A Boy's Ride

was galloping on his way from the town of Chester to the castle, eager to meet the troop, for his journey was now almost accomplished. Sir Thomas De Lany had promised him his reward,-a c

carefully out of sight of the king's spies and their borrowed troop, whom he was now expecting to meet. He had said nothing about the presence of Hugo at the castle and his great resemblance to Josceline

nd it not so easy to come to the bottom of my mind. They think I am but Irish, and so to be des

r appointed meeting. If he had been eager, the others had been no less so, and at once Sir Thomas a

?" asked Robert Sadler, his wide mo

sponded S

still keep watch from the tree?" asked

r Thomas, haughtily. "It is we who do th

adler, with feigned hum

siness as thou dost into the affairs at the castle. From t

y business there if I had not

r Thomas. "I do but warn thee not to meddl

mbled Robert Sadler, i

iver from Chester to her ladyship. Has

dler, uneasily. "I am like to be berated

the first time. "And so I come to thine help." And he reached be

to me," said Robert Sa

und

e bridge, and thou wilt find there will be no upbraiding

t Sadler, anxiously, not liking either his reception or h

re than what hath been done by mightier men than I. Do thou parley on the bridge as thou saidst, or thy

. It was then, 'Good Robert Sadler,' and 'I will reward thee well.' Naught didst thou say

in triumph as he remembered his plan, which he had for the moment forgotten,-to betray Hugo into their hands and keep back Josceline for himself

knave meaneth to play us false," observed the a

it if he doth," return

sun was down. "Set forward across the open, sirrah," comman

kept out. And it were pleasant to see these villains foiled in their desires." The old warder, obeying the instructions of William Lorimer, beyond keeping the traitor waiting a quarter of an hour, by which delay the darkness desired by William Lorimer drew so much the nearer, having answered

," observed Sir Thomas, as

answered

u by 'mayhap'?" d

before the sluggish old warder had seemed to see what was happening. They were well across the outer court before they noticed the strange air of emptiness that seemed to have

ment of Robert Sadler's

aid. "He hath been sent to Chester

o they hide themselves because of us? And where bideth her ladyship and her son?" Then catching sight of the open door of the stairway tower, without

. Darkness had now fallen, and with torches the troop of men-at-arms, led by Sir Thomas and his aid, ran about the inner court, peering into the empty stables and

llow!" comman

s," objected the aid. "W

ter start of us than they have? Dost know that they did leave the treasure chests empty, and then dost thou counsel us to wait on

in the glassy water of the ditch. Here was no shadowy depth of a ravine, but a broad plain,-a watery plain, into which the heavily weighted horses and riders sank, rising to cry for help and catch at straws. The cries of the drowning only hurried those behind to th

ne knew which way

ady De Aldithely on her departure. "So may it be with all traitors and thieves," said he. "And now

he postern, but it shone not on horse or rider living or dead. All night William Lorimer and his little troop rode, not cautiously and shrinkingly, but bol

undered about from bog to pool, and from pool to bog, vowing vengeance on Humphrey, wh

"which betokeneth want of wit. I know not what were better t

bt his own possession of sufficient wit for all purposes,-something which no amount of argument could have accomplished. But to-day Hugo felt no contempt for him. He smiled only

the lead till I have it. Wit is not the same at all times. Perchance something hath damaged mine fo

ugo, with an affectionate smile. "And I sa

se thou wouldst see the place, even as

And partly because it lie

there?" asked Hu

rth. Came we from the south, we could see it some twenty miles off, because the country lieth flat around

dged Humphrey; "but I know not if king's men be like

t thou fear king's men? Thou who canst lift up a king's man

he said presently, "I will not gainsay thee. Go we to L

o, "is what no man can te

ented Humphrey

ugo, chatting of whatever came to his mind in the h

know no more of bishops than thou of he

ars dead, and another man is, in his stead, bishop of Lincoln. But in his time he had many feat

of interest. "Mayhap his spirit still may linger in the plac

, looking down the long hill on the top of which they stood, saw the city of Linc

remarked Humphrey, "and