is full,
intoirely, of all that belongs to Hill, as is plainly seen by his mane
lookin' face."

When Michael had finished his somewhat lengthy, yet to me the
interestingest story that I might hear, both Harleston and I sat for
some time without speaking. At length I addressed Michael. "Thou hast
done better than I could have wished for, and indeed thine information
is of the greatest use to me. I cannot thank thee, nor repay thee,
sufficiently for this service; but if I fall not into the snares of
this scheming villain thou shalt lack for naught that is in my power to
give thee."

"Uh! sor, thou hast given thanks that Oi do not desarve; for Oi have
but done my dooty to moy master. But Oi till thee this, sor,--In case
annything should go amiss with thee, through that spalpeen, Oi hare
take moine oath that Oi'll have the loife o' that varmint fer it."

CHAPTER XVI

MY DANGEROUS POSITION

"Well, Harleston," said I, after Michael had left us, "here is the
position in which I now find myself placed. Methinks thou wilt agree
with me when I say that my prospects are anything but of the brightness
of the sun.

"The Queen hath fled from her home and hath taken refuge in a Sanctuary
for reason of her fear of Gloucester. The young King, her son, is in
the power of the man from whom she hath fled. Catesby, who is
evidently in the service of Richard, hath good reason for his belief
that I warned the Queen and thus have been the cause of her taking
refuge. Richard hath some scheme in hand, the object of which we know
not. The death of Rivers, Grey and Vaughan, is evidently decided upon
merely because they are friends to the Queen. Gloucester is bent on
gaining possession of the King's little brother, for what purpose we
know not. What chance then have I of escaping the tusks of the boar?"
asked I, when I had finished this somewhat gloomy list of facts.

"My dear friend," replied Harleston, "however strange it may sound, I
must say methinks thou hast naught to fear from Catesby's telling to
Richard the part thou hast played in connection with the Queen's
flight."

"Why?" I asked in surprise.

"For this reason," replied my friend, "Catesby was evidently instructed
to prevent any messages from reaching the Queen, else why should he so
question Michael, and, when speaking to himself, say that Richard would
give him the devil when he should learn of the Queen's flight?"

"Well?" I asked, "and what hath that