The Prince and the Page: A Story of the Last Crusade

thou of the

rest here

t will walk the g

k leave of

, towards evening, gives an especial charm to woodland scenery. The long shadows lay across an open green glade, narrowing towards one end, where a path, nearly lost amid dwarf furze, crested heather, and soft bent-grass, led towards a hut, rudely

ed patch of grass, strewn with wood ashes, were tokens of recent habitation, though the reiterations of the nig

onillo! Leon!" A footstep approached, rapidly overtaken and passed by the rushing gallop of a large animal; and there broke on the scene a larg

it; the dark curling locks beneath were carefully arranged; and the port of his head and shoulders, the mould of his limbs, the cast of his features, and the fairness of his complexion, made his appearance ill accord with the homeliness of his garb. In one hand he carried a bow over his shoulder; in the other he held by the ears a couple of dead rabbits, with which he playfully tantalized the dog, holding them to his nose, and then

ed for sport, and not for sustenance! Well-a-day, my Leon!"-as the creature closed his mouth, and looked wistfully up at him with almost human sympathy and intelligence-"would that we knew where are all that were once wont to go with us to the chase! But for the

uddenly crested his head, and changed his expr

and most sinewy mould, his face tanned by sun and wind to a uniform hard ruddy brown, and his shaggy black hair untrimmed, as well as his dark bristly beard. His jerkin was of rough leather, crosse

sings, and shouted merrily, "Welcome-welcome, Adam! Why so early home? Have the Alton boors turned surly

r in reply. "Down, Leon: I a

e the keepers carried

we have consumed, wit

, Sir? Come to seek through copse and brake for th

gh game for the heir of the throne! And his gang! Hold up your

it as high as your father's is, for all your gibes and jests, my youn

I was his page at Hereford: he was tenderer to me than ever my broth

you are not the

ngs?" inquired the boy, chan

fessed a fortnight back. Did y

d I do ot

man who would keep

to doubt the

out to me as he saw me about to enter the town, that if I had any tenderness for my own life, I had best not show myself there; and he went o

would you

on the righteous or for that gilt knife of yours, we may get ferried over to the Isle of Wight, whe

rated commands from his master and the outlaw, he changed it for a low continuous

" cried the boy, snatching

the outlaw. "Off to Alton: the good

e boy. "You teaching my

. "He is easily dealt with; and he sh

ly force as soon as the stranger came within its sweep, totally without warning. The power of the stroke might have felled an ox, and would have at once overthrown th

he fierce flourish of weapons was, that his champion was at least equally matched. The height of the stranger was superior; and his movements, if less quick and violent, had an equableness that showed him a thorough master of his weapon. But ere the lad had time to cross t

ed the boy, leaping forward

reply. "You have found yourself a worthy

if yet he lives!-O Adam, my only friend!" he sobbed, as kneeling over him, he raised his head, undid h

h," said the hunter. "Now, tell

wounded on the field at Evesham, and ever since has tended me as never vassal tended lord; and now-now hath he in

ring of the muscles of the cheek discernible amid the curls of his che

t, "at least he never stripped the peaceful homes

laimed the hunter. "K

as you will with me-only for my mother's sake, let it not be a shameful death; and let my sister Eleanor have my poor Leonill

is in no more need of

ily. Here-his fac

ng some wine from the hunting-flask slung to his own shoulder, he applied some drops to the bruise. The smart produced signs of life, and the

murmurs; then, the liquor being held to his lip

s the rogue? Fled, the villain? We shall have the Prince upon us

dam-you

rise. "You might have sent an arrow to stop his traitorous tongue; but there is no help in you!" he added, provoked at seeing a certain embarrassment about the youth. "Deser

oner!" said the

t let the lad go free: he is a yeoman's

with his arms crossed upon his mighty breadth of chest, and looking at Adam with a still, grave, commanding blue eye, that seemed to pierce him and hold him down, as it w

hat concerns not the boy-since," he added bitterly, "he is too meek and tend

arge- -maybe the son of one of the traitor barons. Take my advi

d he recognized at once that he was like a child in that grasp. He ground his teeth with rage and muttered,

emanded the stranger, "with ha

ith eyes full of reproach-"ay, follow to any gallows

ant," returned

Prince's tender mercies? The Prince will thank thee, man, for ridding the r

d gestures to the boy who had so grievously disappointed him, that the moment o

k under its somewhat drooping eyel

thank me more for bringin

-that I kept with me for love of his father, though he is fitter for a convent than the gr

" replied the stranger. "There are

rve with me," stou

see," was the

g care so to interpose his stately person between them, tha