Thou hast seen thy father," continued she, addressing Elfrida; "what thought he to the measures proposed for his escape ?"

"Refuseth all our aid," replied the maiden, in a mournful voice, " and is resolved upon abiding the issue of this trial."

"Refuseth!" echoed Elwerwolf, starting back, and pausing a few moments in silence; while the fierce brawling of the current, which coursed through the wild dell, mingled with the clattering rain, which, by this time, began to fall heavily, and the loud roar of the waving branches, filled the ear with their solemn music. "Refuseth, saidst thou, maiden ?" continued she, her shrill voice ringing above the deep roar of the forest. "Hath he then grown a-weary of his life? Cannot his strong frame bear so much of sorrow as mine own old care-beaten carcase? Or doth he think that justice is to be found in the courts of the Norman, or expecteth to be fairly dealt with by his aggressors? As soon might the minnow sport before the jaws of the voracious pike in security,-the lamb pass by

harmless, after its bleating hath rung on the ears of the wolf,-the partridge sue for mercy when in the talons of the fierce falcon,-or the hart run to the hound for shelter. He is mad, and must be cared for; his woes have flown away with his wits, and he must be dragged perforce from his prison; and that, too, before the morning breaks."

"Thou dost not see into this matter clearly, good mother," said the outlaw; "for, if he escapeth, his possessions are forfeited; and they, methinks, are of more consequence to De Marchmont than Hereward's life. Trowest thou we cannot save him? By my hope in the mercy of Holy Mary! an' the brave Saxon stood under the gallows-tree, hemmed in by every follower of King John's, I would save his life, or leave the ground as thickly strewn with dead, as the forest-paths are with the leaves in autumn."

"Think not, good Elwerwolf," said Elfrida, "that my father will throw away his life, when there are so many brave hearts ready to peril themselves for his safety. But remember, that

it behoveth him to make a bold stand for his possessions; and doubt not but that he will both escape and retain his heritage, which hath so long been looked upon with envious eyes by the Normans."

"Nor fear thee," said Robin Hood, "that he will lack a friend in either De Lacy or Gloomglendell, after what we have done for the Lady Edith. Thou wilt find this De Marchmont caught in an unexpected snare, even in the midst of the court over which he will to-morrow sit, as Lord-Chief-Justice in Eyre."

"May God defend the right!" said Elwerwolf. "But thou well knowest the honesty of Hereward, who would not save his life by a falsehood, but will plead guilty in slaying this hart; which could be nothing less than the Evil-one, in another guise, roaming abroad and seeking for prey."

Marry! then he might have borne off either the King or De Marchmont," said Royston, "seeing that he hath a fair claim on them both;

and it would but be gathering the blackberries before they are fully ripe.”

"Make thyself easy, good mother," said the outlaw, "respecting our honest countryman. Elfrida hath already set her heart at rest on this matter; and, when the worst is known, he can but be liberated after his trial. And what if they keep his old homestead? I am the chief ranger of some thousands of goodly acres, and it shall go hard if I cannot find you all a safe nest, under shelter of some of my branches, in spite of the king and all his followers."

"I will believe thee," answered the old woman; "and trust that all may yet end well. My heart also acheth for Edwin, and the maiden Margaret. I marvel how one so kind and lovely could spring from so hard a stem.”

"No marvel," answered Royston, "when the same turf nourisheth the deadly nightshade and the violet; and the nettle springeth up beside the primrose. Marry! my old sire was a limb of Sathanas; and I, his own son, according to my old mother's authority, (who has

been dead twenty years, come the Feast of the Archangel, heaven rest her soul!) am but few degrees from becoming a saint."

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"That thou hast reached the stage of a fullgrown sinner, is a truth," said Robin Hood; " and I cannot gainsay, but that it may be the first step towards a saintship. But I have a few matters to attend to," added he, and will walk on with you to where a few of merry men are in waiting, who shall see you safely within the palace, a dwelling for which I would not exchange my own green roof-tree."

my own

So saying, they departed from the Wild-boarfell, and were soon without the skirts of the forest. The wide heath began to look lonely and desolate in the hazy and approaching twilight.