A Boy's Ride

ok up the occupation of the day before, but with more deliberation.

did dream of gold, which betokeneth success in our present undertaking, and success ever resteth on good care and good judgment. And so let us see where the solid places be

d Hugo. And by this time he had so far forgotten the difference in their sta

is only a few miles. It is not well to risk miri

rly of his condition, had, to a certain extent, a hold on Humphrey, his course was really d

he desired to vent some of his spleen on the unlucky groom, whoever he might be, who had his horse in charge. He found the horse tied to a ring in the stable wall, and the groom having a sorry time of it, since every time the gro

e," grumbled the sorely tried groom. "I am like to be ki

er Skinner and gazed at him. He would have done the same if any creature possessed of the power of locomotion had come into his view. But of that Wal

he observed complacently when t

ter, the Evil One, had the gr

Mother Church to the king's work? Thou art a knave, and no doubt art b

sulkily. "I did come from Gainsborough yesterday. And in the da

unk that a will-o'-the-wisp in that boggy place did seem to thee even as a flaming fire. Why dost thou

m a child, every bog in it. And I did go to the fire, which was a bit out of my way, but, being my only pleasure on t

haste with the beast, sirrah. Here is a coin for thee, good groom. I do

. "Why, who could make haste with

ently. "Bring saddle and bridle. I must away instantly. But do t

st to it. A turn here and a turn there mayhap thou must make, and thou wilt find it a little solid place with three scrub trees

er his store of arrows. "And now, Josceline, son of Lord De Aldithely," he said, "my arrow will bid thee halt this time, and not my voice. And thou, Richard Wood, who didst say, 'We hunt no more in company,' what wouldst thou give to know

fled in all directions. Walter Skinner, however, was not to be unseated, and, the horse being headed in the right direction, his next pl

must go till I come to it. Ay, and who knoweth when that shall be, and who knoweth the way in this pitfall of bogs? T

sat up pompously and pictured himself a courtier at the palace as a reward for this day's work. "For I lean not to golden rewards alone," he said. "No

not the horses, they having been taken to another islet for

on which they lie, and there the ashes of the fire. I will seek out a convenient hiding-p

mself and his horse, and, having found it, and ti

fish in the Trent and roasted them on the coals for their dinner, and aft

at is an arrow wound more or less when one would win the favor of the king? The lad or his servant may die of it. But what is death? It is e'en what every man sooner or later must meet. And it is the king's favor I will have, come what may to these runaways." Then he laid down the

in their few days' companionship to feel toward Humphrey as his faithfulness deserved. So, while the fire blazed up and all remained in darkness outside of its circle, Humphrey entertained Hugo with tales of his early life, to which th

other, and another, none of which wounded either boy or man, since Hugo wa

rted up, snatching a great

whence the arrows had come. Hugo, catching up an armful of reeds yet unlighted to serve when those Humphrey carried should burn o

ay my dear lad?" he

e spy. "Lay not thy hands

Humphrey, seizing him by the shoulders and dragging him along.

d, with a snort,

eed," threatened the spy. "The steed wa

y my dear lad. Lead to the right, lad!" he cried. "I do know a miry pool. I

ng his shoulders yet more firmly, and fairly lifting the little spy from his feet, the stalwart Humphrey set him down with

there in water up to

of the ever-renewed tor

extricate himself. But

o set the other more

but somewhat slowly. Leave we him to his pleasure while we go seek for

Skinner; "when I am a lord in His Majesty's

he led the way back to Walter Skinner's hiding-place, while Hugo followed. And there they found the bow, which was of y

him into the water. "Had these been in a steady hand," he said, "it might now be ill with us. Perchance the spy doth not now cry out, 'Aha, Fortune! thou art with me.' And now let us back

ervously listening for the whistle of another arrow. And, much to the bo

e rising moon struck him full in the face,

repli

of wit, and so I know not what to do. But we may not bide here. On we must go, and make the best of what wit we have." He rose from the rushes and, followed b

well have dreamed of being taken by the constable, for if he lacketh not the wit to keep him from a worse case, I know not