ily rascal pl

oan and many a

ctims he the

he is snared wi

urtsome craft a

n the villain'

hawks were as eager to distinguish themselves as the bi

rtake of refreshment ere they began their return journey. By ones and twos they came, beari

t was not until nigh upon the conclusion

enry de la Zouch?" a

seen him fo

eh, Doll? I suppose he'll come soon, though. Perhaps he's having the best run of th

ot fulfilled, for when the meal was f

ith an accident?"

ry is afraid of me," st

d his face in the

sly wink. "I, for one, would not lightly risk a combat with so doughty a k

follow it. The party had not been long in motion before it roused a "fall" of woodcocks, the very sight of which-so excessively rare at such a time-infused into the sportsmen all the animation of which they were c

orge, as with his coat sleeve he wiped away the perspiration which was streaming down his f

ent that the head

my lord," he said. "He is

you were right, Master

ound to the falconer.

ll where his page is standing by his side

returned, puzzled in no small degree by the summons they had received. In a few brief words the

elief lay within his power. Filled with this noble resolve, he hurried forward, but, unfortunately for him, he was not destined to accomplish his mission, for as he was crossing the ditch his

imself slowly but surely sinking; but not, apparently, feeling very much assured about

ve me, Georg

f the affair to lend any assistance just then, for he well knew t

d his head with ale he would remember as well as I do

aid the poor unfortunate, but she was safe at Haddon, and, rejoicing in his freedom from

a dog. Oh, dear, I'm going, I'm going! Blessed Virgin, help me; sa

ortal terror to the pitiable object of their merriment, and, advancing to the edge of

hold of it

nction, but he could not even touch i

George, "as I'm a Vern

t never sink deep i

of him that he overbalanced himself, and fell forward at full length into the ditch. This time, however, he was closer to the bank, and making another effort, he grasped the pole

t, half-a-dozen knights leapt over to fulfil her unspoken wish. With this accession of strength the captive was easily freed, and a queer figure he was. It would have been difficult for a stranger to have det

set to work and endeavoured to reach his person by scrapin

Sir George. "Here is Doll waiti

to walk of his own accord, and in too dirty a condition to lean upon anyone's arm, a rough extempore litter was made, upon which the

uch," said Sir George Vernon, and they proceede

, man; was it here?" and having delivered himself of this string of quest

ace, who had carefully got the story by heart, recounted how, when they were after a fine bevy of quail, his mas

lay upon the grass close by, at

art somewhat learned in leechcraft; see if

ed examination he gave it as his opinion

l effects of the injuries he had received, and who in reality stood in need of

ured them during the day deserted them. Not a bird was seen, and after vainly beating about for some time the party at last reluctantly determined to wend its way once more tow

during the day, and they soon arrived at the spot where the struggle

s?" she cried, as she pointed down to

Crowleigh, stooping down and

a comb, wh

t of the body of the packman, and he started back affrighted at the sight. "Look!" he cri

eorge, coming up. "Wh

d away the twigs which had but

s he gazed horror-stricken at the body. "'T

aimed Dorothy, "and it was but yes

this. We'll have no ghosts round Haddon, Doll. To-morro

" suggested Manners. "Even now

could be found; so, leaving the followers to bring on the body in the rear, the party hurried forward to gain th