He is a
brave man and a true, though he would never tell me his plans that he
might take my counsel. He ever made naught of dreams and spake lightly
of omens. I hope he may not fare the worse for it."
Hugo made no reply. He, too, was wondering about how things were going
at the castle, but he kept his thoughts to himself.
"Now I will tell thee," said Humphrey, pausing and turning in his
saddle, "when thou seest me draw rein and hold up my hand, do thou stop
instantly. There be many robbers in this wood, and we have them to fear
as well as king's men. And hold Fleetfoot fast. Let him not escape
thee."
Hugo promised to obey in these particulars, and Humphrey, for a short
distance, put his horse to the trot with Hugo following close behind
him. All that day they turned and wound through the forest, going fast
where they dared, and at other times creeping silently along. To Hugo
it seemed they must be lost; but, when darkness fell, they had reached
the edge of the Isle of Axholme, and, putting the horses through the
Don, were safe in its marshy wastes.
"Here be no keepers and rangers," said Humphrey, exultingly.
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