And I
did see a young lord and his serving-man lie on a bed of rushes; and
ever and anon the serving-man did rise to feed the blazing fire of
reeds; and it was the fire I first did see, and, going to the fire, I
did see them."
"The Isle of Axholme lieth eighteen miles long and five in breadth,"
said Richard Wood. "Where didst thou see them?" and he held up three
coins.
"Toward the south end on a little solid place which hath on it three
scrubby trees. There did they lie." And the groom left off speaking to
eye the money in ecstasy, for not often did such wealth come his way.
Richard Wood tossed him the coins. "Make haste with the horses," he
said. "Hast thou no other marks to know the place?"
"Why, nay," answered the groom, regretfully. "But thou wilt surely know
it when thou comest to it," and he smiled broadly.
Ten minutes later the party was off, and, crossing the Don at the town,
found themselves in the Isle of Axholme. And then Richard Wood paused
to give his men instructions. "Here do we need caution," he said. "This
fellow is not easily to be caught, for I make naught of the young lord.
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