My head had been off my shoulders ere this, had not
some measure of cunning done its part to keep it on. They will beat up
the whole forest hereabout for us, I doubt not. If I get a good dream
to-night, we go on to-morrow."
Hugo smiled. He thought it strange that a man so sensible, in many
respects, as Humphrey should pin such faith to dreams. So he said
teasingly: "How if thou get not the dream to-night, nor yet to-morrow
night? Do we bide here until the dream come, if that be next
Michaelmas?"
The serving-man seemed puzzled. Then he answered: "Nay, to be sure.
Then would the summer be done; and, moreover, I never went so long
without the right dream in my life."
Nearer and nearer drew the horsemen until, in the vale just opposite
and below Hugo and Humphrey, they dismounted. "Here do we stop," said
Walter Skinner. "I warrant you they be hereabouts, else have the fat
priests lied when they denied they were in abbey and priory."
"Ay," answered one of the men-at-arms. "They be hereabouts, no doubt,
if they be not farther to the east, when thy fellow will catch them if
we miss them.
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