crown. For years he had -lived in this very glen, with his hiding place in the cave known to but -a few faithful friends. Often he was pursued to the little valley, but -among its woods and streams always shook off the sheriff's trailers and -made good his 'scape. Finally the legend grew that he was befriended by -unseen powers and changed himself to a wolf whenever he crossed the -little stream at the place where so many times his trail had been lost. -Cedric's father, Elbert of Pelham Wood, had once brought him to this -spot to visit the outlaw after he had become old and was far gone in his -last sickness; and a few days later the two foresters had buried the -wolf's head near the cave where he had lived. - -Just after dawn, Cedric, sitting at watch, pierced with a cross-bow bolt -a hare that was hopping through the underwood fifty paces off. Most -cautiously we built a little fire within the cave and roasted the meat -for our breakfast, we being of sharpest appetites through having eaten -naught since the middle of the day before. - -Some of the tenderest bits we offered to the stranger, and he did try to -eat, but with no avail for he grew dizzy when we raised him from his -couch. Cedric's face grew grave at this, and soon he came and placed his -hand upon the cheek and neck of the lad. What he found made him frown -most anxiously at me. The face of the wounded youth had now lost all its -paleness; 'twas flushed and something swollen and to the touch near -burning hot. - -"Sir Dickon," called Cedric, suddenly, "we must move him, and quickly, -to where a leech can tend him. He hath a fever, and with it his wound -will not heal." - -"Can we issue from this wood by any other road than that on which we -left the robbers?" I questioned. "If so be, mayhap we can reach to -Mannerley Lodge." - -"There is a steep pathway higher in the glen that doth issue on Wilton -Road. If we gain that, 'tis not above two leagues to Mannerley." - -"Then let us go. I wager we meet not again with the outlaws. They ever -scatter and hide themselves after a fray like that of yesterday. Our -steed must carry three as before. 'Twill be but an hour's ride." - -Soon Cedric had returned from the thicket with the steed, we had lifted -the stranger as gently as might be, and, mounting also, were on our way -out of the forest. Now I rode in the saddle and held the boy in his -place, and Cedric sat behind me with drawn cross-bow and bolt in groove. - -We met none to gainsay us, and soon emerged from the wood. For a quarter -hour we made such speed as we might along the road to Mannerley. Then -all at once the youth's body grew limp in my arms, and I saw that again -his wound bled full sorely and that once more he yielded to a death-like -fainting. - -I drew rein, and we dismounted, laying the boy on the leaves by the side -of a little brook. For anxious moments we knelt beside him, bathing his -forehead with the cold water, listening in vain for his heart-beats, and -much in fear that his eyes would never reopen. - -[Illustration: _IN A TWINKLING, ARMED AND MOUNTED MEN WERE ALL ABOUT -US_] - -Then of a sudden we heard iron-shod hoofs on the roadway and a man's -rough voice in surprise and angry threatening: - -"Hold! What have we here? By'r Lady! 'tis the Mountjoys!" - -In a twinkling, armed and mounted men were all about us; and with a -heart like lead I recognized the Carleton livery. We could neither fight -nor fly. Half a dozen stout men-at-arms leaped from their horses and -rushed upon us. We had not struck a blow ere they overthrew us and -wrenched our weapons from our hands. In a moment more my hands and -Cedric's were fast bound with halters like those of scurvy thieves that -go to pay their penalty upon the gibbet. - -"Ha! Look but here!" cried the leader, whom I now saw to be none other -than the man who had so sworn against us at the trial at Shrewsbury, -"these are young Sir Richard and the forester that slew Sir Lionel but -six months gone. And now we come on them again red-handed. See _this_ -foul wickedness that they have done! What say you now? Shall we not rope -them up to yonder limb in requital?" - -"Aye, Aye! Let's hang them and quickly," cried another. - -"Men of Carleton," said I from where I lay upon the ground, "we are no -murderers. But if slay us ye must, let us at least have the death of men -and soldiers. I am the heir of a noble house that yields no jot to any -Carleton; and my comrade here is a freeman of England with no smirch on -his name. 'Tis not fitting that ye visit on us the punishment of -thieves." - -"Ho!" jeered the leader, "hear the young hound of Mountjoy, now caught -in the sheepfold. 'Tis like if we listen to him that he and this Pelham -varlet will yet concoct some plan to 'scape us. Quick, men! the halters! -For we have other and sadder work to do." - -Then for a moment all the forest and the blue sky seemed to turn to -blackness around me. There was a roaring in my ears like to that I heard -when as a child I fell one day from the foot board over the waters of -the mill race and came not up to breathe till I reached the other side -of the whirlpool below. Then from the midst of this reeling nightmare I -heard a voice, saying faintly: - -"Oh, Hubert! What dost thou here? And what do ye to these friends of -mine that they lie on the ground in bonds?" - -The stranger youth was sitting up on his leafy couch. His face was still -deadly pale, but his eyes gleamed brightly. - -"Our Lady be thanked! He lives," muttered the leader of the men-at-arms, -to my utter amaze doffing his headpiece before the stricken youth. Then -in answer: - -"Master Geoffrey, God be thanked, they have not murdered thee! But these -are Sir Richard of Mountjoy and the forester, Cedric, the very same that -did to death thy brother, Lionel. Now we shall swing them from yonder -oak limb. 'Twill heal thee faster to see thy enemies thus justly -served." - -"Hubert, thou shalt not,--_on thy life_!" cried Geoffrey, his weak voice -shrill with passion, "be they Mountjoys or be they sons of Beelzebub, -they are good men and true, and have over and again risked their lives -for mine. And I do verily believe that the tale they told at the -Shrewsbury trial was the truth, and that my brother brought his death -upon himself. Now cut those bonds,--and quickly." - -The soldier yet hesitated and muttered somewhat beneath his breath. - -"I tell thee, Hubert," broke out Geoffrey afresh, "thou shalt loose -them, and give them horses that they may ride safely to Mountjoy. If -thou disobey me, verily I'll have thee beaten with rods and cast in the -lowest dungeon of Teramore." - -Another of the men-at-arms now spoke aside to Hubert. - -"He is the Master, Hubert; and we must e'en obey. Forget not that, since -the death of Lionel, young Sir Geoffrey is himself the Carleton." - -Hubert drew his dagger and came toward me. From the look on his ugly -face I much misdoubted whether he meant to carry out the commands of his -young master or to stab me to the heart. But he quickly cut the rope -that bound my wrists, and then did a like service for Cedric. - -We stood erect and made our bows before the young Lord of Carleton. - -"Sir Geoffrey," said I, slowly, "thy house and mine have been bitter -enemies; but glad am I to call thee friend. Wilt thou clasp hands in -token?" - -For answer his face lighted up with his most winsome smile, and he -extended toward me his right hand in fellowship. To Cedric also he gave -a clasp of such heartiness as he could compass, calling him the while -brave rescuer and comrade. Then turning again to me, he said: - -"Sir Richard of Mountjoy, mount this horse of Hubert's here, which I -freely give thee, while Cedric rides the good steed that bore us so -bravely through the forest. My men shall make for me a litter of poles, -with robes and garments slung between, and bear me to Mannerley. There -will I bide till my wound is healed. Say to thy father, the Lord of -Mountjoy, that I renounce all the vengeance that my father and my -brother swore against him, and that I extend to him also the hand of -friendship. 'Twill please me well if, while I still lie at Mannerley, he -and thou and Cedric come riding there and visit me. And so good-by with -all my heart. May thou win safely home and Heaven's blessing follow -thee." - -Gladly we mounted and reined our horses' heads toward home. As we left -the little glade we turned for one more look at the pale youth, lying -half prostrate on his couch of leaves; and our hearts did swell with -gladness to know his life was safe and that no longer was he a stranger -or an enemy. And once more we caught his winsome smile and the wave of -his hand that bade us God speed. - - - - -CHAPTER VII--THE OUTLAWS OF BLACKPOOL - - -'Twas a fortnight after the fray with the outlaws on the borders of -Blackpool Forest, where, all unknowing, we had saved the life of young -Sir Geoffrey of Carleton, heir of the house that for so long had been -our bitterest enemy, that my father and I rode with Cedric, my comrade -and squire, and six stout men-at-arms over the hill road to Mannerley. -There our new-made friend, Sir Geoffrey, lay recovering from his wound. - -Lord Mountjoy wore helmet and cuirass; and his good two-handed -broadsword swung by his side, while both Cedric and I wore shirts of -linked mail and our followers each a quilted, shaft-proof leathern -jacket. Cedric carried the cross-bow which he had often used to such -good purpose, and I the sword of Damascus steel which my father had -riven from a Saracen noble in the Holy Land. Withal we made a brave -array on the woodland roads and one of which the boldest band of outlaws -with their bows and bills and coats of Lincoln green might well beware. - -But no enemy gainsaid us on the road; and at two o' the clock we rode -across the drawbridge of our good friend and neighbor, the Lady of -Mannerley. She bade us welcome in the courtly manner to which she was -bred, and ushered us to the great hall. Geoffrey was reclining in a -great chair before the fire, and rose to greet us with most joyous face. -His wound was healing fast, as we had known from the messengers who had -passed almost daily to and fro; but the young Lord of Carleton was still -pale with the bloodletting, and could leave his chair no longer than the -courtesy of a host demanded. As he shook hands with my father, the Lord -of Mountjoy, his words of heartfelt welcome and the smile on his winsome -face made amends for the weakness of his clasp; and I was filled with -joy to see that my father warmed to him at once and for his sake -willingly forgot the deeds of the old Gray Wolf, who had been Lord of -Carleton. - -When Geoffrey was again seated and we had found places on the benches -around him, the Lady of Mannerley brought to us some most dainty cakes -and cups of hot mulled wine, serving us with her own hands, as is the -custom when guests of quality are welcomed. There ensued an hour of -goodly talk, Geoffrey of Carleton plying my father with questions of -that of which he loves best to speak,--the wars for the Holy Sepulcher's -recovery--and Cedric and I listening or putting in our words as occasion -offered. Geoffrey heard from me the tale of our archer festival and of -old Marvin's and Cedric's wondrous prowess with the cross-bow. Then by -degrees we came to the story of the day whereon Cedric and I and poor -old William came upon the outlaw band in Blackpool that sought to kill -his two retainers and make him prisoner; and we lived over again in joy -the battle at the forest's edge and the bloody and desperate chase that -followed. - -When that tale had been fully told by us three youths, speaking -sometimes in turn and sometimes, at the most perilous passages, crying -out all together what had chanced, Geoffrey turned to me to say: - -"But, Sir Richard,--in the forest where I first saw thee and Cedric at -the fire,--that was a most sweet ballad you did sing. Can you not raise -it again? I have a great mind to hear it." - -At this, nothing loath, I turned my eyes to the rafters and began the -lay. Cedric, joining in with his sweet harmonizing, did give it a grace -which else it had sadly lacked; and the hall of Mannerley rang with it -even as had the little glade in the wood. Lady Mannerley came again to -the door of the hall, and behind her a half dozen of her maids and -serving men. Geoffrey and the others loudly cried "Encore"; and the -second time my father took up the lay with us, so it went rousingly and -to the delight of the whole company. When at last we ceased Geoffrey -declared that the song and the gay and heartening talk withal had done -for him more good than all the herbs and poultices of the leech, and -that with one more day like to this he verily believed he could ride -abroad whole and sound. - -Our audience departed with the end of the singing; and then Lord -Mountjoy spoke most seriously: - -"What thou say'st, Sir Geoffrey, puts me in mind that in these rough -times there is other work for us who are verily whole and sound than -this chaffering and singing at a bonny fireside, most pleasant though it -be. I must bestir myself to punish these greedy rascals of the greenwood -that set upon to rob and murder all those that go the forest roads not -armed to the teeth and in strong company. 'Tis said that this unhung -varlet that so sorely beset thee hath now no less than seven score -bowmen at his back. To-morrow I ride to enlist the aid of my lord of -Pelham with his twenty archers, and as soon thereafter as may be to -Dunwoodie of Grimsby. The good lady who is now our hostess will -doubtless send some men-at-arms and foresters. We shall make up a -company that can take Blackpool Wood from all its sides at once; and it -shall go hard but we send a half hundred of the rogues to their -reckoning." - -During this speech the eyes of the young Lord of Carleton had grown -bright as with a fever; and he could hardly wait for my father to come -to an end before crying out: - -"Oh, good Mountjoy! My friend--if thou art my friend indeed, stay this -goodly enterprise but a few short months--or weeks mayhap--and let me -join with thee. This outlaw chief, whom now I learn is called the -Monkslayer from certain of his bloody deeds, hath offered both injury -and insult to the House of Carleton. Two of my faithful men he slew, and -me he took prisoner, and would have held for high ransom, if indeed he -spared my life, had it not been for Sir Richard and Cedric here and that -worthy old archer of Mountjoy who met his death fighting in my behalf. -Give me but two short months--I ask no more--to heal me of my wound and -make some practice of arms; and I will ride with thee to the hunting of -this outlaw and his band with forty men-at-arms and eight score archers -from Carleton and Teramore. So shall we make short and sure work of it." - -My father gazed at the glowing face of our new-made friend; and plain it -was to me that the liking he had at first conceived for the lad suffered -nothing from this headlong eagerness to be up and doing with arms in his -hands. Turning to Cedric and me, with a broad and happy smile, Lord -Mountjoy said: - -"Well, lads, 'twas your quarrel and Sir Geoffrey's at the first. What -say you? Shall we risk the scattering and 'scaping of these rogues by -waiting till the fall for him? For I plainly see that, with all good -will, he cannot rightly ride and fight before that time in such a rough -campaign as this will be." - -"Oh, let us wait, Father!" I cried, "Sir Geoffrey hath the right in -saying 'tis especially the Carleton's quarrel; and 'twill be a fine -sight for all the countryside to see the banners of Mountjoy and of -Carleton waving together in so good a cause after all these years of -enmity. Mayhap Sir Geoffrey will return with usury the arrow-shot he had -from those scurvy knaves. If so, 'twill not be an ill beginning for his -career in arms." - -Cedric, who was ever of few words, nodded his head at this speech of -mine; and so 'twas settled among us. Through the summer months we would -strike no blow at the outlaws save in defense, but at the fall of the -leaf, when the woods made not so close a cover, we would fall upon them -in their fastnesses with all our forces at once, and so destroy and -scatter them that the woodland roads of the whole county would be free -of their kind for years to come. - -A week later Sir Geoffrey took his way to his great castle at Teramore -under a strong escort of Carleton men-at-arms. Ten days thereafter -Cedric and I rode thither to pay a promised visit and to talk of the -outlaw hunt and our great plans for the days to follow. Sir Geoffrey -showed himself a most gracious host; and we passed some goodly hours in -the Carleton hall and in the courtyard where Cedric did try most -manfully to impart to Geoffrey and me some measure of his cross-bow -skill. - -For my own handling of this weapon, I fear that all Cedric's and old -Marvin's teachings are bootless, and that never shall I shoot with any -certainty; but, to Cedric's huge delight, Sir Geoffrey took to the -exercise like one born in a forester's cottage. In half an hour he was -striking marks at fifty paces that were small enough for Cedric's own -aim at twice that distance, and his instructor was prophesying he would -be a bonny archer long before he could well handle a broadsword. This I -thought likely enough, for Geoffrey, though his age lacked but half a -year of Cedric's and mine, was somewhat lightly built and had not yet -the reach and the forearm muscles that make a swordsman. 'Twas plain -that among us three I should long remain the master with this best of -weapons; and with this thought to console me, I took it not too ill that -I should prove such a poor third at the archery. - -That night, as Cedric and I sat at board with my father and mother, we -were full of talk of the day's doings; and I was already planning -festival days and nights when the Carletons and the Mountjoys and all -our friends of Pelham and of Mannerley should fore-gather at Mountjoy or -at Teramore for feasts and dancing in such ways as had been in days of -yore. - -Suddenly my mother interrupted all this talk and planning with a sober -question: - -"And the Lady of Carleton--Geoffrey's mother--did she greet thee full -courteously to-day, Dickon?" - -At once I felt as one who treads in icy water where he had thought to -meet firm ground. - -"Nay, mother. We saw her not at all--save for a glimpse at chamber -window as we rode toward the drawbridge." - -"Ah! then she was not abroad, it seems." - -"Nay, she kept her chamber. Mayhap she was not well." - -"Did Sir Geoffrey make for her her excuse?" - -My face, as I could feel, grew burning red as I made answer: - -"Nay, he said no word of her." - -Then Lady Mountjoy turned to my father, who had been closely listening: - -"It seems, my lord, that we shall not soon ride toward Teramore." - -My father sadly shook his head, and gazed at the board before him. He -had been glad at heart at the thought of the healed breach between the -two houses; and now it seemed that all such thoughts were vain. - -"Mayhap Lady Carleton will ride over with Sir Geoffrey when next week he -comes to Mountjoy as he promised," I offered. - -My father again shook his head. - -"Mayhap she will, Dickon. If so be, she shall have the right hand of -welcome; but much I misdoubt her coming to Mountjoy. When all is said, -'tis but natural she cannot bring herself to call us friends. It was we -of Mountjoy that did to death her husband and her eldest son; and though -we know well, and have maintained it by oath and by arms, that 'twas in -fair battle, on our part at least, and that they brought their deaths -upon themselves, yet perhaps 'tis too much to expect her to credit our -words and deeds that give the lie to those of her own house. Nay, I see -it now. She will never be a friend of Mountjoy." - -He sighed deeply and turned again to his carving. None of us had more -words; and it seemed that a cold fog, like those that come from the -Western Sea in springtime, had settled on our spirits. - -Four days later Sir Geoffrey came to Mountjoy, attended by a well-armed -retinue; but his lady mother was not with him; and again he said no word -of her. We made the young heir of Carleton full welcome to Mountjoy, and -spent the day with meat and drink and the practice of arms. With the -cross-bow he did even better than before, and showed himself not too -dull a learner at the foils. But the gayety we had had at Teramore was -not with us at Mountjoy. 'Twas as if some shriveled witch had envied us -our merriment and put a spell upon us to destroy it. Something of this -Sir Geoffrey seemed to feel at last; and the sun was yet three hours -high when he took horse for his return. - -So passed the summer. We did not ride again to Teramore, nor did Sir -Geoffrey come to Mountjoy. Once I learned that he visited the Lady of -Mannerley; and Cedric and I took the same day to pay our own respects. -We had much good talk of the outlaw band and of the great day that was -now fast approaching, but of Lady Carleton and the new peace that -reigned between Mountjoy and Carleton no word was spoken. - -Came a day in fair October that minded me full sharply of that one a -year agone whereon I had met Lionel of Carleton in the woods of -Teramore. The men of Mountjoy were early astir, and four score strong, -counting the men-at-arms, the cross-bow men and the foresters with their -long-bows and cloth-yard shafts, were making toward their post on the -hither side of Blackpool Wood. On our left, two furlongs off, were Lord -Pelham and his archers; to the right the score or so of Mannerly -retainers and Squire Dunwoodie with half a hundred yeomen. On the far -side of the forest, three leagues away, we knew that young Sir Geoffrey -with dour-faced old Hubert led nigh two hundred Carleton men-at-arms and -bowmen, and Lionel of Montmorency a hundred more. We were to march in -open line, converging toward the center of the wood at grim Blackpool. -Any of the robbers found in hiding were to be captured or slain; and -whichever leader first encountered the outlaws in force was to give -three long notes on his hunting horn. Then half the forces of all the -others were immediately to join him, leaving the remainder to guard all -lines of possible escape. Our plans had been well kept secret amongst -the leaders; not one of our own men knew them until that very morning. -Withal it promised to be a most unlucky day for those cut-throat knaves -who had so long cheated the gallows. - -Our march was slow, as well might be in all those brakes and rocky -glens. Now and again a lurking knave in Lincoln green was found and -quickly made prisoner--or, if he made resistance, even more quickly -disposed of. Some, however, were too fleet of foot for capture by our -more heavily burdened men; and, after sending a shaft or two at the line -of skirmishers, made good their escape into the wood before us. - -'Twas ten by the sun when we heard, from Dunwoodie, far on our right, -the three long blasts of the horn. Instantly my father and I took half -our men, and leaving the rest under old Marvin, the archer, ran through -the forest toward the fray. Afterward we learned to our cost that some -of our leaders took not so careful thought of the places of their forces -in the skirmish line, but rushed off at once to the alarm, followed by -well nigh their whole companies, leaving in places gaps of a mile or -more in what should have been our close-drawn cordon. - -Be that as it might, ten minutes had not passed before Dunwoodie with -his half hundred archers was reinforced by a gallant array of bowmen and -men-at-arms. The outlaws, a hundred or more in number, and led by the -Monkslayer himself, had been pressing Dunwoodie hard. The robber chief, -carrying a sword and wearing the steel cap and breast-plate of a knight, -stood forth from all shelter, commanding and exhorting his followers, -apparently with no fear at all of flying shafts and quarrels. The men of -Dunwoodie Manor fought from behind trees and rocks; and most of them had -quilted, leathern jackets; but they were no match in archery, for the -outlaws, many of whom, by virtue of their skill with the long-bow, had -lived for years in the forest and never lacked for venison or greatly -feared the sheriff and his men. Half a dozen Dunwoodie archers already -lay weltering on the leaves, struck through throat or face with -cloth-yard shafts; and only one or two of the robber knaves had been -likewise served. Our coming, however, changed all in a twinkling. -Mountjoy struck the outlaws on one flank just as Lionel of Montmorency -came down upon the other. In the time a man would need to run a -furlong's length, a score or more of the varlets were slain by shafts -and cross-bow quarrels or by the swords of our men-at-arms, fifty more -had clasped their hands above their heads in token of surrender, and the -Monkslayer and the remainder of his crew had taken flight toward the -center of the forest. - -My father, who had been chosen leader by the other nobles, now called a -halt and sent out a half dozen messengers to right and left to see and -report to him the state of our cordon. Some of these returned in half an -hour with their news, while others made the entire circuit of the -forest, bearing Lord Mountjoy's commands for the reforming and -tightening of the skirmish line and for the delaying of further advance -till he should give the word. Since the scattering of the main body of -the robbers a number of the fugitives had been creeping back with their -hands tightly clasped over their heads and begging for quarter. It was -my father's thought that, in a day's time, these desertions from the -outlaw band would be so many that the task of surrounding and taking the -remainder and the Monkslayer himself would be a light one. - -At two o'clock Sir Geoffrey joined us with thirty of his men. The main -body he had left under old Hubert on the other side of Blackpool. He was -aching for a sight of the outlaws, and deemed our chances of -encountering them again better than those along the line he had been -guarding. Sir Geoffrey had grown brown and sturdy in the summer just -past, and had added near an inch to his stature. Now he handled his -cross-bow like a skilled archer, and was soon in eager talk with Cedric -over the practice at moving marks. - -Our camp was made in a fair and pleasant glen, some two or three miles -from Blackpool. We had eaten of the bread and meat in our pouches, and -sat at ease about our camp fires, my father having well seen to it that -sentinels were posted against any sortie of the enemy. Suddenly one of -these, half a furlong away in the wood, called out to us and pointed -down a pathway to where it crossed a stream a bowshot below our camp. -There were approaching two men in the Lincoln green, and bearing a cloth -of white which had been tied to a rough pole standard. - -"Ha!" cried Squire Dunwoodie, "here come two of the varlets with a -message. We will hear it; and if we like it not, will hang them up to -yonder limb." - -"Nay!" cried my father, angrily, "we shall do no violence to bearers of -a flag of truce, be they honest men or thieves. 'Tis like the Monkslayer -begs for mercy; but whate'er his message, the bearers of it shall return -to him unscathed." - -The envoys now approached and, bowing low before Lord Mountjoy, -delivered to him a folded parchment. My father bent his brows upon this -for a moment, then exclaiming in wrath, bade me read it to the assembled -company. These were the words of the scroll: - - "To Robert, Lord of Mountjoy, Geoffrey, Heir of Carleton and - other worshipful lords and gentlemen: - - "Know that my men have this day taken prisoner, and now securely - hold for ransom Elizabeth, Lady of Carleton with two of her - attendants. Some three score of my greenwood rangers are now - held captive by you, if indeed you have not already done - violence upon them. These friends and followers of mine I now - ask that you freely release, without injury or mutilation, and - that they go free before the sunrise of to-morrow. Also that you - then withdraw all your armed forces from Blackpool Forest. Then - shall the Lady and her attendants likewise depart without harm - from me or mine. If so be you refuse my terms, then when the sun - is one hour high you shall receive a messenger from me who will - bear with him the left hand of the aforesaid Lady of Carleton. - If by sunset of to-morrow my men have not been suffered to - freely return, another messenger shall bring you the lady's - right hand. - - "My fastness you shall never take. If you attempt it, at the - first alarm the prisoners shall die. Enough is said to make - plain my will. Those who have had dealings with me will tell you - that my word for good or for ill I always keep. - - "_William of Tyndale_, - Called by some the Monkslayer." - -"Oh, the murderous varlets!" cried Sir Geoffrey; and I thought it no -shame to him that tears streamed down his face, "they will cut off her -hands. 'Twere better far that they slew her outright. Oh! to have that -bloody villain for a moment within sure aim I would willingly die the -instant after." - -"How could she have been taken?" asked Lord Mountjoy. - -"I mind me now," replied Geoffrey, wringing his hands in misery, "she -ever went on Saturdays to tend my brother's grave at Lanton, two miles -from our gates and on the forest's edge. She was used to take an ample -guard; but to-day I have taken nearly all our men-of-arms for this -expedition. She liked it not that I should come; and now she has -ventured forth without escort and to my everlasting sorrow. Oh, that -_bloody_ villain!" - -"Hush, Sir Geoffrey," said my father quickly, his face working in -sympathy with the lad's sore distress, "they shall not harm thy lady -mother. If need be, and no other way will serve, we will e'en release -our prisoners and thus pay her ransom." - -A mutter of discontent from some of the other leaders followed this, and -Dunwoodie spoke full surlily: - -"Seven of my good yeomen have already been slain in this quarrel; divers -of our friends have lost men also, and Lord Pelham hath been borne -homewards with an arrow wound that came near to being mortal. Shall we -have nothing for all this but the freeing of these varlets?" - -"What would'st thou do then, Dunwoodie,--leave the Lady of Carleton in -the hands of the outlaws?" - -Dunwoodie only growled in reply; and soon my father spoke again, this -time to the outlaw messengers: - -"Go to your chief," he said, "and say that we consider his offer, but -that if the Lady of Carleton or her attendants be harmed one whit, we -will hunt him and all his followers to the death e'en if that hunting -takes a thousand men and a year's campaigning. Let him look to it." - -The messengers bowed again and made their way into the deeps of the -forest. My father and the nobles that were there gathered about the camp -fire in deep discussion of this sore dilemma. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII--"THE FORTRESS OF THE MONKSLAYER" - - -Cedric plucked at my sleeve and drew me aside. - -"Thou and Sir Geoffrey come with me a little," he whispered, "I have -somewhat to say on this." - -Quickly I sought out Geoffrey, and led him away into the bracken in -which Cedric had already disappeared. A bow-shot away from the camp we -came up with him. - -"Sir Richard," he said, speaking far more quickly than was his wont. "I -have a thought of the whereabouts of this fastness that the robber -speaks of in his letter." - -My heart leaped within me. "Hast thou, Cedric?" I cried. "If any one of -all our company should know, it would be thou who art native to these -woods and knowest them as the very deer that run them." - -"Aye," he replied shortly, "I believe 'tis not two miles hence. What -say'st thou? Shall we reconnoiter?" - -"With all my heart," I answered. - -Geoffrey drew his cross-bow cord and placed a bolt in groove. "Lead on, -Cedric," he said in a low voice. "I will follow thee if 'tis to a lion's -den." - -"Come then," replied Cedric, and moved away through the underwood. - -He took a roundabout course to avoid our own sentries and their -questions which might be hampering. In five minutes we had passed the -line where a little ravine ran between the posts of two of the archers -who stood on guard, and were hurrying through the wood, crouching for -shelter behind trees and rocks and crossing the more open spaces in -stooping runs lest we encounter the arrows of the outlaws. We saw none -of our enemies, however, and in an hour were on a deeply wooded hillside -amidst huge rocks and brawling streams, half a league and more from our -camp fires. - -Now we knew from the added caution of our leader that we approached the -spot he suspected as the fortress of the outlaws. He crouched and -crawled like a serpent, and fully as silently, turning to us from time -to time to lay a finger on his lips. At last he paused at the foot of a -huge old oak that yet bore most of its leaves, and motioning us not to -follow, quickly drew himself up among the branches. - -For half a minute he lay on a great limb six yards above the ground and -peered obliquely down the hillside at a point where we could see naught -but a little stream that issued from between huge ledges. Then his face -lighted up of a sudden, and he looked down to us and beckoned us to join -him. - -This we managed with no more noise than might well be covered by the -rustling of the oak leaves, and soon lay on the limb beside Cedric and, -peering out betwixt the branches, beheld that to which his finger -pointed. - -There was a narrow pathway which led up between the ledges; and, at a -bend in this where they were concealed from any in the wood below, stood -two tall archers in Lincoln green, with axes in their belts, long bows -in hand and arrows ready notched. They neither saw nor heard aught of -us, and we might have fired on them with goodly chance of slaying one or -both; but Cedric now motioned us down to the ground again and soon -joined us beneath the tree. - -Without a word he retraced his steps through the forest; and by sundown -we stood again amongst the ferns in the place where he had first -revealed his thought. Then he spoke again: - -"'Tis e'en as I thought. The Monkslayer hath his fastness in a wide -cavern at the head of yonder gully. There is no approach save by that -winding path you saw where half a dozen men might well stop a thousand. -He thinks to guard my Lady Carleton there until her ransom be paid. And -whether even then he will let her go unharmed we know not." - -Sir Geoffrey ground his teeth in rage. - -"Hast thou any plan?" I asked of Cedric. - -"Aye," he replied, "though 'tis something ticklish; and if it fail, -'twill be an ill chance indeed." - -"Say on, Cedric," said Geoffrey, eagerly. - -"This is my thought," said Cedric, "we have till to-morrow's sunrise -before any harm shall befall thy lady mother. Now, it would be -disastrous to attack the fastness openly; but it may be that with two -score of swordsmen, creeping on them just before the dawn, we can take -them by surprise. Your archer is all at disadvantage in fighting at -arm's length; and if such a force can reach the cavern's mouth, I -warrant we snatch away the prisoners almost before they are aware. The -cave is broad but not deep. I remember it full well. There is no room in -it for hiding." - -"But Cedric!" I cried, "how shall we reach the cave's mouth without -alarm? Hast thou forgotten the two sentries in the lower pathway?" - -Cedric smiled broadly. - -"And hast thou forgotten, Sir Dickon, the oak tree from which we spied -them but now? Old Marvin and I together shall care for the sentries." - -I drew a deep breath as I caught the full working of his plan. "Cedric," -I said, "thou wilt never remain a simple squire. Thou hast a head as -well as an arm. The King hath need for such in many places of trust." - -"Let us first make this plan succeed," replied Cedric evenly, though I -could see that my words had warmed him to the heart. "Now shall we tell -Lord Mountjoy?" - -"Aye," said I, "let us have him from the camp at once. I warrant you -he'll kindle at our news. And he knows which of our swordsmen will carry -themselves best in such a venture." - -"And I have twenty men of Carleton here that can be trusted," put in -Geoffrey. - -"Right," said Cedric, "'twill make us amply strong. We must have no -blunderers, though, for look you, some of these greenwood men have ears -that can hear a twig break at two hundred paces. We must urge Lord -Mountjoy to hold all at a safe distance till the signal." - -Two hours after the midnight we set out through the forest for the -storming of the robber fastness. Cedric, as pathfinder, was in the lead, -followed close by Lord Mountjoy, Sir Geoffrey and me. After us, and -treading most cautiously, 'mongst the leaves and brush, came old Marvin, -the archer, and thirty chosen swordsmen of Mountjoy with a score or more -of Geoffrey's men. - -There was no moon; and the faint stars gave but little light in the -forest deeps. Our way lay, as often as not, over steep and rocky slopes -where our faces were torn with thorns and our legs bruised against the -unseen rocks. - -We had made little more than half of our way to the outlaw stronghold -when Lord Mountjoy, in coming down a streamlet bank in the darkness, -stepped heavily on a stone that rolled beneath his weight, and went to -the ground with his right foot twisted under him. He gave a groan of -pain, yet in an instant was up again to resume his march. But then 'twas -found this could not be. His ankle had been most sorely wrenched, and -would not at all endure his weight. He sank down again on a leafy bank, -and called us to him. Amidst half stifled groans and grumblings at his -ill fortune he declared he could not move from thence without -assistance. There was no help for it; he must await our return. -Therefore he gave o'er to me the leadership of the venture. We left with -him two stout men-at-arms, and went quickly on, for now it seemed the -sunrise could not be long in coming. - -At the fourth hour of the morning we lay by the streamlet bed, two -hundred paces from the robbers' sentry post in the rocky passage. Cedric -and old Marvin had left us to climb the hillside by another route and -gain the branches of the great oak tree. Already there was a grayness in -the dark that told of the coming dawn. Half an hour passed, and by -little and little the trunks of the trees grew more clearly to be seen -and we could well make out each other's faces. Roosting wild fowl roused -themselves, and flew away with a clatter of wings. We knew that Cedric -and Marvin awaited the daylight to make sure their aim. At last, on the -top of a tall tree above me, I spied a beam of sunlight. - -Immediately, as it seemed, there came from the oak tree the call of an -owl, twice repeated. This was the signal for which we waited; and we -sprang up together and ran, as silently as might be, toward the pathway -entrance. We gained it unmolested, and with Geoffrey and me in the lead, -quickly came upon the bodies of the sentries. Cedric and Marvin, from -their post in the tree, had well done their work. The sentinels had -perished silently, each with a bolt through his skull. - -We rushed forward; and now some of our arms rang against the stones; and -there was a cry from above us. This was no time for stealth and -creeping. On we went with a rush and with a clatter of heels on the -rocks of the path and of steel against steel as we jostled one another -in the race. - -In a moment we were at the cavern's mouth; and found a score of the -robbers on their feet to meet us. Arrows whizzed among us and one or two -men fell, mortally hurt. Geoffrey let fly his bolt at a tall villain -that stood in his path, and shot him fair between the eyes. Then I saw -no more for I was face to face with the outlaw chief, and our swords -flashed fire. - -He still wore his steel breastplate, which I believe he had not laid -aside that night; and this well matched the shirt of woven mail that had -stayed two or three arrows which had otherwise laid me low. I felt -taller and stronger at that moment than e'er before in my life; and my -sword seemed a very plaything in my hands, like that of the Frenchman, -De Latiere, who had so nearly done to death my father at the court at -Shrewsbury. The outlaw was no novice with the sword, as I who had once -before crossed weapons with him, could well testify. But almost at the -outset I brought to bear the play that, with my father's help, I had all -that summer been perfecting. A swinging feint at the forearm turned -itself in mid-air to a flashing thrust straight at his unguarded throat. -I pierced him through and through, and he fell and died at my feet. - -Looking about me, I saw most of the outlaws dead or dying and the -remainder being fast bound as prisoners. Young Sir Geoffrey of Carleton -had dropped his cross-bow on the ground and stood with his mother's arms -firmly clasped about his neck the while he whispered somewhat in her -ear. At her side her two handmaids stood unharmed and loudly weeping for -joy. - -As I stood looking, well content, at this spectacle, the Lady of -Carleton suddenly loosed her son and ran toward me. In an instant I too -was clasped in a warm embrace. - -"Richard of Mountjoy," she cried, "thou and thine were my son's friends -and rescuers, and now mine also. This day's deeds bespeak thee far -better than any words. Heaven is my witness, I believe thou art a true -man and hast spoken the truth as to thy dealings. All that we can do to -serve thee shall be done. From this day forth and forever there shall be -peace and love betwixt our house and thine." - - - - -CHAPTER IX--CHURL AND OVERLORD - - -'Twas a year and more after the overthrow of the Monkslayer in Blackpool -Forest and the killing or scattering of most of his band that my father, -the Lord of Mountjoy, with my lady mother and myself and Cedric the -Forester, now my accredited squire, sat one day in the hall of Mountjoy -talking of the news that had that day come in. There had been, it -seemed, a most desperate and bloody revolt of the churls on the lands of -Sir Hugh DeLancey, some ten leagues to the south of us. A hundred or -more of the peasantry with some apprentices and hangers-on at the -village, armed with axes, clubs and scythes, had taken the manor by -surprise in the night, killed Sir Hugh and half a dozen of his men in -the hall, driven out the lady, then sacked the place and burnt it to the -ground. - -We were fair horror-struck at such lawless and brutal doings; and for a -time we vied with one another in calling vengeance down on the leaders -of that guilty crew and in plans for assisting in their punishment. But -in the midst of this an archer came from the courtyard with the word -that one of Sir Hugh's men-at-arms, who had been wounded in the -onslaught, had managed to get him to horse and away after the death of -his master, and was even now at the gate asking the hospitality of -Mountjoy. My father at once gave orders for his welcome; and soon the -man, who, after all, had escaped with wounds of no great moment, was -sitting at our board with meat and drink before him. When his hunger and -thirst were abated, he told us the tale of the churls' revolt in a -somewhat different seeming. - -Sir Hugh DeLancey, though a loyal follower of the King, a resolute -punisher of outlawry, and oft a comrade of my father's at the jousts and -in the battle line, had been a hard master to all his men in kitchen and -hall and a heavy-handed overlord to the peasantry about him. Many a one -had muttered curses after him when his back was turned; but he was ever -quick with riding whip, or oaken cudgel at need, so that almost none -dared gainsay him. Now it seemed that but the day before he had sent his -steward to the cottage of Oswald, a farmer of his demesne, to say that -Oswald was to make ready to receive for the night two of the grooms of -Lord Westerby who were to accompany their master on a two-days' deer -hunt in Sir Hugh's forests. By ill hap it chanced that Dame Margery, -Oswald's wife, was ill-a-bed at the time, and appeared to be nigh unto -her death; and Oswald sent back the word to his master that on this -account he could not receive the two men that were to be quartered on -him. The steward, however, held an old grudge against Oswald; and so, -returning to his master, spoke but the half of Oswald's answer, saying -only that the farmer refused to have the grooms in his cottage. - -When Sir Hugh heard this, he flew into a rage, called for his horse and -rode to Oswald's door, followed at a little distance by this retainer -who now told us the tale. Arrived before the cottage door, he drew his -sword, and, taking it by the blade, pounded with might and main with the -butt on the panel. Oswald came forth, and, angered by this unseemly -noise at the door of what would soon be a house of mourning, spoke -roughly to his liege lord, requesting him to withdraw and leave the -dying in peace. - -Sir Hugh's own choler was so high that 'tis doubtful if he sensed the -meaning of Oswald's words, for he answered with a command to throw the -door wide, as he would take the cot forthwith to stable his horse -within, and it should be seen who was master on the lands of DeLancey. -Oswald stood immovable, and as the knight advanced on him laid hold of a -firewood stick to dispute his way. At this Sir Hugh struck right madly -with the weapon which he still held by the blade. By a most unhappy -chance the broadsword hilt came down, full force, upon the farmer's -temple, and in an instant he was stretched dead at the feet of his -master. Then Sir Hugh took horse again and rode back to the manor. - -Poor Dame Margery set up a piteous outcry, and soon there came two or -three of the neighbor folk who heard her broken tale of the encounter. -Ere night the bitter news was on every tongue within miles of DeLancey -Manor; and when at dark the word went round that Margery had died also, -a vengeful band soon formed itself, and those bloody deeds were done of -which the earlier news had come to us. - -Scarce had the DeLancey man finished his tale and been taken to his -lodging where the leech should tend his hurts when a messenger rode up -to our court-yard gate and demanded admittance in the name of the Lord -High Constable. He brought us the news that the Constable was already in -the saddle and with half a hundred lances at his back was riding to -DeLancey Manor for the quelling of the mutiny and the punishment of Sir -Hugh's murderers. It seemed, however, that the Lord Constable had no -archers with him and feared they might be sorely needed in the fighting -to come. Therefore he asked of Lord Mountjoy that he send with the -messenger half a dozen mounted cross-bow men,--men who could strike a -fair target at two hundred paces; and he promised to reward bountifully -any such who should do the Crown good service. - -At this Lord Mountjoy turned to Cedric, saying: - -"Now here's the chance, Cedric, my lad, for thee to earn both gold and -honor. Wilt thou pick five more Mountjoy cross-bow men and ride with -them 'neath the Constable's banner?" - -But with a countenance of a sudden grown something pale, Cedric made -reply: - -"Good my lord, I pray you lay not your commands upon me to that effect. -This expedition likes me not." - -"How now!" exclaimed my father, "this is a new temper for thee, Cedric. -Thou'rt ever ready to be where shafts and quarrels fly. Surely thou'rt -not frighted of peasants' clubs and scythes." - -"Nay, my lord. But for this fighting I have indeed no stomach, and 'tis -like I should make but a poor soldier in the Constable's train. I pray -you, if Mountjoy must furnish archers for this work, let some other lead -them." - -My father's face grew very red. He leaned far over the table toward -Cedric, and seemed about to speak full loud and angrily. Then bethinking -himself, he turned again to the Constable's messenger, and said: - -"Return thou to the Lord Constable with Mountjoy's compliments; and say -that within the half hour six good cross-bow men will set forth from -here, and will o'ertake him on the road long before he reaches DeLancey -Manor." - -The messenger bowed and withdrew. Soon we heard his horse's hoofs on the -drawbridge. Then Lord Mountjoy sent for one of the older of the Mountjoy -archers from the court-yard below, and gave to him the commission just -refused by my obstinate squire. This accomplished he turned again to -Cedric, with a heavy frown on his brow, and said: - -"Now tell us, if thou wilt, sirrah, why this sudden showing of the white -feather. 'Tis not like thee, I'll be bound, to shrink from any fray, -whether with knight or clown, or to shame me as thou hast before the -Constable's messenger. What terrifies thee now in the thought of this -rabble?" - -"I have no fright of them, my lord. Rather I wist not to have any hand -in their punishment for a deed which, lawless though it be, still had -the sorest provoking." - -Lord Mountjoy gazed at the youth in amazement. My mother and I caught -our breaths and one or the other of us would have interposed a word to -blunt the edge of such wild-flung talk; but my father burst out again, -and in a voice that echoed through the house: - -"And would'st thou then let the murderers of my friend go free of -punishment for that he had struck down a churl that refused him entrance -to a house on his own domain?" - -"The man did but defend his right," returned the Forester, steadily. -"The house was his, against all comers, e'en his liege lord, till he had -been duly dispossessed." - -Such rebel doctrine had ne'er before been heard in Mountjoy Hall. 'Twas -little wonder that my father's face grew purple with wrath as he -shouted: - -"And where gettest thou such Jack Clown law as that? Is it from the -books of chronicles thou hast learned to pore over by the hour, or from -the monks at Kirkwald that lend them to thee?" - -"Nay, my lord, 'tis from the ancient Saxon law that ne'er hath been -abrogated in England, though many a time o'erridden. 'A freeman's house -is his sole domain though it be no more than a forester's cot.'" - -Lord Mountjoy had risen and now stamped back and forth. - -"Ne'er abrogated, forsooth! But it well should be. This is no law or -custom for the descendants of the nobles that landed with William the -Conqueror. 'Tis of a piece with the insolence of the churls on Grimsby's -lands, who would have a magistrate of their own choosing forsooth, to -try their causes withal--reaching up to snatch the reins of governing -from their lawful masters. What do such clowns know of law or governing? -When did ever such make shift to guide or protect a state?" - -"Those same chronicles, my lord, of which you spoke but now, tell us of -a republic of Rome, where commoners ruled the city, and that that city -grew so great in power as to rule half the world and more." - -My father gazed grimly at the youth who dared thus to question his -wisdom; but for the moment he had naught to say, and Lady Mountjoy -seized the chance to exclaim: - -"Oh! in those chronicles there is a bonny tale of the saving of the city -by the voice of geese. I will fetch them and read it you." - -Lord Mountjoy, not thus to be put aside, made an impatient gesture, and -was about to take up again the argument when a knock was heard on the -door of the hall, and a maid announced that Old Marvin, the archer, -craved speech with Lord Mountjoy. Glad enough was I to see him admitted, -for this quarrel that had flamed up so suddenly between my father and my -friend and squire was a bitter thing to me and to my lady mother. More -than once had Cedric saved my life in battle and skirmish; and Lord -Mountjoy himself had stood forth as his champion when King Henry -condemned Cedric to be hanged for the killing in fair fight of young -Lionel of Carleton. Of all the Mountjoy retainers, Cedric had the -steadiest hand and the clearest head. I had often prophesied that unless -I rose in honors and preferment faster than I could rightly expect, I -should not long be able to retain such a youth as a simple squire. But -now I seemed like to lose him before ever my spurs had been won and he -to part from us in bitterness. - -As Cedric was the most valued among the younger retainers of our house, -so was old Marvin, the cross-bow man, among the elders who had followed -first my grandfather, then my father to the wars. His wondrous skill -with his weapon had done yeoman service on many a field, and finally had -struck down the old Gray Wolf, Lord Carleton in the midst of the -desperate assault he made on the walls of Mountjoy. For two years now -Marvin and his good wife had enjoyed the cottage and six acres of the -Millfield, where we hoped he might have many years of peace as some -measure of requital for a lifetime of toil and danger. 'Twas not likely -that Lord Mountjoy, in the angry mood of the moment, would have admitted -any other of his followers; but Marvin was a man of honor and privilege -in Mountjoy Hall. - -As soon as Marvin had entered, my mother rose and, calling Cedric to -her, found some duty upon which to employ him, so that he left the hall, -and was seen no more till late at night. Meanwhile the old archer had -explained to us that a message had just come to him from his brother who -was a forester on the lands of Lord Morton, a day's journey to the -north. Marvin had not seen his brother for twenty years; and when last -they parted it was in some coldness; but now the other, who was a few -years older than Marvin, was lying sick in his cottage at Morton, and -asked his brother to come to him that they might be reconciled ere he -died. He offered, if Marvin would come and stay with him to the end, to -settle upon him as his heir any goods or savings he might have. Marvin -now craved leave to join a merchants' caravan which was just setting -forth in that direction, that he might comply with his brother's last -request. - -On hearing Marvin through, my father instantly gave his leave, and -ordered furthermore that a good horse from the Mountjoy stables be -placed at his disposal. Thereupon our faithful old retainer bade us a -hasty good-by, for the caravan was already on the road; and we wished -him a safe return. - -My mother and I did hope and plan that Lord Mountjoy might easily forget -the dispute he had with Cedric; and to that end found means to keep -Cedric busily employed through the following morning; and at the midday -meal did turn the talk toward the great tournament that was soon to be -held at Shrewsbury. But some Imp of Mischief had his way at last, for at -mid-afternoon my father entered the hall and found Cedric by the -fireside, deep in the great book of chronicles. This was enough to bring -to mind the heresies that Cedric had found therein; and in a moment all -the anger of the day before flamed up again. Soon Lord Mountjoy was -shouting in his wrath, declaring that the nation went to the dogs where -curs and clowns were not duly subject to their lawful masters, and that -if Cedric would mend his fortunes, he must first cast out such folly -from his mind. Cedric replied, in lower tones indeed, but by no means -meekly, upholding what he called the rights of English freemen to -household and to peaceable assembly and to trial, when accused, by -juries of their peers. At last my father checked his speaking, and said -slowly and in cold anger: - -"I tell thee, sirrah, thou'lt mend thy clownish ways of thinking if -thou'rt to remain in Mountjoy Hall. We'll have no rebel firebrands--no -ale-house ranters with their crazy mouthings,--stirring up our yeomanry -through thee. While I hold the fee of Mountjoy, every man-jack in cot or -in castle must be a loyal subject of the King and of his liege lord." - -At this my squire made a low bow and said: - -"I thank you then, my lord, for all your kindness, and will say -farewell. I can say naught but the truth for either friend or foe." - -"Cedric!" cried my mother, "thou canst not mean it. Think what Mountjoy -means to thy fortunes; and think again of the good-will we all bear -thee. Say to Lord Mountjoy that those were but thoughtless words, and be -our man again." - -Cedric shook his head, but trusted not his voice to speak. Thereat my -father drew from his pouch a purse of gold and offered him. - -"Thou hast given the Mountjoy right loyal service. Take this in token." - -But Cedric again shook his head. - -"Nay, my lord, such service as I gave was not for gold, and I cannot -receive it. With your leave, I will take the steed that was the -Carleton's, and since called mine, and ride away from Mountjoy where my -words and thoughts are dangerous." - -More talk there was and further urgings from my mother and from me; but -Cedric's will remained unmoved. Lord Mountjoy paced back and forth -before the hearth with hands clasped behind his back and with a deeply -furrowed brow. The Forester bowed low again and left the hall; and soon -thereafter we heard the tramp of his horse on the drawbridge. Then I -took me to the battlements and watched my loyal squire and comrade till -his figure grew dim and disappeared on the road that lay to the south -and east, toward London town. - -Three mournful days went by. Word came that the peasantry of DeLancey -Manor had been herded up by the Constable and his lancers, and that two -of the ringleaders had been hanged. Although my father gave the -messenger who brought this news a broad piece of gold, it seemed to -bring him but little cheer to know that the slayers of his friend had -met their punishment. There was but little talk in Mountjoy Hall; the -rain fell dismally without; the days were dark and cold; and e'en our -good log fire seemed powerless to brighten them. - -Then came, hard riding, a messenger from the Lord of Morton. He bore a -letter from his lordship to my father; and filled it was with direful -news. Old Marvin of Mountjoy had been sorely wounded at Morton in some -fray for which Lord Morton blamed no other than his own son, who, it -seems, had perished in the fighting. Lord Morton wrote in noble fashion -of his grief that our retainer should have come to harm through any of -his house, and said that Marvin had the best of care at Morton, and -that, so soon as he should be sufficiently recovered, he should be borne -to Mountjoy in a litter, and that all of the goods of his brother who -had lately died should be honorably bestowed upon him. - -The letter was brief withal; and when my father had finished reading it -to us we yet remained sore puzzled at this happening. We turned again to -the old serving man who had brought the message, and him Lord Mountjoy -questioned sharply: - -"Know'st thou aught of this affair, my man, save what is set forth in -this letter?" - -"Aye, my lord," he answered heavily, "much of this sad work I saw. 'Twas -an ill time indeed, for my Lord of Morton is far gone in years, and now -this misfortune hath robbed him of his only son and heir." - -"Tell us of it, I pray thee," said my father, eagerly, "if so be thou -canst do so with full loyalty to thy house." - -"Nay. My Lord Morton conceals naught. It was Sir Boris, his son, that -was to blame, and he denies it not. Lord Morton is an upright man and a -just; but for years he hath tried in vain to curb the wildness of young -Sir Boris. Drink and dice have been the young lord's ruin as of many a -better man before. Only a fortnight since, Lord Morton forbade him, on -pain of his worst displeasure, to bring any dice, those tools of the -Devil, into Morton Hall. More than that, he drove from the very door two -of the young bloods from Shrewsbury who had been the young lord's boon -companions in drinking and gaming." - -"But how did this touch our Marvin? He was not lodged in Morton Hall, I -trow." - -"Nay, my lord. Marvin came three days ago to the cottage in Morton Wood -where his brother, the forester, lay in his last illness. 'Twas none too -soon, i' faith, for hardly more than a day later, Old Gilbert breathed -his last. That was toward sundown; and Marvin, who had been joined by -some stranger lad, prepared to spend one more night in the cottage to -look after his brother's body, which they planned to bury on the morrow. -This I knew, for my Lord Morton had sent me there for word of the -forester; and I brought back the news to the Hall. - -"A little later I had commands from young Sir Boris to join him in his -hunting lodge in the wood, for that he should meet some friends there in -the evening, and I should wait on them with food and drink. I well knew -that this was but a trick to set at naught the orders of my Lord Morton; -and now I have sorrow that I did not instantly acquaint him with it. But -Sir Boris was a willful man and very ill to oppose; so I obeyed him, -thinking that 'twas better there should be at the lodge one man at least -of sober head than that the party should be served by some of our young -kitchen knaves who think of naught themselves but drink and lawless -living. - -"But alas! that night's revel was far worse than ever I had thought. -There was young Damian of Lancaster, Sir Henry Walcott and Guy De -Montalvan--roistering and dissolute blades all of them--and two or three -more whose names I knew not. I had brought a fair venison pasty to the -lodge; but for this they nothing cared. 'Twas the love of drink and -gaming that brought them there; and the fires were scarce lighted and -the table spread ere they had broached a cask of wine and the dice were -rattling on the boards. Their gaming soon was fast and furious; and the -stakes grew ever higher. Young Boris at first won nearly every cast, -till his pouch was bulging with gold pieces; but by ten o' the clock his -luck had turned and he lost and lost. All his winnings went, then all -the gold he had or could borrow. Next he wagered the suit of armor which -had been his father's gift when he was knighted, then the great white -horse which bore him in the tourney. In another hour all of these were -lost and young Guy de Montalvan was richer far than e'er he had -deserved. By now all of them were much the worse for wine; and when Sir -Boris wished to continue the play when he had naught more to wager, they -disputed him with oaths. - -"Then my young master bethought him for a space whilst the others played -on regardless. At last he burst out with a shout: - -"'I know the whereabouts of gold that is of right the Morton's. Gilbert, -the old churl who was our forester, hath died this day. At his cot he -had, I doubt not, store of gold pieces which my father and I have given -him from time to time. Now I have need of them, and will proceed to take -what is mine own. Who follows me?' - -"There were shouts and laughter at this and clapping of hands. Sir Boris -started up and, sword in hand, ran out the door. Then before I could say -or do aught to stay them, the whole rioting crew had seized cloaks and -weapons and were streaming forth into the forest on the way to Gilbert's -cottage. I left the lodge and ran with all my might along the path to -the castle to arouse Lord Morton. But 'twas half a mile and more, and -when I reached there my master was deep in sleep. He roused him up at -once, and soon, with half a dozen stout men-at-arms at his back, was -running through the wood to put a stop to those mad doings. - -"But alackaday! he was too late to do aught but view the scene of ruin -and dishonor to his house and to gather up the bodies of the slain and -those who lay in wounds and blood. The rest of the tale I had from old -Marvin himself as I tended him but yesterday; and piteous it was, not -for him only, who will recover of his hurts, but for all of us who love -the name and fame of Morton. - -"'Twas near midnight when he and the stranger youth who were lying on -the floor, covered with their cloaks were roused by blows of sword hilts -that rang upon the door and by shouts and drunken yells. The body of old -Gilbert lay upon the bed; and doubtless this din and cursing at such a -time struck horribly on Marvin's ears. - -"'Who art thou, and what wilt thou have?' he shouted. - -"'Sir Boris of Morton,' came the answer, 'get up, thou churl and open -the door.' - -"'Not for thee nor any man in such guise as this. Know'st thou not that -Gilbert, the forester, lieth dead here? Go thy ways, I pray thee, and -leave this house in peace.' - -"But at this there were more yells and calls and louder smiting on the -door. Then spake the stranger youth: - -"'Go thy ways, whoe'er ye be. We be two armed men, and will suffer none -to enter here this night.'" - -"Well and bravely spoken!" exclaimed my father, "'twas a well-born -youth, I warrant thee." - -"Nay," answered the old servant, "he wore the hodden gray. But gentle or -simple, he soon was forced to make good his words or swallow them, for -my young master and his crew withdrew them for a brief space, then came -rushing all together, bearing a huge log which they employed for a -battering ram. At the very first thrust, it broke down the cottage door -with a horrid crash. Then those that bore it instantly drew swords and -poniards and essayed to enter in its wake. - -"Old Marvin, it seemed, had his cross-bow ready drawn; and he shot young -Montalvan through the face at the first onslaught. The stranger youth -fought with broadsword, and well and truly too. He had at first some -vantage in the shadow in which he stood; but soon the rioters were all -around him. He felled one of them with his very first stroke; but then -Sir Boris came opposite him, striking and cursing like a madman. Marvin -was overthrown and sorely wounded, and still the youth fought on, beset -by four of his enemies at once. In a moment he had thrust Sir Boris -clean through the body, and an instant after, fell, wounded to the -death." - -[Illustration: _OLD MARVIN HAD HIS CROSS-BOW READY DRAWN, AND HE SHOT -YOUNG MONTALVAN THROUGH THE FACE AT THE VERY FIRST ONSET_] - -"Oh! By all the Saints!" cried Lord Mountjoy, "in hodden gray, say'st -thou? I warrant 'twas a disguise, and that he was of noble strain. He -could not have better died had he been a Huntingdon or a Montmorency." - -During this recital my mother's face had grown white as wax. Now she -asked in halting whispers, midst gasps for breath that came near to -being sobs: - -"Had'st thou--no word--of his name and degree?" - -"Nay, my lady," replied the old servant, "save that Marvin seemed to -know him and called him Cedric." - -"Cedric!" cried my mother and I at once, while my father turned deadly -pale and sat down heavily on a bench near by. - -"Cedric!" I shouted again, "'tis Cedric of Mountjoy,--none other." - -Then my father found voice. 'Twas a low, weak tone--one scarce to be -heard indeed: - -"This is a judgment on me for my hardness. Cedric was right indeed. I -see it clearly now that 'tis our own old Marvin whose rights were -trampled on by those who called him churl and varlet. And what a battle -the lad did make! And how he fell--like a prince of the blood beset by -ruffians! Oh! Did he live to speak any words of farewell--to leave any -message with Marvin or any other?" - -"I know not, my lord," replied the old serving man, "when I left Morton -Hall this morning, 'twas said that he still breathed, but that he could -scarcely last the day." - -My father started up and gave a furious pull to the bell cord. The -clangor thus provoked sent the chief of our serving men hurrying in. - -"Tell the grooms to saddle Cæsar," shouted Lord Mountjoy, "and call -Broderick and say that he and six armed and mounted men are to attend -me. I ride at once to Morton." - -"And I also," I cried, "Galvin, tell the grooms to make ready the black -mare that I rode yesterday." - -"And my horse also," shrilled my mother, the instant I was done. "I, -too, will ride to Morton." - -'Twas fifteen leagues to Morton Hall; and much of the road was rough and -wild, with many a stony hill to climb and many a stream to ford. The -half of the journey we made by the light of the great round harvest moon -that sent its silvered rays near level through the forest. Hard we rode, -indeed, and with little mercy on our mounts; and 'twas scarce four hours -after we left Mountjoy when, piloted by the old Morton serving man, we -dismounted before the door of Gilbert's cottage. - -[Illustration: _HARD WE RODE, INDEED, AND WITH LITTLE MERCY ON OUR -MOUNTS_] - -Praise be to the saints! We were not too late, for Cedric lay within, -still breathing, though with closed eyes and with face of deathly -paleness. Old Marvin lay on another couch hard by; and a leech and a -nursing woman from Morton Hall were with them. - -Marvin greeted us gladly, and seemed not surprised at our coming. His -voice roused Cedric; and he looked upon us with knowing eyes and weakly -uttered words of welcome. Lord Mountjoy knelt on the ground at his side, -and clasped his hand. - -"Cedric," he whispered, painfully, "canst thou forgive me my words of -harshness and my driving thee forth from thy home?" - -Then a smile of great content o'erspread my comrade's face; his eyes -grew brighter, and a faintly ruddy color came to his cheeks. - -"Lord Mountjoy," he said, and his voice was far stronger than before, "I -freely forgive you for any trifling slights you have offered. I pray -you, make not too much of them." - -"Thou wert right, after all," went on Lord Mountjoy, "in holding to the -rights thy fathers had of old. I should well have known thou wert too -staunch ever to be a breeder of trouble in the house of thy friends. Now -would I give the half of my lands to have thee back, well and sound, at -Mountjoy Hall." - -Then Cedric smiled again, now broadly as of old. - -"No such price as that shall you pay, my lord, for somewhat which shall -be granted without price whatsoever. I have two deep wounds, forsooth, -but little thought of dying. The good leech here knows not of the -strength that a plain-living forester can muster when his friends come -all these leagues to bid him be of good cheer. I will ride again beneath -the Mountjoy banner, my lord, and that before the spring." - -At that all three of us that had before knelt dry-eyed before his couch, -began weeping copiously for very joy, and Old Marvin, from his bed -offered up a prayer of thanksgiving. The leech now came forward, and -closely noting the change in Cedric's face, added his assurance to the -stricken youth's own testimony. Two hours later we came softly from the -cottage where both our faithful men lay soundly sleeping. Into the -forest the leech followed us to say that now the worst was past, and -that he doubted not their full recovery. - - - - -CHAPTER X--THE PASS OF THE EAGLES - - -On a breezy autumn morning, while we made practice of arms in the -courtyard, a herald from De Lacey, the Lord High Constable, rode over -Mountjoy drawbridge. He had an urgent message for my father, and the -like for Sir Geoffrey, the young Lord of Carleton, Sir James Dunwoodie -of Grimsby and all the other loyal knights and barons of our -neighborhood. The Welsh had broken over the border once more; and under -Rhys, their barbarous chief who styled himself King of Wales, were -burning and ravaging through the Western Marches. Many miles of fair and -fruitful land they had overrun; and now they lay before Wallingham, -threatening that goodly fortress and all of those who had taken refuge -within it with fire and sword. - -The army of the Welsh was five thousand strong. They had driven the -garrison of Wallingham within walls at once; and had they been as -skilled in the use of mangonels and other enginery of siege as they were -with the swords and javelins of their ancient custom, they would ere -this have breached or scaled the walls and given the place over to -massacre and the torch. But stout Sir Philip De Courcey still stood at -bay; and now De Lacey was arming for his relief. The Constable had but -five hundred horsemen; and of these seven score mail-clad knights, for -the young king, Richard the Lion Hearted, so lately crowned, was -gathering for the Crusade a vast array of the chivalry of England; and -this left our Western Marches but lightly defended. So the Lord -Constable was sending messengers far and wide, calling to his standard -the knights and barons of the Western counties with all the mounted men -that at a day's notice they could muster. - -De Lacey had many times before met and scattered the bands of Welsh -marauders. Now he meant to deliver such a blow as should break their -power forever. He had sworn to drive them not only from the plain of -Wallingham, but across the Marches and into their mountain fastnesses -and to harry and slay them till not a score of the robbers remained -under the skull-bone banner of their chief. To this end, he would accept -no foot-soldiers, even as archers. His whole force must be mounted in -order that the Welsh, on their tough little mountain horses might not -escape as they had done after many another bloody raid. - -On the following day there gathered under the Constable's banner at -Hereford such an array of chivalry as I had ne'er before seen. Four -hundred mail-clad knights were there, and near a thousand men-at-arms in -good steel caps and braced and quilted leathern jackets and bearing the -stout shields and heavy broadswords of their trade. Then there were -twelve hundred and more of archers, mostly armed with cross-bows, but -some with long-bows and cloth-yard shafts, some having quilted caps and -jackets, but more being lightly clad in the foresters' Lincoln green or -peasants' hodden gray. All, as by the Constable's command, were mounted -in some sort, though truly some of the sorry old nags and hairy-legged -plow-horses that they bestrode might have much to do to overtake one of -the wiry and long-shanked Welsh who fled on foot, to say naught of their -ponies that could run all day without tiring on their moorland tracks -and winding mountain ways. - -Geoffrey, the young Lord of Carleton, with two hundred men, was at the -meeting place when we arrived. Soon after came Dunwoodie of Grimsby, -Lord Pelham, Lionel of Montmorency and the men of Mannerley, Whitbury -and Gresham. By the Commander's order, each man had in his pouch store -of bread and dried meat for three days' campaigning. Beyond that time, -we must find our eating where we could. 'Twas mid-afternoon ere our -force was assembled; but we took the road straightway, and by nightfall -were encamped at Hardiston, half way to Wallingham. - -For Geoffrey of Carleton, for myself, the Heir of Mountjoy, and my -squire and comrade, Cedric of Pelham Wood, this was the first sight and -sound of war on such a scale; and we were fairly lifted up by the -thought of what the morrow would bring. Cedric and I had each nineteen -years at Candlemas, and Sir Geoffrey but six months less. Many bloody -frays had we seen in the petty warfare of our countryside with robber -baron and with banded forest outlaws; and each of us already knew the -pang of hostile steel. Cedric, indeed, was but lately recovered from the -wounds he had a year before at Morton where he had been accounted as one -dead. But the tramp of an army of mounted men and the sweet music of -their clinking armor and weapons we heard for the first time that day. -We rode near the middle of the line; and, glancing forward and back at -the gallant train, that seemed a whole crusade on the narrow roads, -could scarce believe that there existed anywhere an enemy that could -stand before its charge. Our mail-clad knights alone, riding under the -lead of the stern old Constable, seemed invincible. The Welsh, we knew, -fought without defensive armor, save their bull's hide shields; and -almost I pitied them for their nakedness when I thought of the terrible -Norman spears and swords in the hands of men long trained in their -skillful use and hardened by years of warfare. It seemed scarce fair -indeed that knights and gentlemen should fight at such advantage. The -arrows and javelins and e'en the sword strokes of their enemies would -touch them not, while their own well-aimed blows would cleave through -flimsy defenses and scatter wounds and death. Thus mused I in my -youthful ignorance; but ere two days had passed I was both sadder and -wiser. Never again will I pass such hasty judgment on the power of an -enemy I have not surely tried. - -Though both Sir Geoffrey and I were as yet knights by courtesy only, not -having won our spurs, we were armed and equipped for the expedition like -the older knights about us. Cedric also, though a yeoman born, wore a -coat of woven mail, and had a good broadsword at his side. But slung -upon his back the while was his steel cross-bow--his first and favorite -weapon and the one with which he had such wondrous skill. He could -strike a running hare more surely than I could one that sat stock still -beneath a bush; and he had managed to impart to a dozen and more of the -Mountjoy archers some measure of his craft, so that 'twas acknowledged -we had the best cross-bow men in the countryside. - -Geoffrey of Carleton had gained much in the two years just past in -breadth of shoulder and length of arm; and could now dispute with me on -almost even terms with the foils or the wooden targes and broadswords of -our martial play. I had already the height and reach of my father who -had a name for bone and brawn and feats of knightly strength; and -Cedric, though a handsbreadth shorter, had the shoulders and thighs of a -smith. He could hang by one arm from a bough, and draw himself up to the -chin; and I have seen him crumple a gold coin in his hand by way of -making good his word when he had declared it over thin and light. - -Though Cedric was born and had lived till his sixteenth year in the -woodland cottage of his father, the forester of Pelham, his speech was -not as that of the churls around us; and at Castle Mountjoy he had -learned the ways of gentleness as readily as one of noblest blood. My -lady mother was never aweary of lessoning such a pupil in the manners of -a knight and gentleman; and now had reason to look with pride on her -work. Withal Cedric ne'er forgot the class from which he sprung nor -carried himself as a lord over them when given authority. - -We made but a short night of it at Hardiston. By three o' the clock we -were in saddle again, and pricking forward toward the plain of -Wallingham. By sun-up we were within three leagues of the castle, and -the Constable had sent forward light-armed scouts to bring us word of -the siege. Then spake my father, with the freedom of an old comrade of -the Constable's and veteran of many a hard campaign: - -"Methinks, my lord, that Rhys and his Welsh rabble will ne'er await our -coming on Wallingham Plain where they must needs fight with the castle -in their rear and the danger of a sortie of the garrison. Beshrew me if -they do not fly again across the Marches when they hear of our coming in -force, and await another time to strike at undefended lands." - -"By'r Lady! Mountjoy," returned the Constable, "I believe thou'rt right, -and Rhys will never risk his thieving crew on a good wide field where -sword and lance decide the day. But what would'st thou suggest? Can we -do aught but ride for Wallingham as hard as may be?" - -"Aye, my lord. There is a fork o' the road a bowshot hence where one -track leads to Wallingham and the other to Egbert's Ford o'er a wide -stream a league from the castle. 'Tis on the road to the Marches; and if -we ride and hold it, we may there intercept the Welsh and cut them off -from their retreat. If they leave not Wallingham, we can ride from -thence and take them at vantage." - -"Well said, Mountjoy, i' faith!" cried De Lacey, "prithee, Sir Richard -of Mountjoy, ride forward and give the word to the vanguard to take the -right turning. We'll come between the rogues and their retreat, and -fight, mayhap, with the river at our backs. There'll be full many of -them, I trust, that will never ride again for robbery and burning." - -Mine errand with the vanguard was quickly done. Less than an hour -thereafter we rode out of the forest in sight of Egbert's Ford. Then -were Lord Mountjoy's words full justified for we saw before us, and but -half a mile away, the whole army of the Welsh in full retreat on the -road toward the Marches and the tangle of mountains and valleys beyond. -Fortune smiled on our banners that morning; for indeed, had we foreknown -our enemies' movements and timed our coming to the minute, it could not -have better fallen out. As we emerged from the greenwood, half of the -Welsh army had already crossed the stream; the water at the ford was -filled with mounted men and bullock carts, laden with spoil and making -their difficult way through the swift-flowing current; and the remainder -of their forces still stood on the hither side, awaiting their turn for -the crossing. - -It needed not the eye of a great captain to discern our vantage in such -a posture. As our knights and men-at-arms came forth on the field they -set up a shout of joy full like that of unleashed hounds that see the -boar started from his covert. Almost without a word from their chiefs, -and without a moment's loss, they formed in line of battle. Then came -the Constable's ringing word: "Forward for Saint George!" and the line -rolled forward down the hill with a rush and roar like that of the great -downfall of rock and earth and full-grown trees that I had once seen in -the Western mountains. - -My father and I rode at the head of the Mountjoy knights and -men-at-arms, and not far from the Constable. Sir Geoffrey full gallantly -captained the chivalry of Carleton and Teramore, and Lionel of -Montmorency rode just beyond him, leading a hundred lances. Lord -Mountjoy had named Cedric to lead the Mountjoy archers, five score -strong; and I could see o'er my shoulder that they were the first of the -bowmen to form their line and follow in the wake of the men-at-arms. -Thus the army of the Constable poured down upon the luckless Welshmen in -two thunderous, onrushing waves. - -[Illustration: _THE WATER AT THE FORD WAS FILLED WITH MOUNTED MEN AND -BULLOCK CARTS, LADEN WITH SPOIL AND MAKING THEIR DIFFICULT WAY THROUGH -THE SWIFT-FLOWING CURRENT_] - -They made shift to meet our attack as best they might, facing us with -stubborn courage indeed, but with little skill of the military art, and -with a battle front that seemed more like a moiling and howling mob of -rioters than an army under its lawful captains. If any noise e'er heard -could have effected it, we might have been checked indeed, for, as we -galloped down upon them, they set up a chorus of shrieks and yells that -seemed like to split one's ears. Swords and maces seemed their principal -weapons, with here and there a lance or a battle-ax, and mingled -helter-skelter with their heavier arms, the bows and shafts of their -archers. Their bows had not the length nor the power of those of our -English foresters; and the cloud of arrows they sent toward our -mail-clad line had no more effect than as if a flock of sparrows had -sought to check and thwart us. - -Into that howling mob we rushed with leveled lances. Our horses were -stayed by the very mass of the bodies of our enemies; and in a moment we -were assailed, as it seemed, from all sides, by the survivors, some of -them dreadfully wounded, but wielding swords and battle-clubs and -javelins with a demon-like fury. - -Their skill with these weapons was not to be despised; and, if they had -no coats of mail to shield them, neither were their movements impeded by -weight of armor. Hundreds of our men-at-arms and scores of knights fell -in that struggle on the river brink. Victory was no such easy goal as I -had thought. - -Meanwhile the half of the Welsh army which was on the other side of the -river, commanded by Rhys himself, essayed to re-cross and come to the -aid of their comrades. They might well have succeeded, and mayhap found -some means of outflanking us, had it not been for the watchfulness of -Cedric of Mountjoy. He and our whole array of archers had been close -behind us, striving to do their share by way of shooting between our -bodies at the mass of Welshmen. But soon the tangle was such that their -bolts seemed as like to slay friend as foe, and they had gradually -desisted. Then Cedric caught sight of the Welsh entering the water on -the farther side, and drawing the Mountjoy archers to the left of the -main battle, began sending a stream of quarrels in their direction. The -Lord Constable, having just then a moment's respite, saw what was -toward, and sent word to the other leaders of our bowmen to follow the -tactics of the Mountjoy men. In a moment the air above the stream was -filled with a cloud of bolts and shafts, and the waters became clogged -with dead and dying men and horses. Such a rain of death and wounds was -not to be endured by unprotected men. Soon the Welsh warriors were -turning their horses' heads again toward the bank; and those that -regained it, with their fellows who had not yet reëntered the ford, fell -back to a safer distance. - -Now the battle on the river bank went swiftly to its close. The -struggling and yelling Welsh grew ever fewer, and our knights gained -room for yet more deadly work with sword and lance. Soon the half of the -Welsh forces that had occupied the hither bank had been destroyed or -scattered, and our army was crossing the river in pursuit of Rhys and -his remaining warriors who were riding for life toward the mountains in -the West. - -True to his sworn purpose, the Constable lost not a moment in the chase. -The Welsh horses were fresher than ours that had already traveled far -that day, and they were more lightly burdened, else we might have ridden -them down and finished the work so well begun at Egbert's Ford. As it -was, our enemies, by abandoning their spoils and lashing their ponies -forward without mercy, managed to keep well beyond bowshot for the half -a dozen leagues that lay between the Ford and the entrance of a narrow -valley that led up into the mountains where they had so often before -found safe retreat. Into this defile we rode at three o' the clock, -cutting down or making prisoners of a dozen stragglers whose horses had -failed them at the beginning of the upward road. - -Without pause we spurred on up the stony pathway for a mile and more; -then found the valley narrowing to a pass between high walls of rock. -Through this the army of the Welsh had gone, leaving a guard of a -hundred or more to stay our progress. - -Our leader well knew the tactics fit for such a juncture. He halted his -main force, and sent forward the archers,--the long-bow men under Simon -of Montmorency, and those with cross-bows under Cedric of Mountjoy. Soon -the defenders of the pass were whelmed with a cloud of arrows and -quarrels. They sheltered themselves as best they might 'mongst rocks and -trees; but the arrows came like rain, searching every cranny of the -pass. In scarce half an hour the last of the Welsh rear-guard was slain -or had fled, and the way was open before us. - -The Constable left two hundred men-at-arms and archers, under an old and -trusted knight, to guard the pass behind us; and we rode forward into -the wide valley. The day was now far spent, and the sun had passed from -sight behind the mountains that rose ever higher toward the West. The -scattered oaks and firs and the great rocks that strewed the valley on -either hand might well have sheltered an ambush; and we rode forward -more slowly, with lines of skirmishers well to the fore and to the right -and left. - -And now it seemed that Fortune who with the sun had smiled upon us all -day long, withdrew her favor also, for we had traversed scarce a league -of the rocky track along which Rhys and his army had fled when thick -clouds obscured the narrow sky above us; thunder roared and rumbled in -the mountain passes, and torrents of rain began to fall. The darkness -swiftly enclosed us, and we had perforce to halt lest we should lose our -way amongst the woods and rocks. There, drenched and chilled and worn -with a day of riding and battle, we made bivouac and ate of the food in -our pouches. Mindful of the skill and daring of the Welsh in night -attacks, the Lord Constable posted double lines of sentinels; and we -seized such sleep as we might, wrapped in our dripping cloaks and lying -upon the grass and leaves. - -At last, I for one, slumbered heavily; and it seemed but an hour ere our -leaders roused us and we saw the black shadows of the mists around us -turning gray with morning light. While we ate again of the bread and -meat we carried, the Constable despatched two riders with a message to -Sir Guy Baldiston at the pass, with commands to send back word to -Wallingham of our whereabouts and our intent to pursue the ravagers -still farther. - -In half an hour we were again in saddle, and De Lacey was giving -directions for our better ordering to guard against surprise upon the -march, when one descried our messengers returning at full gallop and -lying low upon their horses' necks as if in fear of arrows that might -come from wayside rocks and trees. They rode indeed not like the -soldiers of a victor's army but like men who are hunted and flee for -their lives. - -In a moment more they had attained our lines, their horses loudly -panting with the labor of such galloping over rough and stony paths; and -the foremost rider cried out to the Commander: - -"Oh, my lord! Sir Guy and all his men are slain, and the Welsh have the -pass again. We but narrowly escaped being taken ourselves." - -The Constable sat on his great war-horse, gazing and frowning at the -messenger for a length of time that an arrow, shot strongly upward, -might have needed to come again to earth. Then he said, sternly: - -"And how closely didst thou see all this?" - -"My lord, we rode within a bowshot. 'Twas something dark and misty; and -we knew not what was toward. The pass is filled with Welshmen; and they -raise the skull-bone banner. 'Tis an army such as we encountered -yesterday." - -De Lacey glanced about him at his leaders. - -"My lords and gentlemen: you hear what has chanced. Shall we attack -again from this side or fare onward?" - -"We must ride onward, my lord, and that quickly," answered Lord -Mountjoy, "we cannot force that narrow pass 'gainst such an army as our -messenger describes. Doubtless they hold also the crags above; and from -thence they can roll down rocks that would fell and crush any force that -attempted it." - -"We saw many hundreds of them on the crags above," put in the messenger. - -"And what if we ride forward?" demanded the Constable. "Have we a -clearer road on that side?" - -"Aye, my lord," returned my father, "once, years agone, I rode through -this valley a hawking. There is another gateway, called the Pass of the -Eagles, three leagues farther west. It is much broader than the other, -and if we hasten, Rhys can scarcely gather a force that can hold it -against us. Then beyond is the good wide valley of Owain, adown which, -in ten hours hard riding we may gain the Marches once more." - -The Lord Constable gazed at the ground before him for a moment. Then he -lifted his head and spake so that all around might hear. - -"My lords: this Welsh freebooter hath shown himself a better general -than I. He hath enticed us into this valley, and then hath closed the -gate behind us, as one entraps a bear or wolf. The storm, it seems, hath -given him respite; he fights in his own land, and doubtless the night -hath brought many recruits to his banner. Now ride we on to force this -other gateway ere he gather an army that can close that also. Forward, -for Saint George." - -At the full trot we rode away, and for an hour and more we slackened not -our speed. By the sides of the pathway, or crouching under crags on the -hillside, we saw at intervals the huts of stones and turf of the Welsh -mountain folk; but all stood silent and deserted with never a wisp of -smoke from chimney or sight of woman or child. - -When the sun was an hour high, the valley narrowed again around us; and -we came in sight of the Pass of the Eagles. Then indeed we knew that if -any of us returned alive from this adventure, 'twould be by the favor of -all the Saints and by the utmost might of our arms. For the army of Rhys -stood before us, drawn up in twenty ranks across the defile which was -there of a furlong's width. In the front rank stood the spearmen with -the butts of their weapons firmly planted in the ground and the points -held at the height of a horse's breast; in the next the King and his -sons, the leaders of tribes and all of those who bore the heaviest arms -and iron shields; behind them, rank after rank of swordsmen and javelin -throwers, and, rearmost, their archers with bows in hand and arrows -ready notched. - -The flanks of the Welsh array were protected by high and rocky slopes -where scrubby oaks and thorns found scant foothold amidst the crags and -where no horse could tread. On both sides of the valley where it -narrowed to the pass were broken cliffs that not a mountain goat could -scale. Beyond these lay the heather-covered mountainsides and faraway -rocky peaks where already snow had come. - -At the word our men wheeled into line of battle, the armored knights in -the van, in two open ranks, then the men-at-arms in three more of closer -array. The archers were not to charge with us, but, with a dozen knights -and a hundred men-at-arms under Lord Mountjoy, were to form a rearguard -lest other bodies of the Welsh close in upon us. Both Sir Geoffrey and I -had won favor in the Lord Constable's eyes by somewhat we had -accomplished in the fighting at the ford; and now I led the forces of -Mountjoy at his right and Geoffrey those of Carleton and Teramore on his -left hand. - -In a moment came the furious shock of battle and all the frightful -scenes of the struggle by the river's edge--with the vantage now on the -side of our enemies. Many of the steeds of our gallant knights -transfixed themselves upon the Welsh lances; and their riders, brought -to the ground, fell victims to swords or javelins or were crushed -beneath the hoofs of our own oncoming ranks. But the line of spears was -utterly broken; and the other knights and men-at-arms drove furiously -into the mass before them. Swords and lances did their terrible work, -and in the briefest time hundreds of our enemies had fallen. The -Constable fought that day with a huge mace, and, swinging it about his -head as it were a willow wand, he seemed like the great god Thor of the -heathen worship of old. - -But now for every two or three of the Welsh one of our knights or -men-at-arms perished also. Some of the tribesmen, struck down by the -swords of the riders, thrust upwards at our horses with swords and -knives as we passed over them, and so cast down many a rider into the -mêlée of dashing hoofs and glancing blades; and many times furious -warriors, laying hold upon the riders, brought them to the earth and to -speedy death. Their archers and javelin throwers aimed at our necks and -faces; and though many of their shafts flew wide or even struck down -their own, others found their marks indeed and added to our fatal -losses. - -From one desperate moment to another, for a length of time ever unknown -to me, the struggle and the slaying went on unchecked. Our numbers grew -ever fewer, and we were gaining scarce a yard of ground. For all the -heaps of fallen, the Welsh fought on with undiminished fury; and 'twas -evident that they would slay the last of us ere we could force the pass. -Lionel of Montmorency had fallen with half his men, as also Dunwoodie -and Sir William, his brother and heir. The Lord Constable himself was -wounded, and, panting with fatigue and loss of blood, had dropped his -mace to fight again with broadsword. Sir Geoffrey of Carleton had once -saved him from the hands of a huge Welsh warrior who sought to drag him -from his saddle; and now the two fought almost back to back in an ever -narrowing circle of enemies. - -Suddenly I saw and felt the tribesmen wavering and giving ground before -us, and became aware of a shower of cross-bow bolts that was falling -among them and striking them down by hundreds. Looking up to see whence -they came, I beheld Cedric of Mountjoy and half a thousand of his -cross-bow men among the rocks in the promontory to the right, -discharging their bolts as fast as they could lay them in groove and -pouring a most deadly hail into the thick ranks of our enemies. 'Twas -evident that Cedric had dismounted all his men and found some means to -scale the cliffs and strike the Welsh in flank. - -[Illustration: _THE LEADER HAD HIS GREAT SWORD THRUST ASIDE BY CEDRIC'S -BOW, THEN WAS SEIZED ABOUT THE WAIST AND HURLED TO THE ROCKS BELOW_] - -Then I saw that a body of the enemy, hastily called from the rear-most -ranks by the huge and red-haired Gruffud, son of Rhys, assaulted this -position and sought to pull our archers from their posts of vantage. -Climbing upward amongst the crags, they faced at closest range the -deadly aim of the cross-bow men. Backward they fell by scores, their -bodies crushing down those below them. Not a dozen came to grips with -the archers. Of these the leader had his great sword thrust aside by -Cedric's bow, then was seized about the waist, lifted from the earth and -thrown to the rocks below where he lay still with broken back. - -With the fall of Gruffud, our men set up a mighty shout, and pressed the -Welsh ever the harder. The deadly bolts still poured down from Cedric's -vantage ground, but shifted ever their direction as we drove the enemy -before us. The yells of the Welshmen, which had been those of victory -and triumph, now changed to cries of despair. Hundreds turned and fled; -and of these many cast down their weapons that they might run the -faster. Soon the downward pathway ahead of us was filled with fugitives, -and only a few bands of desperate warriors fought on, preferring death -to such a defeat after victory had been almost within their grasp. - -With the pass open before us, we paused not to pursue the Welsh into the -rocky and wooded fastnesses where they had fled. Taking up our sorely -wounded in such litters as we could hastily form, and those with less -grave hurts behind the other horsemen, we reformed our column and rode -away down the broad valley toward the Marches and the goodly fortress of -Wenderley that Sir John Clarendon held for the King. - -When the moon rose at the ninth hour of the evening of that day the Lord -High Constable stood in the courtyard at Wenderley, surrounded by the -lords and barons of his expedition and of the castle garrison. His -wounds had been bathed and bandaged, but his face was white with the -bloodletting and the fatigues of the day so that his friends were urging -him to seek his rest. Yet for the time he put away their counsel, -declaring that one duty yet remained. Young Geoffrey of Carleton and I -with Cedric, my squire, had been summoned before him. - -"Kneel down," he commanded, sternly. We obeyed in silence, and he drew -his sword from its sheath and thrice struck the young Lord of Carleton -lightly on the shoulder. - -"Rise, Sir Geoffrey of Carleton," he said, "I dub thee knight. Be thou -ever faithful, true and valorous as thou hast been this day." - -Then I also received the strokes of the sword and words were pronounced -that made me a knight and chevalier in verity. - -Lastly, and to my great amaze, I heard the words: - -"Rise, Sir Cedric De La Roche. I dub thee Knight of the Crag. The device -on thy shield shall be an eagle in token of the spot where thy resource -changed defeat to victory. Be thou ever faithful, true and valorous as -thou hast been this day, and England hath gained a stout defender and -King Richard of the Lion Heart a worthy support to his throne." - - - - -CHAPTER XI--BY KIMBERLEY MOAT - - -After the Battle of the Pass we had a season of quiet at Mountjoy. King -Richard had sailed on the Great Crusade, leaving his brother John as -Regent; and the people of England, nobles and commons alike, learned -that there was a far worse rule than that of stern old Henry of Anjou, -for John Lackland, his younger son, had at once the greed of a tiger and -the meanness of a rat. Many of the high places of Church and State were -filled with his favorites--miserable creatures for the most part whose -only merits were a ready complaisance to the wishes of their master and -a measure of craft and subtlety in furtherance of his schemes. Sheriffs -and bailiffs of a yet more contemptible strain hurried to do the bidding -of these velvet-clad beggars and thieves, and honest and forthright men -led a hard life indeed unless they were themselves high in power and of -numerous following. - -Among these last might be reckoned the Mountjoys and their friends and -allies, the Carletons of Teramore. We were too strong and too valuable -in the defense of the Western Marches to be meddled with save for the -greatest cause; so the land for some leagues about us was in a measure -free from the ills which now and again brought other portions of the -Kingdom to the verge of rebellion. - -Sir Cedric, as now we gladly styled him, was high in the councils of -Mountjoy. My father consulted him as often as myself on the gravest -questions; and Lady Mountjoy willingly spent uncounted hours in -bettering his knowledge of polite and courtly ways and of those divers -little matters of knightly bearing to which in our rough Western land we -give mayhap too little heed. At the books, to her amaze, he soon had far -outstripped her. An uncle of his was one of the monks at Kirkwald Abbey, -and a famous Latin scholar. For a year past, Cedric had been making -frequent journeys to the Abbey; and once we had old Father Benedict at -Mountjoy for a month or more. For hours together they would pore over -dusty and ancient tomes that made me ache with weariness but to look -upon them. The first we knew, our Cedric was better at the Latin reading -than any layman we had seen or heard of. History and chronicles were -good meat and drink to him; and often, with his head between the covers -of a book, his dinner would be quite forgot but for my lusty calling. - -Withal he was no pale bookworm, but a lusty and rollicking lad who in -rough and tumble play could lay me on the broad of my back with scarce a -minute's striving. At the sword-play I was ever his better, but his -mastery of the cross-bow grew yet more wonderful as the seasons passed. -Even the oldsters admitted that he equalled Marvin at Marvin's best. -Already he had the name of the best cross-bowman in England; and I found -that strangers to our county, who had heard nothing of the deeds of my -father and all our noble forbears, had knowledge, nevertheless, of -Mountjoy as the house to which Sir Cedric gave allegiance. - -But I think the thing that warmed me most toward my former squire and -constant comrade was the loyalty he ever had to the class of folk from -which he sprung. Lord Mountjoy often gave to him authority over working -crews at some necessary task on farm or highway or scouting parties of -swordsmen and archers that rode the Marches to guard against the Welsh -marauders. It would have been no wonder had such a sudden rise to title -and preferment bred in a youth who had been born in a forester's cot a -certain arrogance of manner and an overweening confidence in his own -worth and deserts. But, by his own desire, the archers and men-at-arms -of Mountjoy still addressed him as they had when his station was no -higher than theirs; and though he could be quick and firm on occasion, -he was never above listening to and profiting by the counsels of the -elder men in buckram or in hodden gray. Nor did he forget the cottage in -Pelham Wood which housed his old father and his small, tow-headed -brethren. Since he had dwelt at Mountjoy Hall, scarce a month had passed -without his riding thence and leaving with them some share in any -guerdon he had won. - -It was after such a journey that Cedric returned to the Hall one autumn -evening in such a mood of silence and depression as I had never seen -since those sad days when he quarreled with my father over the -punishment due the churls of De Lancey Manor. At his supper he spoke no -word, and ate and drank but little. My lady mother did anxiously inquire -if he were ill, for we knew him well as a valiant trencherman, and he -had ridden far in a frosty air. He put away her questionings with his -usual courtesy, denying that aught ailed him; but me he could not so -easily check, for I followed him to his room, and, finding him sitting -with his face in his hands, demanded to know as friend and comrade what -had turned his world awry. - -"Sir Richard," he replied sadly, "hast ever had friend of thine flung -into dungeon cell, there to lie at the pleasure of some low-living -scoundrel?" - -"Nay," I answered quickly, "this evil I have thus far 'scaped, though I -well know 'tis common enough in these days, and many there be that -suffer it." - -"Of those I am one," replied Cedric. "And now I rack my head to know -whether or not there be any possible help for it. Wilfrid, son of the -farmer of Birkenhead, was my comrade and playmate since ever I can -remember. We hunted and fished and swam together and willingly fought -each other's battles when we were but little lads. Once he plunged in -and pulled me from the Tarleton Water, when, far gone with cramp, I had -twice sunken. His handling of the long-bow is well-nigh equal to my -father's, and better than that of any youth I know. I had lately planned -to bring him to Mountjoy and to say a word to thy father of his -deserts." - -"And who is it that now hath seized him?" - -"'Tis that wry-mouthed and rat-eyed scoundrel, Bardolph, that lately -hath been made King's Bailiff, and hath in charge the rebuilding of -Kimberley Castle." - -"He that plundered the chapel at Ravenstone?" - -"The same. He would steal the pennies from the eyes of the dead, if no -avenger were by. But 'tis spite rather than greed that prompts him in -this matter of my friend. Some years ago, when we were all lads -together, young Bardolph, who is the son of an innkeeper at Rothwell, -came riding past Birkenhead with some village comrades of his. In a -foolish attempt at wit, he cast some foul insult at Wilfrid who stood by -the way, watching them pass. In an instant, Wilfrid had snatched him -from the saddle and rolled him well in a puddle of mud that chanced to -be at hand, so that Bardolph rode home at last a sorry spectacle indeed. -That day he ne'er forgot, it seems, and only now has found an -opportunity for vengeance. He hath been given the charge of the work at -Kimberley where Prince John plans to enlarge and strengthen the fortress -and fill it with a numerous garrison. He hath need of many cattle for -the work of hauling the stone and timber; and though we are not now at -war, and there can be seen no pressing need for haste, he seizes the -horses and oxen from the farmers roundabout and drives the work as -though the Scotch and Welsh were o'er the borders both at once. With -this excuse he seized the yoke cattle at Birkenhead." - -"But Birkenhead is full five leagues from Kimberley." - -"Aye, and that it is that shows the act was done with malice and with -none of necessity. A hundred farms were nearer to the castle, and some -of them might far better spare their oxen. 'Twas in the thick of harvest -too. Thou knowest how the rains have held it back till it seems that the -snows may cover the uncut grain if the farmers make not haste. But -Wilfrid made shift to go on with his hauling in some sort. He put to the -yoke a pair of half-broke steers that should not have worked till the -spring, and with half loads was bringing his crops to barn and stack. -Then what did Bardolph do but come again, with two soldiers at his back, -and make demand of Wilfrid for these cattle also." - -"The hound! I would I had been there to tell him straight what manner of -cur he is." - -"There was no need for that. Wilfrid forthwith flew into such a rage as -drove from him all fear of what might betide. First he shouted at the -bailiff some most naked truths as to his character and doings, then he -rushed upon him, and, warding off a sword blow, pulled him from his -horse, even as he had done that other time, and ere the soldiers could -interfere had broken Bardolph's nose with one great blow from his fist." - -"Oh Saints above! Did he so indeed? There's a yeoman for thee of the -sort that win England's battles. I would we _had_ him under Mountjoy -banner. But what next occurred?" - -"The soldiers had leaped from their horses as soon as the bailiff went -down, and both together they seized Wilfrid and overthrew and bound him -fast. Then, lashing him on the back of a horse, they set out for -Kimberley, with he of the broken nose riding close behind, shedding a -stream of blood and furious oaths. The neighbor folk say that over and -over again he swore that young Birkenhead should never leave Kimberley -alive." - -"By'r Lady!" I cried, "there's naught to prevent him making good his -threats. He is in command at Kimberley now that the Sheriff hath left -for the North." - -Cedric nodded sadly. - -"'Tis so. He dares not put him to death openly, but he may starve him in -his cell and report that he died of a sickness. And if the Sheriff -returns, I doubt of much betterment for one in Wilfrid's plight. Thou -knowest well that throughout England at this moment there are lying in -dungeons, with chains on their limbs, full many honest men who are as -innocent of any crime as thou or me." - -"I know it well indeed. And of these there are many as to whom their -very jailers know not the charge against them, for their accusers are -long ago dead. 'Tis a hard world we live in, Cedric; but I see not how -we may better it." - -Cedric sprang up and faced me with high-held head and blazing eyes. - -"Sir Richard, if thou'lt help me, we _may_ better this hard world for -one luckless man. It has come to me how we may take Wilfrid of -Birkenhead from the very walls of Kimberley." - -"Help thee? My word upon it, I _will_ help thee if it can be done at -all. Say on." - -"My thought is this," answered Cedric quickly, whilst tears of joy -sprang to his eyes at my hearty seconding, "one that came from Kimberley -even as we talked at my father's to-day hath told us that Wilfrid is -confined not in the castle dungeons, since those are in some way -concerned in the present changes, but in a strong room in the tower, -some forty feet above the moat. The window is not barred, since the -apartment was never meant to serve for prison; but the wall is sheer -below it to the cliff that steeply slopes from thence to the moat. -'Twould be sure death to fling one's self down, since the rock at the -base is after all too wide to be passed by a leap from the window. But -with a stout rope now, and with friends on the farther side with horses -not far off--" - -"But the sentries on the battlements would surely spy him as he -descended." - -"Not on a moonless night, and especially if he knew the moment when the -sentry had just passed overhead and therefore would not soon return. -'Tis a desperate thing, I own; but believe me, Sir Richard, we shall not -fail. Already I see the way to take the rope and our messages to Wilfrid -in his cell. There is a group of trees which in the last score of years -while the castle has been little used as a stronghold, has been allowed -to grow on the hither side of the moat, just opposite the tower. There -we will hide and do our part in the venture. To-morrow night will be -moonless. What sayest thou?" - - ---- - -The next day at noon, soon after Bardolph of the Broken Nose had ridden -away from Kimberley on some necessary errand, a stout old monk, in the -flowing robe of his order, with hood and cowl closely drawn about his -face, and bearing a basket on his arm, appeared at the gate of -Kimberley. He wished to see the prisoner, Wilfrid, and to bear to him -the consolations of religion and also some articles of food which -friends of his had prepared. The clerkly youth who seemed in authority -in the absence of the bailiff was much in doubt as to the wisdom of -permitting any such entry, and, indeed, at first refused. But the good -monk fairly overwhelmed him with quotations from the Scripture and the -writings of the Holy Fathers relative to his duty to visit those who -were sick or in prison, and quoted so many Latin texts that the youth -was soon fairly bewildered and overcome. Stipulating only that the -basket be left below, since the bailiff had given strict orders that no -food was to be taken to the prisoner by any save himself, he led the way -up the tower stairs, and unlocking the heavy oaken door, admitted the -monk to the room where Birkenhead was confined. - -In another quarter of an hour the monk had departed as he came, taking -up his basket again at the gateway and leaving with the chatelaine his -heartiest blessing. To me, who had been anxiously watching from one of -the village houses, a furlong from the walls, it seemed that he walked -with much firmer and more vigorous step as he returned o'er the -drawbridge than he had when first he crossed it. But if this were so, -none in the castle seemed to remark it--at any rate the monk's departure -was not interrupted, and he passed out of the village, looking neither -to the right nor the left. - -Soon after, I followed and overtook him after he had entered a thick -copse of yew and hazel half a mile away. Beneath that leafy screen, -Cedric flung off the monkish gown and hood, dropped the basket on the -ground, and stood gazing at it gloomily. - -"Sir Richard," he said at length, "Wilfrid of Birkenhead hath been for -three days close shut in that tower room, and no least morsel of food -hath been given him. Bardolph verily means to compass his death by -starving." - -"The miserable hound!" I answered between set teeth, "'tis a pity -Wilfrid did not strike a thought harder and break his worthless skull." - -Cedric's face was wried with pain and wrath. He stamped upon the ground -in bitter impatience. Then, pulling from the basket the huge meat pie -which had formed the greater part of the provision he had sought to -carry to the prisoner, he dropped it before him and struck it with most -vicious kick before it reached the ground. The crust flew off in a dozen -pieces, and revealed the inner part as no juicy slices of flesh of fowl -or pig but a close-wound coil of hempen rope, such as no mortal man -could feed upon. - -"Had I placed this beneath my armpits as was my first thought," growled -Cedric, "it would now have been safe hidden in the bundle of straw they -have given Wilfrid for a bed. Fortune favored us not, it seems; but -mayhap that fickle jade will smile on our further contrivings. I made a -new plan even as I climbed the tower stairs; and Wilfrid is well -apprised of it. 'Tis not so simple as the first nor seemingly so sure; -but it may serve our turn." - -"Must we wait till the morrow and risk another entry of the castle?" I -questioned. "Mayhap the bailiff will not ride abroad so opportunely." - -"Nay, we shall make the essay to-night," he answered slowly. "Time -presses, if Wilfrid is not to be so weakened by fasting as to be -incapable of any effort in his own behalf. Marcel hath already been told -to have the horses here at nine and await our coming till dawn if need -be. If we can come by a ball of fine, stout cord like fishing lines, we -will have that rope in the tower room by midnight. Then all the rest -will be quickly done, and Wilfrid a dozen leagues from Kimberley ere -sunrise." - - ---- - -An hour before midnight Cedric and I lay under the group of saplings, -ten yards from the castle moat and opposite the window of the room which -held young Wilfrid of Birkenhead. Beside us on the ground, lay the ball -of cord, with one projecting end fastened to the coil of rope. Now -Cedric took a cross-bow bolt from the sack at his girdle and tied the -other end of the cord firmly about it. Then, drawing the bow, he placed -the bolt in groove. - -The sky was covered with thin clouds that half obscured the stars; and -the moon had not yet risen. The castle wall on the other side of the -moat was a gray blur in the murk, but we could clearly see the sentinel -as he slowly paced his rounds of the battlements. The steel cap that he -wore and the point of his spear caught now and again a gleam of the -starlight. Twenty feet below the tower's summit a blacker square in the -wall was the window of Wilfrid's cell; and to the right of this could -barely be discerned the lattice which had been swung wide as though to -admit the fresher air. - -Cedric crouched on his knees, gazing at the window till the sentry -passed from sight; then softly he uttered the cry of an owl. At once -some white object fluttered in the blackness of the cell window. Cedric -rose to his feet, took careful aim at the window and let fly the bolt. -But alas! the pull of the cord as it unwound from the ball checked the -quarrel sadly, and it rang on the stones of the wall no higher than our -heads. We crouched at once in the shadows, certain that the sentry had -heard its steely stroke; but he came not back to the tower; and soon we -breathed again. - -Cedric drew in the line and recharged his weapon, whispering to me the -while that he should have better known than to have it so tightly -coiled, and that another try, with the cord lying loose, would surely -place the bolt within the window. - -Now the sentry came again on his rounds; and we waited perforce for his -passing. When he had gone once more Cedric threw his weapon to his -shoulder and sent the bolt on its way. How my ears strained in -listening! And, an instant later, how my heart sank when I heard once -more the clang of iron 'gainst the tower stones and realized that Cedric -had failed a second time to strike his mark at fifty paces. - -This time the sentry heard the stroke--or so it seemed--for he came -hurrying back to the tower battlements, and peered downward past the -open window for minutes together. But all had become as still as death, -and there was naught that he could see; so at length he turned away and -resumed his pacing. - -As Cedric again drew in the quarrel, he whispered to me: - -"I have it now. The line drew down my bolt by a yard or more. I must -allow for that by a higher aim. The third cast never fails; and for that -we yet have time ere yonder sentry is sure there's mischief afoot." - -He took a fresh bolt and tied the cord with care about it. Then for the -third time he aimed at the tower above us. 'Twas the lucky third indeed, -for, close following the whir of the quarrel, came a muffled thud as it -struck the oaken door within the cell. This seemed not to reach the ears -of the sentry on the other side of the battlements, for though we -listened with bated breath, there was no sound of his returning -footsteps. The next instant we could see the unspent portion of the line -was tightening with a pull from the tower. Then straightway the coil of -rope left its place at our feet, swam through the moat and climbed the -tower's side. - -Cedric and I clasped hands in joy, for now we could see our project -succeeding. In no more time than he needed to descend from the window, -swim the moat and reach the horses in the hazel copse, Wilfrid would be -safely away from Kimberley. - -Once more the sentry made his rounds, and once more passed regardless of -what was going forward six yards below him. Wilfrid appeared at the -window, and, lowering himself hand over hand, came swiftly down the rope -to the cliff below. There misfortune awaited us. As he dangled from the -rope with his feet seeking a hold on the sloping cliff, he loosened a -bit of rock, the size of a man's head, that lay near the tower base; and -this accursed stone slid and rolled noisily down the crag and struck the -waters of the moat with a hideous splashing. - -At once the sentry, whose ears mayhap had been sharpened by the other -noise for which he had found no reason, came running again to the tower. -Peering into the darkness below, he spied the prisoner just as he leaped -down the rock and plunged into the moat. - -The sentinel was a ready man and determined,--such an one as might well -have served a better master. Setting up a lusty shout of alarm, he -turned at once to a pile of the stones that were kept on the battlements -for the repelling of besiegers, and began hurling these into the moat. - -The water's surface was in shadow and we could not see the head of the -swimmer, nor could we tell whether any of the soldier's wild-flung -missiles had found their mark. A minute passed wherein my blood seemed -to freeze and my limbs to lock themselves fast like those of one who -perishes from a mad dog's bite. The stones still followed one another in -vicious plunges into the black waters: and the soldier continued to -halloo for the guardsmen at the gate to lower the bridge and search the -farther bank. - -Then Cedric broke away from me and plunged into the moat. Forgetting all -else, I followed him to the water's edge, stood peering vainly into the -blackness, and might have dived in also had he not speedily returned. He -was swimming lustily with one hand, and with the other bearing up his -comrade. I seized them both as they came within reach, and hauled them -ashore. Cedric joined with me and we drew Wilfrid up the bank and half -way to the group of saplings. There Cedric stopped with a groan of -misery, and fell on his knees by the limp body of his friend. The wind -had brushed the clouds from the sky; and by the starlight I saw that -Wilfrid's head had been crushed by one of the stones from the -battlements. - -Cedric rose to his feet and shook his fist in frenzy toward the King's -stronghold. But already the bridge was down, and the guard was pouring -across. I plucked my comrade by the sleeve. - -"Come Cedric, come! Our friend is past all help. Let us away ere they -slay us also." - -He turned to me with a face of deathly whiteness; and for a moment I -thought he would refuse. But I seized his hand, and he let me hurry him -to the shelter of the trees. Through these we quickly passed, and then -raced down the dim-lit field to a hedgerow a furlong away. Running -behind this, we soon distanced our pursuers. - -In half an hour we had come by roundabout ways to the hazel copse where -Marcel and the horses awaited us. In silence we mounted, and in silence -rode through all the hours of darkness, Cedric sitting with head bowed -forward, enwrapped in gloomy thought as in a sable garment. The way was -rough and weary, and we found no solace in the fragrance of the harvest -fields and leaf-strewn woods or in the song of the night wind. As the -sun rose behind a veil of gray and chilling mists, we climbed the slopes -of Rowan Hill and sighted the towers of Mountjoy. - - - - -CHAPTER XII--THE IRON COLLAR - - -A year had passed since our ill-fated venture beneath the walls of -Kimberley, and 'twas such an autumn morning as makes one forget his -cares and sorrows and those of a strife-torn world, and believe in the -coming of a better day. - -Cedric and I had promised ourselves rare sport in the woods of Grimsby. -The sky overhead was of brightest blue, and the sunlight filtered -sweetly through the boughs of oak and beech that now had dropped the -half of their leaves to make a rustling carpet underfoot. In the -treetops the birds sang lustily, making the best of the smiling time -that comes before the winter's winds and snows. Now and again a -woodmouse scampered on fallen log, a hare sprang away from her form, or -a moorfowl scuttled to cover in the bracken. To me there were never -sweeter sights and sounds and fragrances than those of autumn woodlands; -and to Cedric, the son of a Pelham forester, they were as native and -joyous as the brown brook waters to the speckled trout or the green hill -pastures to the Mountjoy kine. - -Since my comrade and former squire had been knighted at Wenderley, after -the victory over the Welsh at the Pass of the Eagles, we at Mountjoy had -grown well used to think of him as Sir Cedric De La Roche, the name -conferred by the Lord High Constable when he made him knight and -chevalier. But a newer honor had come to him but four months past; and -though 'twas well deserved and a most gracious act of our liege lord, -the Lion Hearted Richard, we yet could scarce conceive of its reality. - -De Lacey, the High Constable, who with the backing of all the Mountjoys -and Carletons, had well served the King in the Western counties in the -struggle against his usurping brother, John, after the King's return -from the German captivity, had told to him the tale of the Welsh battle -and something of Cedric's more recent services. Then he had hinted that -the fee of Grimsby had been vacant, save for the royal stewards, ever -since Sir James Dunwoodie and his brother had perished in the Battle at -the Pass. Forthwith the King summoned secretaries to write at his -bidding; and shortly a herald arrived at Castle Mountjoy with letters -patent, making our Cedric the Knight of Grimsby and conferring on him in -fee the lands and manor house and all the rights Dunwoodie had before. - -At the royal assembly at Shrewsbury, Cedric had appeared with his due -quota of six mounted men-at-arms and fifty archers; and no knight or -baron in the whole array looked a better captain of his forces or held -himself in more manly fashion as the King rode down the line to view us. -Truly my heart swelled that day with gladness at the recognition that -had come to so brave and true a man without awaiting the silvering of -his hair and the bowing of his shoulders with years. - -Lord Mountjoy was mightily proud of Cedric, as I well knew, and had -stinted not to boast of him on occasion as a Mountjoy lad with a head as -well as hands. And, however he might wish to check o'er-weening youth -and confidence, my father might not gainsay that he, that had long been -famous for his swordplay through all our countryside, had much ado to -hold his own with foil or quarter-staff against me, now that my strength -and reach did equal his, or that Cedric of the broad back and oaken -thighs could lift breast-high a weight that neither of us could stir. - -Now Sir Cedric De La Roche and I adventured through the Grimsby woods, -afoot, clad as huntsmen and carrying only our cross-bows and poniards. -For the most part, those that hunt in greenwood choose the long-bow with -its cloth-yard shafts; but from a child Cedric had displayed a wondrous -skill with the other weapon; it was ever his favorite; and I followed -his humor. Already he had struck a fine moorfowl that ran amongst the -gorse and I a hare that sat upright beneath a leafy beech, thinking -himself well hidden. We talked full loud and gayly as we made our way -through bush and brake or along the woodland paths, for truly it was the -sunlight and the comradeship and the smell of the fallen leaves that had -brought us to the forest rather than any wish for heavy game sacks. -Already we had meat enough for the roasting at our noon-tide campfire; -and we little cared for more. - -To fare abroad on such a morn, among the gray tree trunks and by the -brown woodland streams, was enough for our content. As we walked on, -Cedric told tale after tale that he had from old books of ballads and -chronicles wherein brave knights rode gayly through just such a land as -this and had full many gallant adventures and sweet passages at arms. -Almost could I see the fays and elves that he declared were dancing on -the forest floor and the old, black-robed magician that held them at his -thralls. - -Suddenly we heard sound of hoofs, and saw approaching us along a bridle -path two armed and mounted horsemen. 'Twas Lord Gilroy, who held the -great domain of that name two leagues and more away, and his nephew, a -hulking youth of two and twenty or thereabouts, by name Sir Philip -Carrington. Both were red of face with hurry, and their horses were well -lathered and breathing hard. At first sight of us Lord Gilroy called out -loudly: - -"Ah, good morrow, gentlemen! Well met, Mountjoy and Grimsby both. -Grimsby, we have to crave thy leave to ride through thy lands in search -of a murdering villain that hath escaped us at Gilroy." - -"A murderer, sayst thou?" answered Cedric, "whom hath he slain?" - -[Illustration: _BOTH WERE RED OF FACE WITH HURRY, AND THEIR HORSES WERE -WELL LATHERED AND BREATHING HARD_] - -"'Tis Simon, my dogmaster. He lies at the point of death, or is dead for -aught I know by this time, his skull near crushed with a cudgel. 'Twas -my thrall, Egbert, a surly fellow well deserving of the hangman's noose, -that thus assaulted him. It seems the dogmaster had found him sore -abusing one o' the best of our hounds, and had rated him soundly, -threatening a report to me of his actions. I saw but the end of the -matter and that from a distance, and with Philip here have ridden hard -after him. The varlet made at once for the woods and has thus far -escaped us; but we will run him to earth, if it take the whole of -Gilroy. - -"A surly fellow indeed!" exclaimed Sir Cedric. "'Tis well that he be -apprehended quickly, else he'll join some outlaw band, and bid us all -defiance. Thou may'st ride through my lands at will for his capture--or -we may chance upon him in the wood. How may we know him?" - -Lord Gilroy smiled, but in a hard, grim way he hath that is more -menacing than any frown. - -"'Tis easy knowing him. He wears an iron collar, like all my thralls, -bearing his own name and mine in graven letters. It makes the hunting of -them far easier when they have done some violence, or if they attempt to -fly from my lands. But give you good day, messieurs! We must fare on. If -so be you get sight of him, a cross-bow quarrel would not be amiss if he -stop not on order. And if you take and send him to me, I will be much -beholden. Our thralls must be kept well in leash, e'en if that leash be -on occasion a hangman's knot. Come Philip, ride to the left, I pray -thee, while I follow this path through yonder thicket." - -Cedric and I walked on, talking of this bloody mischief, and of the -chances of the thrall's recapture. Somehow the brightness had gone from -the sun glints, and the woodland seemed no longer a forest enchanted -where nymphs and elves might dance away from hollowed tree or the -gray-haired wizard, Merwin, be seen upon a mossy rock, summoning by -magic spells a troop of Arthur's chivalry. - -"'Tis true this fellow must be taken," said Cedric, sadly, "for such as -he make up the outlaw bands that now and again give trouble sore to -honest men. But I know not for the life of me why men that are born and -die upon this green earth like any others, and that have as good a wish -to live unhampered as you and I, should wear upon their necks collars of -iron that mark them forever as slaves and bondmen. I have little wonder -that such at times break forth with violence. Nay! I have the more that -ever they remain quiet like oxen in a paddock awaiting the plowman's -yoke." - -Cedric had stopped short in the path and was facing me. Upon his broad -and comely face was the same stern look he had worn that day he -withstood my father in the matter of the churls at De Lancey Manor. - -"Why, God ha' mercy, Cedric!" I protested, "I see no need for all this -heat. These thralls have never known other condition; and 'tis like they -live the more in comfort for a master's guidance." - -Cedric's eyes blazed at this, and he spoke full loudly: - -"Look thee now, Sir Richard! Hast ever asked of thrall whether or not he -would have his freedom if he might? If ever thou dost, thou'lt find that -there's never a villein or thrall in England but would prefer himself as -master to the kindest and best of lords that ever lived." - -"How know'st thou that?" I questioned, sharply, being myself somewhat -kindled by the heat with which he spoke. - -"Hark thee, Sir Richard! Thou hast on Mountjoy lands no thralls, for -that thy grandfather made freemen of them all. But when I came to -Grimsby there were here a dozen or more that wore the iron collar and -might not leave the land. I had not been here a fortnight ere I loosed -the collars from their necks, and bade them go or stay as pleased them -for that now they were free men. Some were youths like ourselves; some -strong men of middle life and others old and white-haired; but every one -of them fell down before me and wept for very joy that they and their -children after them should be free. Forsooth, I liked it not that men -with sons older than me should pay me homage as I were a heathen Caliph -on his throne. 'Tis nearly four months since; and not one of them has -left the lands of Grimsby and every one would fight for me 'gainst any -man on earth. Had'st thou seen their faces on that day I threw their -collars to the smith to beat into bush-cutting hooks, thou'd never -question more whether men would choose to _be_ men rather than cattle." - -"Ah well!" I answered, "mayhap it is as thou sayest. Some of the best -men under the Mountjoy banner are sons of those my grandfather loosed -from bondage. But this is a question too great for our settlement, and -this too fair a day for argument. What if we make our fire and dress -this meat for dinner? Verily, I am already sharp set with this autumn -air." - -Just then we spied before us, on a little rise in the woodland, a -hunting lodge that had been built by the Dunwoodies for their pleasuring -when they and their friends hunted in the forest. Cedric remembered that -he had the key to the great lock on the door among those that hung at -his girdle; and we advanced to enter and examine the place, I, for one, -being glad enough of any happening that should cause us to forget the -matters of which we had been talking. Soon we were inside the lodge, and -found it clean and comfortable enough, it being furnished forth with a -table and benches of logs, split and hewn, and a good broad fireplace -with spits whereon to hang the roasting. - -"Ah!" cried Cedric in a voice far other than his last speaking, "what -say'st thou? Shall we not roast our meat here rather than among the -leaves in the wood, where a fire in this dry time may go beyond our -holding?" - -"Surely," I answered, "'twill be better far to-day. Come, I'll flay and -dress the hare while thou makest ready the fire. Thou'rt ever skillful -at the kindling." - -So we set gayly to work; and in half an hour had our meat before us on -the table. Some bread and cheese from our pouches that we toasted o'er -the embers made with it a feast fit for any king on a woodland holiday. -Our content with the world returned, and we sang a lusty ballad over the -well-picked bones. Then, being something thirsty, Cedric started up to -see if the lodge contained a pitcher with which he might fetch clear -water from the stream near by. Meanwhile my eye had been caught by an -old and somewhat rusted broadsword that hung on pegs over the fireplace. -I reached it down at once, and, testing it with a few passes and upward -strokes, found it a good blade and true; and wondered much that it -should have been left in this place as something without worth. Then I -saw on a bench in a darkened corner a small anvil and some armorer's -tools, and bethought me that the lodge might have been used at need for -repairing arms when the Grimsby men were called to war. - -For a moment I had not noted Cedric's movements; but now at a sudden -word from him I wheeled about and saw him crouching at the door of an -inner room of the lodge and gazing into the darkness beyond as a hound -that hath run the fox to earth: I crouched beside him and looked also. -The room beyond, it seems, had been used in the Dunwoodies' time for the -receiving and dressing of meat and drink and such like offices. There -was a small square window, now nearly closed by its plank shutter, but -admitting at the side a narrow beam of light. For a time my eyes could -make out naught; but after a little I saw, beneath a bench or table in -the farthest corner, first two glistening eyes, then, dimly, the form of -a man. - -Cedric took down his cross-bow and laid a bolt in groove. - -"Come forth from there, my man," he shouted, "we have thee fairly -caught." - -No answer came, and for a moment I doubted if we had seen aright. Then -Cedric called out again: - -"Come forth, I tell thee. Else I'll fairly send a quarrel through thee." - -There came a low groan from the darkness, and words that seemed made -with labor: - -"Strike then. I care not." - -"What say'st thou?" called Cedric, "seest thou not I can strike thee -with bolt fairly in face?" - -"Strike then. 'Tis better so." - -Cedric turned to me with blank amaze upon his face. - -"Heard thou ever the like? The man defies us to the death." Then, -quickly thrusting his bow into my hands: - -"Hold this against mischance. There's more to this than we know. I will -fetch this fellow forth." - -"Hold Cedric," I cried, "beware lest he stab thee." - -But my comrade had already advanced into the darkened room. He sprang -beneath the table, like a boar-hound on his prey, and in an instant -emerged at deathly grips with a man as broad and heavy as himself who -fought with tooth and nail and heel and with the fierceness of a -cornered wolf. E'en in that moment I noted the iron collar on his neck, -and knew we had to do with Egbert, the Gilroy thrall. - -Round and round they whirled in desperate wrestling, the while I tried -in vain to be of help. In a moment they were out of the room where the -villein had lain hidden and fighting full madly in the lodge, the thrall -striving to throw his captor from him and make his way out the door and -into the woods beyond. - -Finding this impossible, he made a mighty effort, and lifted Cedric -fairly from his feet, and flung him on his side upon the floor. For an -instant it seemed he would win away unless I drove a quarrel through -him; but Cedric twisted instantly and rolled the other on his back. Then -in a flash he had pinned him down and had his knee on his breast. - -"Now yield thee," Cedric panted. "Thou seest I can slay thee if I will." - -"Slay me then," gasped the other. "'Tis better than Lord Gilroy's -branding iron or hanging noose." - -"Ah then, thou'rt Egbert that murdered the dogmaster?" - -"No murderer am I; but that will serve me not. Lord Gilroy will have me -flayed alive with ne'er a chance to tell my tale." - -For a moment Cedric gazed into the bloodshot eyes beneath him. Then he -questioned, slowly: - -"Hark thee, my man. If I let thee up, wilt thou sit quiet and tell to us -thy tale of this day's doings?" - -"Aye," replied the thrall, "though to me 'tis all one. Thou'rt a knight -and landlord, and wilt have no ear for the words of a thrall that wears -the iron collar and is hunted by his master like a sheep-killing hound." - -"Of that we shall see," replied Cedric, and, springing up, he released -his prisoner and pointed to one of the benches that he might sit before -us. "Now tell us," he commanded, "why thou did'st beat the dogmaster -till he lies near to death." - -Egbert, the thrall, took seat as he was bidden, loosed the garment that -had tightened about his throat in the struggle and began: - -"Simon, the dogmaster, had ever a grudge toward me,--for what I know -not. And when I went to him three days ago to say that one huge hound of -his pack had come a roaring at me as I worked in the field, and forced -me to climb on a hay rick to 'scape his jaws, he only laughed and said -that thrall-meat would be cheaper far for such a valued beast than beef -or mutton. This morn, at nine o' the clock, I crossed the hay field at -the back of the kennels, and out leaped this same hound with frightful -growls and roars and widely opened jaws as if he would devour me -forthwith. No tree or hay-rick was at hand that I could climb; and I -seized me a stone the size of my right fist, and with it felled the -beast so that he lay still enough upon the grass. This was no sooner -done than I heard behind me the running feet of Simon, the dogmaster. He -had his dog-whip in his hand; and when he came in reach, he struck at me -with all his might. The lash curled about my face, and made the weals -you still may plainly see. Such despite was more than I could bear. I -seized the whip from his hand, and although I knew full well it meant -the branding iron or the gallows, I struck him thrice o'er the head with -the loaded butt he keeps for the savage and unruly ones among his pack. -Simon fell down in a heap. And then I saw Lord Gilroy riding toward me -from a hilltop a furlong off, and made for the woods where his horse -could not follow. They hunted me all morning, but I would have won away -had'st thou not found me." - -When the thrall had ceased speaking it was very still in the lodge. -Cedric looked at me with a painful question in his eyes. What my own -looks answered I know not save from his words that quickly followed. - -"Egbert," he cried, "thy act may have been lawless; but we will not -judge thee; and thou shalt not be sent back to the lash or the branding -iron by act of ours. Neither shalt thou longer wear that badge of -slavery about thy neck. Here's that which will sever it." - -Striding to the darkened corner he took from among the armorer's tools a -stout, long-bladed file; then, springing back to Egbert's side, seized -the iron ring with one hand and set to work upon it with lusty strokes. -Soon the band was half cut through; then Cedric dropped the file, and, -taking the collar in both his sinewy hands, gave a mighty twist, broke -it apart utterly and flung it as an accursed thing into the blackness -beneath the armorer bench. - -Next he took his cross-bow from the table and thrust it into Egbert's -hands. - -"Take this for thy safer journeying," he cried, "thou'lt need to travel -fast and far for some few days. Then thou may'st take service under some -true lord as a plowman or a soldier as thou wilt. From this day forth -thou art a freeman." - -Egbert gazed at Cedric with tears streaming down his face. Then he fell -on his knees before him; but my comrade raised him almost roughly. - -"Up with thee, Egbert! Thou'rt a freeman now, and should do utter homage -to none but God. And there's work to do if thou wilt keep thy freedom. -Thou must be far away from Gilroy before another morn." - -Egbert, among his sobs of joy, could say no word. I found in my pouch a -little purse of gold and gave it him. - -"Thou'lt need to buy thy food and lodging as a traveler," I said, "and -not be taken as a prowling varlet. Look to it now." - -Then he that had been our prisoner found voice at last and began to -murmur broken words of thanks and to encumber his new found liberty with -oaths of lifelong fealty to ourselves. But Cedric again checked him with -uplifted hand. - -"Hark!" he whispered, "what was that sound?" - -For a moment all three of us stood silent and breathless, listening to -the wind in the branches without and the faint snapping of coals on the -hearth. Then came the noise again,--a long drawn, baying howl of a hound -on a scent. - -"Some of our neighbors hunt the deer," I said. - -"Nay," answered Cedric quickly, "'tis no deer-hound. 'Tis a far deeper -note." - -Meanwhile the face of Egbert had turned an ashen gray, and now his limbs -shook with very terror. - -"'Tis the bloodhounds of Gilroy," he gasped. "My lord ever keeps two or -three for just such use as this. They follow on my track." - -Then from a window we saw, a furlong off in the open wood, two huge -brown hounds that ran with noses close to earth and upon a path that led -straight toward the lodge. - -Cedric seized his cross-bow again from Egbert's hands. - -"Get thee back within," he commanded, "I will soon stop the coursing of -these blood beasts." - -Egbert leaped through the door again to the inner room; and Cedric, -throwing wide the shutter, was taking aim at the foremost of the hounds -when I cried out from behind him: - -"Hold! Hold! It is too late. There come the horsemen." - -From another point in the wood, not far from where the dogs had emerged, -there were now riding toward us half a dozen mounted men. Cedric -withdrew his weapon; and we gazed upon them in utter dismay. Lord Gilroy -and Sir Philip Carrington were in the lead, and after them came three or -four stout foresters and last of all, upon an ambling palfrey, none -other than Simon, the dogmaster, with his head bound round and round -with a great white cloth. - -Cedric put away his bow, and, unbarring the door of the lodge, stood on -the step without, spurning away the hounds that sought to enter. - -"Good morrow, gentlemen!" he called, full jovially. - -"Good morrow, gentlemen _both_," answered Lord Gilroy with a most wicked -laugh. - -"Your hunting does not prosper," said Cedric, paying no heed to the -affront conveyed in Gilroy's sneering words. - -"How not?" - -"Why, it would seem that your hounds have picked up our trail to the -lodge here in place of that of their proper quarry, as the best of dogs -will do at times." - -"Aye," answered Lord Gilroy, still with the evil smile on his face. "The -best of dogs and men do err at times. And yet, 'tis passing strange they -are so set upon it. See! They course about and about thy little lodge -and will not leave it." - -Cedric cast a careless glance at the hounds. Then he said: - -"Come messieurs, can ye not alight for a moment and rest within? I -cannot offer meat and drink for here we have none; but you may sit upon -a bench by a fire while your men aid the hounds at finding the track -again." - -Lord Gilroy threw his bridle rein to one of the foresters, leaped down -from his horse, and strode toward the door; and his nephew did likewise. -Simon and the others withdrew to a little distance and dismounted by the -brook where they called the hounds to them. - -When our most unwelcome guests were within the lodge, Cedric made haste -to place for them the benches before the fireplace and again lamented -that the place afforded nothing of refreshment. I made such talk as I -might with both Lord Gilroy and Sir Philip, asking them of the tourney -at Winchester where they had lately ridden, the deer on Gilroy lands and -other like matters of no import. - -Gilroy's keen gray eyes roved ever about the lodge; and after one or two -courteous replies to my questions, he asked of Cedric: - -"Art sure, Grimsby, that that inner room contains no cask or wine-skin? -'Twould seem else that thy lodge is but meagerly furnished." - -"Aye, 'tis so," answered Cedric at once. - -Again our guest glanced keenly at Sir Cedric, while I breathed shortly -indeed. But he said no more; and now I made diversion by asking Sir -Philip if 'twas true that the Carringtons are Welsh descended. I knew -full well 'twas not; and was hugely pleased when he denied it hotly and -went on at greatest length to prove his family of pure Norman blood by -reciting all the quarterings on the Carrington shield and their origins -in the days before the Conquest. - -At last Lord Gilroy stood erect and said, to my great and joyful relief: - -"Welladay! We must fare on, if ever we are to take that runagate. The -sunbeams already slope far to westward; and 'twill soon be--" - -But there his words were of a sudden checked; and he stood staring at a -point on the floor beneath the bench, three yards away. There, where -half an hour before all had been deepest shadow, the sloping beam of the -afternoon sun now rested, and brought to clear and certain view _the -iron collar_. - -With an oath he sprang forward and seized it. Holding it up before us, -he read in a loud voice the graven words: - - "_Egbert, Thrall of William, Lord of Gilroy._" - -Cedric stood facing him; and none of us spoke any word. Then Gilroy -flung the collar on the floor and burst forth: - -"Ah then! 'Tis even as I thought. One churl will help another in any -strait." - -At this insult to my comrade, my hand flew to where my good sword should -have been; and I ground my teeth to find it not. But Gilroy paid no heed -to me. Instantly he sprang forward toward the inner door. - -"We'll see what lies within," he shouted. - -But Cedric De La Roche was quicker yet. He leaped before the door, and -with a mighty push sent Lord Gilroy half across the room. Then both -Gilroy and Carrington drew swords and rushed upon us. By this time I had -gathered my wits, and recalling the goodly weapon at my very back, had -turned and seized the rusted broadsword from above the fireplace. I was -but just in time to receive the attack of both of them at once; for -Cedric stooped to reach his cross-bow which rested against the wall, -ready drawn and with the bolt he had meant for the hound still in -groove. For a moment I withstood the double attack; then Sir Philip only -was before me. He fought fiercely enough, forsooth, but in a most -lubberly fashion. Half a dozen strokes and I caught his weapon with a -twist I had long practiced and sent it clattering across the floor. Then -with loud menaces of running him through the body, I drove him before me -to the wall where I made him stand with hands above his head. Glancing -sidewise, I now beheld the Lord of Gilroy in the same pitiful plight. -His weapon also lay on the floor; and Cedric stood before him with -cross-bow leveled at his heart. - -"Wilt thou slay us then," growled Gilroy, "in unseemly brawl over this -runagate?" - -"Nay," answered Cedric sweetly, "but ye are our prisoners, duly taken. -If we grant your lives and arms, you shall give us knightly word to -retire from the lands of Grimsby, and give o'er this bloody hunting you -were bent upon." - -"That word we give," said Gilroy, shortly. - -We instantly lowered our weapons, and, stooping, lifted the swords from -the floor and returned them to their owners. Simon, the dogmaster, -opened the door and thrust in his bandaged head wherein one eye was -purple and swollen with a blow it had received from the whip butt. -Behind him stood two of the foresters. - -"Return thou, till I call thee," shouted Gilroy furiously. - -When they had retired once more to the brookside, our late antagonists -turned again to leave the lodge. At the door Lord Gilroy paused and -spake again, slowly and as one that fully weighs his words. - -"Our word is given to leave the lands of Grimsby and thus to allow this -thrall to escape. But no promise have we given as to aught else. Mayhap -the King will listen when I send him word at Winchester how his vassal -so newly of the fee of Grimsby is bearing himself. Mayhap it will not -seem to him quite fitting that one who holds his lands in fee should -with deceit and with violence shelter misdoing churls from their lawful -masters." - -[Illustration: _THEN WITH LOUD MENACES I DROVE HIM TO THE WALL WHERE I -MADE HIM STAND WITH HANDS ABOVE HIS HEAD_] - -I caught my breath in dismay. Such a threat I knew the crafty Gilroy -quite capable of carrying out. For myself I had little concern: the -Mountjoys were too strong in the Western country and too valuable to the -King's cause for any such matter to bring down upon us any serious -menace. But Cedric was a yeoman born; and many there were to think with -spite and envy of his rise to knightly dignity. - -Sir Philip now burst forth with a cackling laugh--the first sound that -had come from him since I had him at the wall with his hands o'er his -head. - -"Ha, Grimsby!" he jibed, "thou'rt not so great a victor as it seemed. -Mayhap the fee of Grimsby will soon be vacant once more." - -Then Cedric spoke again, his words being pronounced with the same slow -heedfulness with which the Lord of Gilroy had uttered his threat a -moment since. - -"'Tis true, my lord, that naught prevents thee from sending or carrying -this tale to the King. 'Tis also true--and this mayhap thou hast -forgotten--that naught prevents _me_, in the event of thy wishing to -carry this quarrel further, from taking to the King the full account -(well known to me though thou hast thought it hidden) of thy doings and -those of the Carringtons during the weeks that followed the King's -return to England, and while his traitorous brother, Prince John, with -the aid of certain gentlemen who might have been more loyally employed, -strove to keep him from his throne, and even, so 'tis said, to deprive -him of life." - -Before the half of this had been spoken the face of Lord Gilroy had -grown pale as death, and he seemed to shrink a full handsbreadth in -stature. His nephew gazed from one to the other of us with whitened -cheeks and foolish, open mouth. As soon as Cedric had finished, Lord -Gilroy began in a tone far different from any he had used that day: - -"Nay, nay, Grimsby and Mountjoy both! Why _should_ we make of this -trifling despite o'er a runagate thrall such a matter of bitter -menacing? In truth, 'twere well should we all forget this day of petty -quarreling and live in neighborly peace henceforth." - -"Nothing would better please me," quoth Sir Cedric in reply. - -"And thou, Mountjoy?" pursued Lord Gilroy, "what sayest thou?" - -"With all my heart," I replied. - -Lord Gilroy seemed about to offer his hand in token of our -reconciliation; but mayhap something in our faces stayed him. With a -hurried bow he turned once more to the door of the lodge. After him went -Sir Philip, reminding me in his shrunken confidence of a rain-drenched -chanticleer. At the brookside, they climbed sullenly upon their horses' -backs, and without a word to their followers, spurred away through the -forest. - -An hour later, Egbert, the freeman, astride a good horse from the -Grimsby stables, with cross-bow in hand and gold in pouch, was riding -through the twilight on the road to Shrewsbury. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII--ON THE ROAD TO RUNNYMEDE - - -I was in Stamford in the year of the Great Charter of King John. Half -the knights and barons of all England with a goodly following of -men-at-arms and yeomanry had been assembled under the banner of our -stout Marshal, Fitz Walter, and had seized by force and arms full many -royal castles. Now, at the end of a truce which to no avail had been -secured by the Archbishop, we were ready to march towards London to -bring to terms our most crafty and tyrannic lord and king. For years he -had dealt in plots and scheming to overreach the great and strong among -the baronry, and from the weaker seized their lands and goods at will -and oft threw their persons into durance to further his gross ends of -gain or vengeance. Now some hundreds of the barons of the North, with a -dozen or more of us from the West counties and the Welsh Marches, and a -sprinkling of churchmen, who no less than ourselves had suffered from -the King's o'erreaching, were gathered in Bermondsey Hall to agree, if -we might, upon a scroll of the grievances that the King must remedy when -our further assaults should have forced him to sue for peace. - -Geoffrey, Lord of Carleton and Teramore, leader of a hundred lances and -half a thousand bowmen, rose from his seat amid a clamor of disputing -voices and saluted the Marshal and the assembled company. - -"I propose, my lords and gentlemen," he said in that high, sweet voice -of his which yet is far-heard and commanding, "the name of Sir Cedric De -La Roche, Knight of Grimsby and bold defender of our Western Marches, -for the fifth and final member of this group. He is a brave man and -true; and hath, as we often say in the West, a head as well as an arm. -He is both soldier and scholar, forsooth, and knoweth more of the Latin -tongue than any layman among us. You have named Sir Richard of Mountjoy -to serve you in this matter because, three months agone, he took the -Castle of Tournoy which the King's men were strongly holding with -greater forces than his own and from whence they might have sorely -threatened us. But most of you know not that 'twas Cedric De La Roche -who gained entrance to the castle in disguise, and full well deceived -the garrison, then at midnight overpowered, gagged and bound the -sentinel at a little postern gate, threw it open and admitted the -Mountjoys. Lacking him and his stratagem we might still be hammering at -the walls of Tournoy and our whole campaign be sore delayed." - -"For the Latin we have the Abbot of Moberley," said old Lord Esmond from -his seat on one of the benches at the right. "What need have we of -another clerk?" - -"The Reverend Abbot," answered Carleton, "will do the cause good -service, I doubt not, in making clear for our Commissioners the -substance of old scrolls and charters which they must study, and mayhap -in inditing in fair Latin hand the articles which we present to the -King. In his hands we may be sure the interests of his order, and -particularly of the Abbey of Moberley, will not suffer. But I say 'tis -well that we of the baronage have a representative of our own number who -can see that this scroll, for which we risk our lives and fortunes, -truly and amply provides for remedy of the wrongs we suffer." - -"And _I_ say," shouted Lord Esmond, springing to his feet the instant -Carleton had finished, "that if we are to have a representative of our -order in the inditing of this scroll, as my Lord Carleton says, we -should have a representative indeed. De La Roche is a true man and a -capable soldier, as none will deny; but we have here many lords and -gentlemen of longer service and of purest Norman blood. The Knight of -Grimsby, as all may know, is yeoman and Saxon born. Such a man, be he -never so learned, must ever think as the folk from whom he sprung and -can never rightly guard our rights and privileges." - -For an hour we had debated of our wrongs and the measures that should -put an end to them, each speaker being fiercely bent upon the thing that -should lift the oppression that had borne most heavily upon him and -caring little for aught else. But finally 'twas seen that the whole -assembly could accomplish naught but argument and loud bickering, and -that the writing of the scroll must be done by a few chosen men who -should later bring their work before the whole body of leaders for their -assent and undertaking. Two of the oldest of the northern leaders, the -Baron De Longville and the Lord of Esmond, had been first named, then -the learned and courtier-like Abbot of Moberley who was beneath the -insurgent banner because of the King's high-handed procedure in the -matter of Moberley Abbey, where, during the absence on pilgrimage of the -rightful holder, he had declared the abbacy vacant and conferred it with -all its lands upon one of his shameless favorites from Normandy. A -moment before, my own name had been added to the list in recognition of -the services of the Western lords that had well broken the power of the -King in all their countryside. - -Following Lord Esmond's bitter speech, came shouts of approval from some -of the other northerners; and it seemed like that my old friend and -comrade would be deprived of the honor which Geoffrey of Carleton had -sought to have conferred upon him. But the venerable De Lacey, long the -Lord High Constable of England, and still a power in the land, though -bent and snowy-haired with age, rose slowly to his feet and addressed -the Marshal and the company: - -"My lords: 'tis well for those to talk who know whereof they speak. -Years agone I knighted Cedric De La Roche for knightliest service at the -Battle of the Pass where verily he changed defeat to victory. Since that -time he hath many a time and oft served under me and others, always to -the welfare of the Kingdom and the enhancement of his name. Lord Esmond -says that Cedric De La Roche comes not of noble family. I ask of you, my -lords, who made _our_ families noble but some hard-smiting ancestors we -had that served not better, I warrant you, than this man of whom we -speak. And I have seen his lands of Grimsby and the stout and loyal men -who do willingly follow him, and know full well he can think and plan as -well as strike. Finally, my lords, 'tis not the tale of his father's or -his grandfather's deeds but of his very own that should guide the -choosing of a man for a time of need." - -At this, still louder shouts burst forth, especially from the younger -men; and some did loudly call Sir Cedric's name, insisting that he -serve. When partial silence came once more, the Marshal brought all -question to an end by announcing all the names of the group and ending -with that of Cedric De La Roche. Then, it being near the supper hour, -the company broke up amid cheering and noisy overthrow of benches and -the clamor of many voices in eager talk of the day's events. - -The meeting next day of the group that should do the writing of the -scroll was scarcely better than that of the whole assembly. Esmond and -De Longville disputed long and loud over exemption from the tax levied -for the French war; and some suggestions that we others made for the -Kingdom's better ordering went all unheeded in the din. The Abbot, -smiling and crafty as always, patiently awaited the time, so sure to -come, when noise and clamor should exhaust itself, and his own -smooth-spoken counsel should prevail. He had with him a copy of the old -charter of the First Henry; and Cedric a draft of some of the laws of -Edward the Confessor which he believed should be included. At last, when -'twas seen that we made no headway, my own voice was for a moment -listened to; and 'twas agreed that our two scholars, the Abbot and -Cedric De La Roche, should work together, making from the ancient laws -and grants, with such additions as were found needful, the articles we -should put before the King. - -With all my comradely thought for Cedric, I could but smile as I thought -of the task that now confronted him. I knew well that he had certain -cherished plans with regard to these articles whereby he hoped to gain -for the commons some of the privileges and immunities which he regarded -as the natural rights of freeborn men. Often and often he had declaimed -to me of these things, and with such eloquence and conviction as well -nigh made me a convert to his party--if that could be called a party -which had no leaders and no program and scarce a voice save his own. The -commons knew no other way of protest against the wrongs they suffered -than such violent and fruitless revolts as that of the churls of De -Lancey Manor, with mayhap the killing of a tyrannous noble and the later -hunting down and hanging of the leaders of the mob. Cedric had for years -maintained that their natural rights should be assured to them by -charter and not left to the caprice of some careless or greedy overlord. - -But the Abbot of Moberley was allied by blood and by early training to -powerful Norman families; and 'twas likely that he had but little -sympathy with any such ideas. Handsome, learned and eloquent, he was -accustomed to win his way among rough and heavy-handed lords and barons -and the little better schooled officials of the royal courts by the -skill and grace of his address, and yet more, if all rumors were true, -by a readiness to shift his allegiance to any cause in accordance with -circumstance and his own prevailing interest. In truth, he had been bred -for the law as much as for the Church; and his great services to his -order, which had been amply rewarded with power and place, were those -performed in court or council rather than in church or monastery. - -At this very time, Lord Geoffrey of Carleton, Cedric and I had reason to -suspect the Abbot of secret communications with the Archbishop, who was -still nominally of the King's party, and who would perhaps have much to -do with the final shaping of our articles if ever we should force the -King to consent to their sealing. 'Twas evident that the rights of -churchmen would not be overlooked in the final treaty; and, although -this too had our approval, we were the more determined that those of -other estates should also be well guarded. - -On the morrow, nevertheless, it seemed certain that this co-working of -two such diverse men would be effective, and that we would soon be -prepared to take before the assemblage of leaders the completed scroll. -The Abbot and Cedric De La Roche came late to our meeting, and still -debating hotly on the way; but they brought a list of articles they had -most cunningly devised for the remedy of the ills of which we most -loudly complained. The Abbot read them to us clearly and with most just -accent, like the learned speaker that he is; and I think the two old -northern lords were mightily impressed with the power and worth of words -so skillfully marshalled. When he had finished we might have then and -there adopted the articles and ended our labors. But at the end of his -reading, the Abbot said: - -"My lords, I wish to testify that from Sir Cedric De La Roche I have -received most welcome assistance in the drawing of this scroll, both in -the reading of the ancient laws and charters and in the devising of new -provisions toward the wise and just ordering of the Kingdom. -Nevertheless, upon some minor points we have not yet agreed; and upon -these he wishes to address you." - -Sir Cedric rose to his feet, and for a moment looked from one to the -other of our company. His fine and open countenance and clear blue eyes -and the martial squareness of his broad shoulders would have won him -high regard in any great assembly. It seemed to me at that moment that -the youth whom I had first known as a forester of Pelham and whom I had -seen rise to knightly dignities, well deserved, was at the summit of his -career when those whose decisions were weighty in the affairs of our -time awaited his words on a matter of such moment. Baron De Longville -was looking at Cedric with no unfriendly eye; but the Lord of Esmond, -who had wished to adopt the articles at once, frowned with impatience at -the end of the Abbot's speech, and now gazed moodily at the floor. - -"My lords," began Cedric clearly, "we have as the twentieth of these -articles--'Let no Sheriff or Bailiff of the King take horses or carts of -any free man for doing carriage except with his own consent.' Upon the -next page we have the provision--'Let not the body of a baron, knight or -other noble person be taken, or imprisoned or disseized, or outlawed or -banished, or in any way destroyed, nor let the King go or send upon him -by force, except by the judgment of his peers or by the law of the -land.' These things are just and right, but to my thinking they go not -far enough. Why should we not deserve the good wishes for the triumph of -our cause and the strong right arms not only of the baronage but of all -the freemen of England? Why should not these provisions be altered to -guard their rights also?" - -[Illustration: _SIR CEDRIC ROSE TO HIS FEET AND FOR A MOMENT LOOKED FROM -ONE TO THE OTHER OF OUR COMPANY_] - -Lord Esmond raised his head and gazed sharply at Cedric's face. - -"And how would'st _thou_ amend them," he growled. - -"I would say, in the first instance, 'Let no Sheriff or Bailiff of the -King _nor any other person_ take horses or carts of any free man for -doing carriage except with his own consent.' And in the second, would -have the words _a free man_ in place of _baron, knight or other noble -person_, so that it would read: 'Let not the body of a free man be taken -or imprisoned or disseized, or outlawed'--and the rest." - -"Mayhap these churls have made thee their spokesman," sneered Esmond. - -"Nay," replied Cedric, "I speak for no party, whether high or low, but -for the common good of England." - -Lord Esmond turned with sour and vinegary look first to De Longville, -then to the Abbot. - -"What did I say in the Assembly? This man hath no conception of the -rights of our order. All his concern is for churls and clowns." - -Cedric grew very red, and his hand went to his sword hilt. I sprang up -to address our chief, De Longville, and placed myself between the Knight -of Grimsby and the fiery old lord from the North. - -"My lords," I cried, "we gain nothing by arguments that speedily pass -into brawls. Come, let us vote upon these provisions. 'Tis the rightful -way. To-morrow, or the next day at the furthest, we must take our report -to the Assembly; and we should come to agreement." - -"'Tis so," replied De Longville, "we waste our time in bickering. Come -Esmond, what say'st thou as to these amendments?" - -"I say _nay_," shouted Esmond. "Let the articles even stand as they -were." - -"And thou, Most Reverend Abbot?" - -"I say _nay_," replied the churchman quietly. - -"And thou, Mountjoy?" - -"Aye," I answered loudly. "These changes seem to me to take naught from -us and to be well conceived to gain us many friends." - -"De La Roche?" - -"Aye." - -De Longville gazed first at the floor beneath his feet then at the -ceiling overhead and bent his brows in a painful frown. At length he -said: - -"It seems I have the casting vote. I see little use in these changes, -save to pamper churls and thralls that too often already raise their -heads with complaints and demands. Some of them verily believe they -might govern the land as well as their betters. 'Tis a dangerous -tendency that must be checked. I say _nay_ also." - -Lord Esmond turned toward Cedric with a smile of triumph; and my heart -became as lead to think of his defeat. But the Knight of Grimsby was -instantly on his feet again with a new proposal, which to my amaze he -uttered with a broad and pleasant smile on his face, such as he might -have worn had his amendings been received with utmost acclaim. - -"Has the thought come to you, my lords, that in this scroll, thus far, -we have made no provision for the enforcement of our demands? We deal -with a strong and crafty monarch. Even if he place his seal upon our -demands, what surety have we that he will adhere to them after our -levies have been dispersed? He will then be stronger than any one or two -or three of us. How shall we ensure his adherence to the treaty?" - -The rest of us gazed at one another in silence. This was a new thought, -it seemed, to our whole assembly; and none could deny the seriousness of -the question. At last De Longville spoke again: - -"And hast thou, Grimsby, given thought to this so that thou canst now -produce a remedy?" - -"Not on the instant, my lord; but in the main my thought is this: In -this instrument itself must be provision for its enforcement. The King -must agree that a body of ten or a score or more of us shall be named by -ourselves; and that these shall be responsible to see that the charter -be not impaired or overridden. In another night I can form the language -to carry this provision into our articles." - -Then the Abbot spoke, suggesting that Sir Cedric be instructed to do -this; and finally, on motion of mine, the articles were back referred to -Cedric and the Abbot with instruction to bring to our meeting, at two o' -the clock on the following day, a fair and perfect copy that we might -adopt and place before the assembled leaders. - -'Twas then high noon. As we left the Council Hall, Sir Cedric took me by -the arm and insisted that I come to his inn for the midday meal. There -was in his inviting a special urgency and a look in his eyes from which -I who knew him so well of old instantly gained the knowledge that this -was no ordinary matter of courtesy but something of vastly greater -moment. So I easily suffered myself to be led toward his quarters; and -soon we were seated at a board that was graced with a goodly roast and -all other due refreshment. - -When we had something satisfied our hunger, and the old serving man who -waited on us had departed, Cedric bent toward me across the board to -say: - -"What sayest thou, Sir Richard, to a ride of a dozen leagues or so and a -little adventure whereby, if Fortune favors, we may do our cause full -loyal service?" - -"With all my heart!" I cried, "whither shall we ride, and on what -errand?" - -'Twas two months and more since we had seen activity; and this dull life -of the camp and the town was little to my liking. Sir Hubert Gillespie -had lately struck a blow for the King by the surprise and capture of two -strong castles in the Midlands that we had thought safely in our hands, -while we with our brave array at Stamford consumed the days and our -dwindling substance in idleness. - -"'Tis one that's something dangerous, forsooth," replied my friend, "and -I doubt much whether our elderly and prudent leaders would approve it." - -"Say no more, for Mountjoy is with thee to the hilt. What followers -shall I bring, and with what arms?" - -"A dozen lusty swordsmen--men still young and light on the feet and with -heads to understand a stratagem. Dickon and John o' the Wallfield and -Elbert the Smith are the right sort. See that every man wears beneath -his outer garment a coat of linked mail and carries a sword no longer -than his arm. Within the hour I will meet thee at the beech wood thou -knowest to the south of the town; and will bring a like number of the -men of Grimsby. We shall ride hard and far; so look to it, I pray thee, -that thy men be well mounted. We may have cause for speed on the -homeward road." - -An hour later, with four and twenty proper men, Cedric and I rode out of -the beech wood, and took the high road toward the south, where, but five -or six leagues away, the castles and most of the towns were still in the -hands of the King's mercenaries. I knew full well that the quest on -which we were embarked was one that meant our cause's advancement, and -would have willingly trusted Cedric for the rest; but now we drew ahead -of our horsemen, and he explained full clearly his design. 'Twas such a -plan as only Cedric would have formed, and its outcome in truth, -exceeding dubious; but we were comrades of old in many a venture that -would have been refused by prudent men; and now he had no labor in -convincing me that this was worth the trial. - -After an hour's riding, we came to a thick wood, and turned aside in -this into a little glade where we halted to rest our mounts and to bring -about a most surprising change in our appareling. At a word from Cedric, -each of the Grimsby men proceeded to withdraw from his saddle bags some -garments which, being unfolded, appeared as the long gray cloaks and -hoods of palmers. Each, it seemed, had brought a costume for himself and -for one of the Mountjoy men; and now, in less time than the telling -takes, we had all laid aside among the bracken any headwear or other -dress that might not properly consort with these, and stood forth as a -body of pilgrims in the dress that marked those who had accomplished the -toilsome journey to the Holy Land. Soon we were on the road again, and, -save for now and again the rattle of a sword hilt or a robust, laughing -word, might not have been distinguished from a cavalcade of devout -returning pilgrims such as were not uncommon on our roads. - -Without mishap we pursued our way into a region where all the points of -vantage were held by our enemies; and where armed parties, far too -strong for our gainsaying, patrolled the roads or watched them from the -hilltops. In the late afternoon we came within sight of the Castle of -Moberley which was held for the King by Sir John Champney with a hundred -lances and six score cross-bowmen. - -On the left, and but half a mile from the castle, lay the Abbey where -William De Bellair, favorite of the King, renegade cleric and forsworn -Crusader, held usurping sway over the monks and lay brethren and the -fields and vineyards that had been the rightful domain of our associate -at Stamford whom we still greeted as the Abbot of Moberley. - -At a like distance from Moberley Castle was a fork in the road just -beyond a timbered bridge o'er a stream. There the left-hand track led to -the Abbey and that on the right went straight to the castle gates. At -the full trot we took the former turning, and soon were calling for -admittance at the Abbey doors. - -This, to a devoted band of pilgrims, was not long denied. The gates were -thrown ajar, and, leaving two trusty fellows to care for the horses in -the outer courtyard, we passed into the refection hall of the monastery -to pay our respects to this venerable seat of piety and learning. Our -worthy palmers scattered themselves about the great room with its low -timbered ceiling and mighty fireplace, and engaged in talk with the -monks or in reverent examining of the painted series on the walls, the -work of an earnest though not too highly skilled lay brother, and -setting forth the story of Joseph and his brethren. - -After a little, Sir Cedric, acting as our leader, sent word to the Abbot -whom we had not yet seen, that here was a group of a score and more of -palmers who now paid their first visit to the far-renowned Abbey of -Moberley and who wished to have speech with the reverend master of the -house ere they departed. This message, with its accompanying -compliments, accomplished its intent; and soon William De Bellair, in -all the robes of his office, entered the hall from an inner door and -seated himself in his great chair on the dais. - -If ever the character and history of a man were written on his face, -'twas so with the false Abbot of Moberley. My gorge rose within me at -the sight of his red and bloated countenance that told so plainly of a -life the very opposite of that led by a true monk and churchman. His -mean and shifty little gray eyes were all but covered with folds and -wrinkles of fat, yet quite sufficiently revealed a nature compounded of -fox and pig. De Bellair was one of a group of dissolute Frenchmen who -had won the favor of the King and the hatred of true Englishmen by -supporting our lawless and grasping sovereign in all his schemes for the -seizure of power and wealth. It was against them nearly as much as the -King that our banner of revolt had been raised; and in our Articles of -Stamford we had already named a half dozen of the worst of them who must -be deprived of all offices and banished from the Kingdom. 'Twas no blame -to the Church that such miscreants profaned some of her holy offices. In -defiance of her rights of ancient usage, they had been thrust by their -royal master into the places they disgraced, oftentimes in reward for -services which would not bear recording. - -"Reverend Father," said Cedric, bowing low, "we congratulate ourselves -upon our visit to this ancient and honorable abbey; and we have here -some gifts and tokens to bestow upon thee as the head of this worthy -brotherhood." - -De Bellair bowed deeply in acknowledgment of this greeting. When he -raised his head again, what was his amaze and horror to find that he -that had addressed him so respectfully had sprung upon the dais, pulled -from his shoulders the palmer's cloak, and now rushed upon him as a -hound upon his quarry. In an instant the long gray robe was flung o'er -the Abbot's head and arms, and despite his struggles and cries a rope -was speedily bound about his middle, pinioning his hands to his sides. -Then he was lifted bodily and hurried toward the courtyard door. Some of -the monks set up a hideous outcry, and one or two sought to intercept -those who carried the bound and struggling Abbot; but where they thought -to deal with unarmed pilgrims, they found themselves confronted with two -and twenty stout fellows each of whom had drawn from beneath his flowing -cloak a short-bladed sword and flourished it in most menacing way. They -fell back before us, overawed, and understanding nothing of what had -passed. Only one of the monastery people did preserve his wits at this -amazing juncture, and this an acolyte youth of sixteen years. Slipping -out of the hall and through the rear of the Abbey, he ran, as we -afterwards learned to our cost, with might and main to take the news of -this mad foray to the castle's governor. - -In the outer yard we spent some time in adjusting more firmly our -captive's bonds and in cutting slits through the cloak that bound his -head so as to allow him to breathe but nowise to see and scarcely to -make himself heard with calls for help. Then hoisting him with -difficulty (for he was a gross, fat man) upon a stout charger whereon -one of our own men rode behind him, we turned away from the Abbey and -rode at such speed as we might on the road by which we came. - -Our progress was slow at the first, for our prisoner sat most unevenly -in his bonds; and we had no mind to let him fall by the way. And we had -no more than fairly set out on the road when he began to shout and -halloo in such wise that Dickon o' the Wallfield, who rode behind him, -was fain to bring him to understanding of his hopeless plight by a sharp -prick from his poniard's point. Thereafter he was silent; and we made -better way; but withal most precious time had been lost. The night had -already fallen, and with another quarter hour we might have won safely -away. But as we approached the fork of the road we heard a thunder of -hoofs coming from the castle. The riders were nearer the joining than -we, and ere we could gain the bridge we heard their horses upon it and -knew that Sir John Champney's men were drawing up in battle array to -meet us. As we surmised even then, Sir John had divided the force that -he so hastily summoned to punish the supposed outlaws who seized the -Abbot for a ransom, and had sent one party straight to the Abbey and led -the other to this point to intercept us. - -In the light from the great moon now rising, we could see that their -numbers were more than twice our own. They were variously armed, as was -to be expected with men who had been so abruptly summoned forth; but -there were lances and steel caps enow and some had coats of mail. We -sorely wished for the good broadswords we left behind at Stamford or the -cross-bows with which a dozen of our party were so skilled. But now was -not time for hesitation or for choosing of courses. Well we knew that in -a trice the other party, riding from the Abbey gates, would be on our -track and we would be taken in front and rear. With a mighty shout we -rode down upon the bridge, trusting all to the darkness and the fury of -our attack. - -In a moment we were in the midst of a bloody mêlée on the bridge. Our -men thrust back their hampering robes, and hewed and slashed with deadly -effect; but those opposing us were no weaklings nor novices in war. Sir -John Champney slew two of our men with downright broadsword strokes and -another was pierced through throat by a lance. I rode in a closer press -of fighting than I had seen since the Battle of the Pass; and once or -twice was near beaten from my horse, though some of those that rained -their blows on me fared worse indeed. Then Cedric came face to face with -Sir John Champney, received a broadsword stroke on his uplifted, -mail-clad arm, and countered with a blow that sent his enemy to earth. - -Instantly the cry arose that Sir John was slain. Most of his followers -were French and Flemish mercenaries; and now they melted away before us, -fleeing to the fields on either side of the bridge or leaping to the -shallow waters below. We paused long enough to learn that our men who -had fallen were past all help; then rode forward at a gallop up the -moon-lighted way, with our prisoner still safely bound and in our midst. - -By the eleventh hour we entered again the wood where we had transformed -ourselves to palmers; and 'twas the work of but a moment to change us -back to knights and men-at-arms. By midnight we were safely in the town -and had our prisoner properly bestowed. Then Cedric and I parted for the -night,--I to go to my bed, and he, as the morrow showed, to labor by -candle-light all through the hours of darkness. - -At nine the next morning I was by appointment at Cedric's lodging, and -found that he had just despatched a messenger to the true Abbot of -Moberley with an urgent request that he come at once since most -important news awaited him from the Abbey itself. This message speedily -accomplished its object, and the Abbot, standing not on ceremony, came -hurrying to the lodgings. - -[Illustration: _WITH A MIGHTY SHOUT, WE RODE DOWN UPON THE BRIDGE, -TRUSTING ALL TO THE DARKNESS AND THE FURY OF OUR ATTACK_] - -We greeted him most courteously, and, when our guest was duly and -comfortably seated, Cedric stated that riders had come in from Moberley -the night before with the news of a most surprising happening. A band of -a score or more of pilgrims returning from the Holy Land had entered the -Abbey, and, doubtless being wroth at William De Bellair because he had -forsworn himself by abandoning his vow to go an Crusade for the recovery -of the Holy Sepulcher, had seized and bound him, and, overawing the -monastery with weapons, had carried him away by force. - -The Abbot listened to this tale of violence with sparkling eyes and with -no hint of censure for those who had so roughly laid hands upon a cleric -dignitary. When it was finished, indeed, he could scarce restrain his -glee. Rising and smiting the table roundly with his hand, he cried: - -"Ha! Well served! Well served indeed, for a creature that calls himself -monk and abbot, forsooth, when profit is that way to be gained but who -forgets all monkish obligations when a layman's way of living better -serves him! The palmers are right indeed, and I devoutly hope they may -keep him for aye as far from Moberley Abbey as his conduct hath ever -been from that of a true churchman." - -Cedric then resumed, in slow and measured voice: - -"It so happens, Reverend Abbot, that I have several friends among these -palmers, and to some extent they rely on me for advice in this matter." - -"Ah! Is it so indeed?" questioned the Abbot, eagerly. "Then I trust that -thou, as a true friend of the Church and her rightful servitors, hast -given advice to hold this fellow they have taken--at least till the King -be brought to terms and our brotherhoods be free again to fill their -offices without dictation." - -Cedric slowly shook his head. - -"Nay, my advice has not yet been given. 'Twill require some further -meditation to be sure that 'tis wisely bestowed. But, Reverend Abbot, if -thou wilt but climb the stair that I shall show thee here and apply -thine eye to a hole in the wall at the right, near the top, I warrant -thee a sight well worth thy pains." - -So saying, Cedric rose and throwing open a small door at the rear of the -room, indicated a dim and curving staircase that rose beyond it. The -Abbot, after a searching glance at his host as though he feared some -stratagem, quickly mounted, looking eagerly the while for the eye-hole -in the wall. Both of us remained below; and Cedric, turning to a cabinet -withdrew from it and placed upon the table a huge scroll of many sheets -of freshly-written parchment. - -A moment later, the churchman returned with brightly glowing face and -twinkling eyes, and when the stairway door was closed again, exclaimed: - -"Sir Cedric De La Roche, thou'rt a true friend to the Church, and thy -services shall be well remembered. 'Tis William De Bellair, beyond all -doubt, who sits in yonder inner room, and 'tis two archers of Grimsby -who guard him. Full well do I know who led that band of palmers; and I -say again thy fortunes shall not suffer for it." - -Cedric bowed and smiled. - -"Ah well! 'Tis neither here nor there who led the palmers or whether -they acted wholly of their own impulse. The thing of greatest moment now -is this scroll of the articles which I have here in fair copy. Read it, -I pray thee, and see whether thou wilt give thy voice for its adoption. -Thou wilt see that I have introduced the provision for five and twenty -barons who shall enforce the charter and also have written in some other -matters that seem to us of moment." - -The Abbot took the scroll and quickly conned the pages whereon he and -Cedric had on the first day of their labors come to full agreement. Then -he came to the twentieth article, and ceasing reading, looked up at -Cedric sharply. - -"Thou hast here the wording for which thou did'st argue yesterday." - -"Aye, 'tis so," answered Cedric, grimly, "read on." - -The Abbot complied, but quickly came to another stop. - -"Let not the body of _a free man_ be taken or imprisoned--" he read, -"that again is the very language that was yesterday rejected." - -Cedric nodded in assent. "Read on," he said. - -For some pages the Abbot went on in silence. Then he uttered an -exclamation of surprise, and paused to read again--this time aloud--an -article that appeared near the end of the scroll. - -"All the aforesaid customs and liberties which the King hath conceded, -to be held in the Kingdom as far as concerns his relations to his men, -all in the realm, as well ecclesiastics as laity, _shall on their part -observe toward their men_." - -The Abbot leaped to his feet, his face red with wrath. - -"What means this, De La Roche? Would thou have all these things for -which we risk our lives and lands extended to every churl and varlet in -the Kingdom?" - -"Aye," answered Cedric steadily. "And if thou'lt look abroad through our -camp, thou'lt see some thousands of those same churls and yeomen that do -risk their lives in this cause as much as thou or me." - -The Abbot shook his head with impatience. - -"'Tis beyond reason, De La Roche. I cannot give my word for it." - -Cedric for a moment gazed out of window. Then he said to me: - -"This keeping in durance of an ecclesiastic who was appointed to his -place by the King and moreover stands high in his favor, is a difficult -and dangerous business. 'Twill be better if we take him to the town's -edge and turn him loose to find his way back whence he came." - -The Abbot gazed at Cedric with parted lips and bated breath while one -might have told two score. Then of a sudden he flung the parchment on -the table and laughed full loud and long. - -"Thou hast won, De La Roche. I yield me. Thou hast won and fairly. -Thou'rt a most persuading speaker, I'll be bound. I will go before our -group this day, and make them adopt these articles whether they will or -no. Then to-morrow I will speak for them before the whole assembly. Thou -shalt see what I can do when I am well put to it. Depend upon it, the -articles of that very scroll that lies before us will be the ones our -party will present to the King. And thou, on thy part, shall have due -watch and ward kept of thy prisoner, and see to it that he by no means -gains his liberty until the King hath sealed our charter and pledged -himself to interfere no more in our clerical elections." - -The Abbot was as good as his word. That afternoon he delivered such an -address in eulogy of the articles as they appeared in this latest scroll -as I had never heard before on any subject whatsoever. He marshalled all -the arguments Cedric had used together with many more he had not thought -on. His speech was filled with grace and eloquence and was of an -enthusiasm that carried all away. He showed beyond all doubt the power -that would accrue to our party through this inclusion of the rights of -the commonalty in our charter. When he was done De Longville as strongly -favored these provisions in the articles as on the day before he had -opposed them. Lord Esmond grimly held his peace, though oft shaking his -gray head in denial, and soon the scroll had been adopted by our vote of -four to one. The following day our ardent champion made a yet more -eloquent speech before the full assembly; and the articles were approved -by acclamation. - -All know the remainder of the tale of Magna Charta,--how the King, three -days later, at Brackley where the articles were read to him, refused -them with an oath, furiously declaring that the barons might as well -have asked of him his kingdom,--how we resumed the war forthwith and the -taking of his castles,--how the gates of London were opened to us and -the King was at length brought to terms at Runnymede. There again 'twas -Cedric De La Roche and the Abbot of Moberley who conferred with the -Archbishop and the other commissioners of the King and satisfied -themselves and us that the completed scroll that received the royal seal -was to the same effect as our articles of Stamford and Brackley. - -And now King John is dead, and little lamented, and a wiser sovereign -rules the land. Already men begin to see how great a thing was done at -Runnymede. 'Tis said that the Great Charter will be for centuries to -come the basis of our English law, since it affirms with equal voice the -rights of all our three estates,--the nobility, the clergy and the -commons. It seems to me that later generations will find in its -provisions the authority and the suggestion for many a reform that we -dare not yet attempt, and that freer and happier men may date the -beginning of better things to our bitter struggle with King John. If so -be, may they think not overmuch of us that were noble born and fought -for lordly privilege, but may they never forget that in our day there -were true men of lowly birth who risked their all for the rights of -their fellows. Of these was none more worthy of honor than he whom I am -ever proud to call my friend and comrade,--Cedric, the Forester of -Pelham. - - - THE END - Transcriber's Notes for Cedric, the Forester: - - Differences from modern spelling and modern construction have not - been changed. - - Variations in hyphenation and inconsistencies in spelling were - retained. - - Punctuation inconsistencies and typographical errors were - silently corrected. - - - - - - - - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CEDRIC, THE FORESTER *** - - - - -A Word from Project Gutenberg - - -We will update this book if we find any errors. - -This book can be found under: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/37102 - -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. 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