"
The king turned to one of his attendants. "Take thou the madman into
custody," he said. "We will presently send to De Aldithely castle to
see if these things be so."
CHAPTER XV
Richard Wood and his men had searched the forest of Sherwood thoroughly
enough to lead them to conclude that those they sought had taken
another route. And on this, the tenth day of his chase, Richard Wood
said decidedly: "We try the fen now to the east. They be not spirits to
vanish in the air. Here in this wood they are not, nor do I think they
would bide in any town. Therefore in the fen they must be." Thereupon,
leaving the forest, they rode southeast by the way of Grantham, and so
on into the fen country, striking it a few miles from where Hugo and
Humphrey were making their camp for the night, almost within sight of
Peterborough. The two were quite cheerful, and entirely unsuspicious
that danger might be nearer to them than usual.
"Thinkest thou to stop at Peterborough?" asked Humphrey.
"Nay," replied Hugo; "there is no need."
"And yet," urged Humphrey, "a good lodging, were it but for one night,
were a happy change from the fens.
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