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"Hast come to stop?" cried the bowman, patting Alleyne all over
in his delight. "Shall not get away from us again!"
"I wish no better," said he, with a pringling in the eyes at this
hearty greeting.
"Well said, lad!" cried big John. "We three shall to the wars
together, and the devil may fly away with the Abbot of Beaulieu!
But your feet and hosen are all besmudged. Hast been in the
water, or I am the more mistaken."
"I have in good sooth," Alleyne answered, and then as they
journeyed on their way he told them the many things that had
befallen him, his meeting with the villein, his sight of the
king, his coming upon his brother, with all the tale of the black
welcome and of the fair damsel. They strode on either side, each
with an ear slanting towards him, but ere he had come to the end
of his story the bowman had spun round upon his heel, and was
hastening back the way they had come, breathing loudly through
his nose.
"What then?" asked Alleyne, trotting after him and gripping at
his jerkin.
"I am back for Minstead, lad.


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