Why, he is, now that I bethink me a little, the very same honest keeper I told thee of awhile since."

"Ay, as honest a keeper as thou art a pious hermit," replied the knight. "I doubt it not. But undo the door to him before

he beat it from its hinges."

The dogs, in the mean time, which had made a dreadful baying at the commencement of the disturbance, seemed now to recognize the voice of him who stood without; for, totally changing their manner, they scratched and whined at the door, as if interceding for his admission. The hermit speedily unbolted his portal, and admitted Locksley with his two companions.

"Why, hermit," was the yeoman's first question as soon as he beheld the knight, "what boon companion hast thou here?"

"A brother of our order," replied the friar, shaking his head; we have been at our orisons all night.”

"He is a monk of the church militant, I think," answered Locksley; "and there be more of them abroad. I tell thee, friar, thou must lay down the rosary and take up the quarterstaff. We shall need every one of our merry men, whether clerk or layman. But," he added, taking him a step aside, "art thou mad, to give admittance to a knight thou dost not know? Hast thou forgot our articles? "1

Not know him!" replied the friar boldly. "I know him as well as the beggar knows his dish."

“And what is his name, then?" demanded Locksley.

"His name,” said the hermit—"his name is Sir Anthony of Scrablestone!"

"Thou hast been prating, I fear," said the woodsman.

"Good yeoman," said the knight, coming forward, "be not wroth with my merry host. He did but afford me the hospitality which I would have compelled from him if he had refused it." "Thou compel!" said the friar. “Wait but till I have changed this gray gown for a green cassock, and, if I make not a quarter

1 Bonds of agreement.

staff ring twelve upon thy pate, I am neither true clerk nor good woodsman."

While he spoke thus, he stripped off his gown, and appeared in a close black buckram doublet and drawers, over which he speedily did on a cassock of green, and hose of the same color. "I pray thee truss1 my points," said he to Wamba, "and thou shalt have a cup of sack3 for thy labor."

"Gramercy for thy sack," said Wamba; "but thinkst thou it is lawful for me to aid you to transmew thyself from a holy hermit into a sinful forester?"

"Never fear," said the hermit; "I will but confess the sins of my green cloak to my gray friar's frock, and all shall be well again."

66

Amen!" answered the Jester. "A broadcloth penitent should have a sackcloth confessor, and your frock may absolve my motley doublet into the bargain."

So saying, he accommodated the friar with his assistance in tying the endless number of points, as the laces which attached the hose to the doublet were then termed.

While they were thus employed, Locksley led the knight a little apart, and addressed him thus: "Deny it not, Sir Knight, you are he who decided the victory to the advantage of the English against the strangers on the second day of the tournament at Ashby."

"And what follows if you guess truly, good yeoman?" replied the knight.

"I should in that case hold you," replied the yeoman, a friend to the weaker party.”

'Such is the duty of a true knight, at least,” replied the Black Champion; "and I would not willingly that there were reason to think otherwise of me."

66

"But for my purpose," said the yeoman, thou shouldst be as well a good Englishman as a good knight; for that which I have

1 Tighten; fasten.

3 Wine.

2 Laces used for the dress.

4 Change.

to speak of concerns, indeed, the duty of every honest man, but is more especially that of a true-born native of England."

"You can speak to no one," replied the knight, "to whom England, and the life of every Englishman, can be dearer than to me."

"I would willingly believe so," said the woodsman, “for never had this country such need to be supported by those who love her. Hear me, and I will tell thee of an enterprise in which, if thou be'st really that which thou seemest, thou mayest take an honorable part. A band of villains, in the disguise of better men than themselves, have made themselves master of the person of a noble Englishman, called Cedric the Saxon, together with his ward, and his friend Athelstane of Coningsburgh, and have transported them to a castle in this forest, called Torquilstone. I ask of thee, as a good knight and a good Englishman, wilt thou aid in their rescue?"

"I am bound by my vow to do so," replied the knight; "but I would willingly know who you are, who request my assistance in their behalf."

"I am," said the forester, "a nameless man; but I am the friend of my country, and of my country's friends. With this account of me you must for the present remain satisfied, the more especially since you yourself desire to continue unknown. Believe, however, that my word, when pledged, is as inviolate as if I wore golden spurs."

"I willingly believe it," said the knight; "I have been accustomed to study men's countenances, and I can read in thine honesty and resolution. I will therefore ask thee no further questions, but aid thee in setting at freedom these oppressed captives; which done, I trust we shall part better acquainted, and well satisfied with each other."

"So," said Wamba to Gurth-for, the friar being now fully equipped, the Jester, having approached to the other side of the hut, had heard the conclusion of the conversation-"so we have got a new ally?"

The friar was now completely accoutered as a yeoman, with sword and buckler, bow and quiver, and a strong partisan1 over his shoulder. He left his cell at the head of the party, and, having carefully locked the door, deposited the key under the threshold.

"Come on," said Locksley, "and be silent! Come on, my masters! We must collect all our forces; and few enough we shall have, if we are to storm the castle of Reginald Front-de-Bœuf."

CHAPTER XXI.

ILE these measures were taking in behalf of Cedric and

been seized hurried their captives along towards the place of security where they intended to imprison them; but darkness came on fast, and the paths of the wood seemed but imperfectly known to the marauders. They were compelled to make several long halts, and once or twice to return on their road to resume the direction which they wished to pursue. The summer morn had dawned upon them ere they could travel in full assurance that they held the right path; but confidence returned with light, and the cavalcade now moved rapidly forward. Meanwhile the following dialogue took place between the two leaders of the banditti :

:

"It is time thou shouldst leave us, Sir Maurice," said the Templar to De Bracy, "in order to prepare the second part of thy mystery. Thou art next, thou knowest, to act the knight deliverer."

"I have thought better of it," said De Bracy. "I will not leave thee till the prize is fairly deposited in Front-de-Bœuf's castle. There will I appear before the Lady Rowena in mine own shape."

1 A staff capped by a blade with side projections; a form of halberd, a long-handled cutting weapon.

And what has made thee change thy plan, De Bracy?" replied the Knight Templar.

"That concerns thee nothing," answered his companion.

"I would hope, however, Sir Knight," said the Templar, "that this alteration of measures arises from no suspicion of my honorable meaning, such as Fitzurse endeavored to instill into thee."

"My thoughts are my own," answered De Bracy; "suffice it to say, I will not give thee the power of cheating me out of the prey for which I have run such risks."

"Hear the truth, then," said the Templar: "I care not for your blue-eyed beauty. I have a prize among the captives as lovely as thine own."

"By the mass, thou meanest the fair Jewess!" said De Bracy. "And if I do," said Bois-Guilbert, "who shall gainsay me?" "No one that I know," said De Bracy. "Yet I would have sworn thy thoughts had been more on the old usurer's moneybags than on the black eyes of the daughter."

"I can admire both," answered the Templar; "besides, the old Jew is but half-prize. I must share his spoils with Front-deBœuf. But, now thou knowest my drift, thou wilt resume thine . own original plan, wilt thou not?"

"No," replied De Bracy, "I will remain beside my prize." While this dialogue was proceeding, Cedric was endeavoring to wring out of those who guarded him an avowal of their character and purpose.

It was in vain that Cedric expostulated with his guards, who had too many good reasons for their silence to be induced to break it either by his wrath or his expostulations. They continued to hurry him along, traveling at a very rapid rate, until, at the end of an avenue of huge trees, arose Torquilstone, now the hoary and ancient castle of Reginald Front-de-Bœuf. It was a fortress of no great size, consisting of a donjon,1 or large and high square tower, surrounded by buildings of inferior height, which were encircled by an inner courtyard. Around the ex

1 In ancient castles the chief tower, also called the "keep."