I would I might see three little scrub trees."
His horse had been over the Isle before and, being given his head,
began to pick his way so cleverly that Walter Skinner was still further
elated. He sat up pompously and pictured himself a courtier at the
palace as a reward for this day's work. "For I lean not to golden
rewards alone," he said. "No doubt it can be managed that from this day
I begin to rise. The king hath advanced baser men than I, let Richard
Wood think as he will in the matter."
And now he descried the three little scrub trees; but he saw not the
horses, they having been taken to another islet for pasture; nor
Fleetfoot, who had gone with Hugo and Humphrey.
"The knave groom spake true," said Walter Skinner, with satisfaction.
"There be the rushes on which they lie, and there the ashes of the
fire. I will seek out a convenient hiding-place in the reeds, and
to-night, when the fire blazeth bright, then shall my arrows sing."
So saying he sought a place of concealment for himself and his horse,
and, having found it, and tied the horse securely, he lay down well
satisfied.
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