"I say not with that little spy,
'Aha, Fortune! thou art with me,' and then go out to meet a hedgehog.
But this I say, that I did dream of bees and of following them, which
betokeneth gain or profit. And therefore go we not toward Doncaster."
"Why not toward Doncaster down this Brockadale?" asked Hugo.
"The vale is well enough," replied Humphrey, "but it extendeth only two
miles after all. We must make haste to-day. I do remember that two
spies did pursue us at the beginning. It may be that the other hath
neither lost his horse nor met a hedgehog to discourage him. And,
moreover, what is to hinder him from having three men-at-arms to his
help like his fellow? Nay, Hugo, we go not through the vale, but make
we what haste we may through short cuts and little used paths."
"And whither do we go?" asked Hugo.
"I will tell thee that we seek the marshy Isle of Axholme to the east
of the river Don. There will be room therein for us to hide away, and
there no king's men will look for us moreover."
"Why?" asked Hugo.
"Why, lad?" repeated Humphrey. "Why, because they will not. Will a
king's man trust himself in such a boggy place? Nay.
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