would have deemed that he was deeply contemplating death, had not a nearer and narrower search, shown, that his deep-set eyes were looking out from under their fierce and shaggy brows at Edith and her lover.

"John of Chester," said Robin Hood, at length breaking the silence, "were it not that thou dost belong to a noble order of knighthood, base and unworthy as thou art, and that thou wilt have to answer before them for this foul and cowardly deed,-were it not for this," added he, raising his voice until the roof rung again, "by my hope in the Mother of God! I would hang thee on the highest oak in Sherwood before the world was an hour older."

"And thinkest thou, brave captain," said Walter-the-one-handed, "that he will be dealt with according to his misdeeds, among those who are equally base as himself? How, trowest thou, could the bloody-minded De Marchmont lift up his voice against him, when he, in verity, appointed him to do this deed? or what, thinkest thou, would the heartless Norman King John do, more than laugh at it as a goodly jest? What wotteth he," said the high-minded Saxon, pointing to the dead bodies on the floor,

"of the blood spilt in the unjust quarrel of an oppressor, than that of a deer slaughtered in the chase? Nay, by the true Lord! he would sooner bestir himself to look into the death of a staggard. An' thou be'est advised by me, thou wilt just let me smooth his hair with this battle-axe, then throw him into the moat with his blinded and foolish followers."

"That shall not be," exclaimed the Earl of Eltham, stepping forth into the midst of the outlaws with his uplifted battle-axe, and dispersing their ranks on each side as he advanced, like a war-steed rushing through a corn-field to the charge. "Hand to hand will I maintain my right to revenge, and yet wage war with him to the death in the tented lists. Ay, and maintain my quarrel with every knight of the order to which he belongs, should they gainsay me in this matter. Already have I thrown my gauntlet at his feet, and he hath this day whetted my appetite afresh. I thank ye, brave yeomen, for your timely interference, more on behalf of the noble maiden, whom ye have been the means of releasing, than for myself; for, had I fallen, it would have been like a true knight, in a just cause, and against unequal numbers."

"These are not grounds to quarrel with thee upon, noble earl," said Robin Hood; "but were our minds bent upon his death, not King John himself should rescue him from our bands. As it is, do with him what pleaseth thee best; there is no arm to which we would sooner trust this cause than thine own, although our onehanded friend hath seldom need to strike a second time."

"Were it not for thy former quarrel, noble earl," said the young knight, approaching, "he should yet feel how a Gloomglendell can strike in the cause of his betrothed. I would hold it the proudest day in my life, brave De Lacy, if thou wouldst trust this quarrel to my keeping."

"It may not be, valiant youth,” replied the earl; "thou hast well won thy claim to the hand of Edith this day, hadst thou not won her heart long ago. By my knighthood! I

honour thy courage the more, that thou didst win my favour before I knew that my companion in the forest, was the noble Henry of Gloomglendell."

My sword hath never yet lagged in its sheath, when aught knightly hath stood before.

its edge," said the Constable of Chester, unable to bridle his anger longer: "as for the keenness of the blade, ye might have ere this have been acquainted with it, had not these deer-stealers and forest-robbers have brought their most knightly aid."

By the holy mass !" exclaimed Walter-theone-handed, lifting up his battle-axe above the Constable of Chester, until the baron cowered beneath him like a partridge under the descending hawk, "an' thou darest to name thy cowardice beside the actions of those who were never found nidderrings, I will cleave thy false head in twain. Marry! thou hast need to boast, while only two knights were found fighting and unconquered, against thyself and above a score of thy fellows. Had we found thee in thine armour among the slain, we might then have thought that thine hand was as forward as thy tongue."

The Constable, either through pride or sullenness, remained silent after this rebuke, and stood with folded arms in the midst of his soldiers, still retaining his haughty look. Nor did his followers shew any symptoms of alarm, but gathered around their leader with menacing

frowns, as if ready to share either death or imprisonment by his side.

At that moment another voice was heard from without, exclaiming, "Why tarrieth the bride and bridegroom! I have drank their healths devoutly with the cellarer, even in spite of the interdict; having had their worldly prosperity much at heart over my cups, that I have endangered mine own spiritual welfare."

"How now, drunken friar and gormandizing priest," said Robin Hood, as father Clement staggered into the room, with a leathern bottle in his hand; "what doest thou in this assembly? Get thee gone to thy priory, and see that thou makest sure of the private postern; for, by the mass! an' thy superior findeth thee in this unholy state, he will mortify thy body with severe penance."

"Friend Outlaw," answered the friar, with a drunken shake of the head, "thou hast no charity. If I have quaffed a single cup for the welfare of others, it was that I might lighten their own souls of a greater load of iniquity, well knowing that they are forbidden to put the wine flask to their lips during the solemn interdict. I did but permit Luke, the cellarer, to empty two cups;