A Gentleman Player

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moment drop it to consider some other course of action. As long as they were at his heels, and saw imminent possibility of taking him, it was not probable that they would separate for the purpose of searching Sir Valentine's house, or of causing proclamation to be sent broadcast by which port wardens might be put on guard, or of taking time to seek the aid of shire officers, justices, and constables. It was not for himself that Hal had most to fear a hue and cry of the country, for by keeping ahead of the officers by whom that hue and cry must be evoked, he should keep ahead of the hue and cry itself; but such a raising of the country would direct to Fleetwoo

across the level stretch between the two heights, came with faint distinctness to the ears of the pursued, in intervals of the noise made by t

s one of Walsingham's men; and so was I, i' faith! We chased down some of the Babington conspirators together,-that was fifteen years ago. For, look you, this raising of the country against a traitor is well enough, when he is a gentleman of note, that openly gathers his followers and fortifies his house and has not to be hunted out like a hare. But

ike to keep on our tra

laying coney-catcher in those days! We would be sent to bring people up to London, to prison, and 'twas our right to charge them what we pleased for service and accommodation; and when they could not pay, it went hard with them. Well, Roger Barnet and I disagreed once about dividing the money we meant to squeeze out of a Gloucestershire gentleman, that some lord his neighbor had got a council's order against, for having troubled his lordship with a lawful suit i

chance of making things hard for

anger and brought warning. And, certes, he finds me aiding an accused traitor, which brings me, too, under the treason statutes. 'Twould be a sweet morsel to Roger Barnet to carry me back prisoner to London! An thy

arly drawn against the night as Hal's eyes were the better accustomed to t

some other name, it matters not what; and the better 'twill be an ye blunder in that name, and disagree in it from time to time. The more then will it appear that I, Sir Val

h my mouth be forced to speak it,"

id Hal; and Kit

er Marryott, let old Kit bear some of it. Ods

igencies of the road required, they were imitated in this-as they could hear-by Barnet's party. The narrowness of the highway, which hereabouts ran for a good distance between lines of wooden fen

in front, sir,

listening. "Who the devil can be abroad at this

e strained his eyes forward. The newcomers were approaching at a fast walk. One of them, the foremost, was carrying a light. As they drew nearer, riding one behind another, they took a side of the road,

tine's steward, A

thony, sourly; for the other had quickly turned his h

ked, holding his light toward Hal, who h

to you, fell

hind the fellow,-a voice that startled Hal,

quired Hal, putting some

k answer. And the light-bearer havin

asked himself, had he r

Valentine?" she dem

deny it,

s she thrust her hooded head more into the lanthorn's light, and Hal recalled two things at the same instant,-the name Hazlehurst as that of the gentleman wi