A Boy's Ride

ees of the vast forests were all in leaf but the ash trees, and they were unfolding their buds. And along a bridle-path a few miles southwest of York a lad of fourteen

d had not done so was because his uncle, a prior in whose charge he had been reared since the early death of his parents, had designed him for a priest

ected from assault save by the bow he carried. In reality he wore a shirt of chain mail beneath his doublet, a precaution which he the more willingly

all timber and undergrowth which announced the presence of a castle. And

en ran pursued by flying arrows. And now ride! ride, my brave boy, and seek shelter

dmitted, and across it rushed boy, and horse, and dog before the warder had t

go Seeks Shelter

the warder crossed himself. "'Tis some witchcraft," he muttered. "Here cometh the

he outer court and passed into the inner one followed by the wounded dog. Here the men-at-arms were dismounti

voice demanded, "W

part, the son of the lord of the cas

briefly. "Hast thou a leech that can

wounded? He hath been deer-stealing, perc

foot wrong. We were but pursuing our way when from yonder thicket to the north and adjoi

for the dog while the strange lad looked on, now a

is a dream that doth ever warn the dreamer and all concerned with him to be cautious and careful. Here cometh riding the twin of our young lord: and the Evil One only knoweth how this stranger hath the nose, the eyes, the mouth,

reams and omens was abroad in the land: and nowhere had it a more devoted adherent than

t, then might those minions of the king shoot at him once more, and spare to

afe, but these were the times when women and children were not safe. For perhaps the wic

04 had murdered, so report said, with his own hand. This was the deed that lost him Normandy and all his other French possessions, and shut him up to rule in England alone. And the English soon had enough of him. He was now in a conflict with the P

e to the ordinary church services; they rang to call them to work, and to bid them cease from work. They rang when a baby was born, and when there was a death. And

re the only ones in his power, and his wicked heart was full of rage. He had hit upon one means of punishing them which they all could feel,-he struck them through their wives and children. Some of the barons were obliged to flee from England for their lives. Many were obliged to give the king their sons as pledges of their loyalty. In every man's knowledge was the sad case of one baron who had been o

nstantly spying on the castle from the wood in the hope of gaining possession of the person of

for both lads to come t

had not b

nt?" said the stran

hamber presently,"

t be conveyed thither," said the

done," promis

between them on a stretcher. The stair was steep, narrow, and winding, and built of stone. Josceline went first, and was followed by the stranger, who every now and then glanced back to speak a reassuri

grateful reply. "See how he shivers fr

d his active and many superstitions before his obedience could be secured. No one else in the castle would have dared to take his course, but Humphrey was thus favored and trusted because he was born a servant in Lord De Aldithely's father's house, and was ten years older than the mistress of the castle, whose master was no

ad made answer, "Oh, ay. It will no doubt be best to see for yourself first

e had withdrawn and d

rehead. Her eyes were blue, and her look one of high courage shadowed somewhat by an expression of anxiety. One could well believe that, however anxious and worried she might be, she would still dare to do what seemed to her best. She now diligently and eagerly compared the

Art Welcome My Lad" S

alled Hugo Aungerville," was the f

argueth that thy residence is not there, as

urham, from the priory of St. Wilfrid, the prior wher

hou journey?" asked

iest, but I would be a knight. Therefore he hath at last given me his bles

a place himself?" asked La

ext week the noble lord might be fleeing, and all in his service, under the hatred of the king. And there might be those who would say, 'Here is Hugo Aungerville, the page to my lord, and the nephew of the prior of St. Wilfri

steps and laid her hand on the hound's head. "I have here a medicament of wonderful power." She turned to a little casket on a table and unlocked it. Then taking out a small flask, she opened it and, stooping over the dog, poured a few

ht well. I have na

e, the prior," sai

uncle," a

e had waited with impa

ut outside the wal

or hospitality. He may bid