[Illustration: Richard Wood Beckoned the Saxons to Approach]
"What seek ye?" demanded Richard Wood.
The two Saxons kept silence, but exchanged a crafty look, as if to say
that they were not to be caught so easily.
"What seek ye?" repeated the spy.
"Hast thou seen aught of two runaways?" asked Herebald, gruffly. "Even
a young lord who hath to his serving-man a Saxon?"
Then Richard Wood himself looked crafty. He did not like finding other
pursuers so near him who might claim part of the reward, at least, when
the search was successfully ended. But reflection came to his aid and
told him that these Saxons were ignorant hinds who might be made useful
on the search, and afterward cheated of their share of the reward. So
he said, "Ye be fen-men, I know, or ye would not look so narrowly for a
trail nor would ye find it. Which way do ye go?" And he looked at them
keenly.
"Through the Broads toward Yarmouth," answered Herebald, slowly, after
a short pause, and speaking in a surly tone.
"And wherefore?" demanded Richard Wood.
"There is shipping to be got to France from thence, is there not?"
"Yea, verily," cried Richard Wood.
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