And may the king's man have a good
supper at Ferrybridge and be long in the eating of it."
Straight to the thicket rode Humphrey at a good pace, but he found no
Hugo there. "Here is a snarl to be undone!" he cried. "The lad is too
headstrong. Perchance he hath already run into the noose of the other
king's man. For who knoweth where he is? And I shall be held to answer
for it. This cometh of a man being servant to a boy and a stranger at
that. I will away after him." So saying, he rode to the south, giving
all habitations of men and walks of forest rangers a wide berth, and
hoping sincerely that Hugo before him had done the same. "For the lad,"
said he, "is in the main a good lad. And how can I face my lady if harm
cometh to him? It is no blame to him that he hath not a knack at dreams
to help him on his way."
At the last word his horse shied; for out of the undergrowth at the
side of the little glade through which he was riding fluttered a
partridge, while, after it, floundering through the bushes with a great
noise, came Fleetfoot. In vain Humphrey tried to call the dog from his
prey.
Pages:
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76