" He
paused a moment. "Seest thou the old woman on the mule that leadeth the
horses?" he continued.
"That is Bartlemy," replied Hugo.
"Ay," agreed Humphrey. "But we had not known it had we not been made
ready for mysteries. He looketh like an ancient crone, and will be thy
old nurse, no doubt, going with thee on thy journey. Well, they be wise
men that would know the five of us."
"Five?" questioned Hugo.
"Ay, lad. Thou and Bartlemy and I and the two horses. Perchance the
mule is honest and what he seemeth to be."
Bartlemy, having tied the animals, now came up to the door of the hut
in great exultation. "What thinkest thou of these strange horses,
Humphrey?" he asked.
"I do think they lack their tails," answered Humphrey, gravely, "which
is a sad lack in summer."
The old man grinned. "And what more thinkest thou?" he asked.
"I do think they have need of manes also," was the reply.
With an air of pride the old man, clad in his woman's dress, consisting
of a long, loose, blue robe surmounted by a long, red head-rail which
reached to his knees, walked back to the horses.
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