ough the gates, when we had told our
business; and so we rode forth from the city and on to the moon-lit
road, upon a long night's ride, through alternate wood and open country.

All that long night we rode on, now dozing in our saddles, and then
waking with a start, when an owl would break the stillness of the
forest with his unearthly noise, which seemed to us to be in keeping
with bats, serpents, brimstone, and all the general sounds of Hades,
more than the peaceful quiet of our weary ride through the forest.
Then, after cursing all these hideous disturbers, we would spur our
horses on, and let the cool breezes, as they played against our faces
and whistled past our ears and through our hair, refresh us and help to
drive away those heavy veils that did seem ever to be settling down
upon our brains and blotting out our consciousness with their soothing
folds.

The wolves, as they howled in the distance, seemed to be humming some
unearthly lullaby, in keeping with the scene and with our feelings; and
so weird-sweet did it sound that we would surely have gone to sleep,
had not our horses, which had better sense than their riders, quickened
their paces at each of these, to us, melodious outbursts. How we kept
our seats that night hath ever since been, to me, a mystery; for I have
but scant recollection of that agonizing ride from York.

When we entered Northampton, early the next day (for this was the road
we came), we had to be lifted from our saddles, so stiff were we, after
that awful night. Here we did refresh ourselves with wine and food,
and had about an hour's sleep. Then we were rubbed with strong waters,
the which did greatly refresh us, and then, mounting our seventh pair
of horses, we did set out for Windsor.

We stopped but twice before we reached our destination, and then only
whilst we could get some refreshments and changes of horses.

We reached Windsor that evening, and were so exhausted that we had to
be assisted into the palace, and to the King's apartments. When I saw
the King, however, I remembered my mission, and this did seem to revive
me; for I rushed forward and, dropping to one knee, presented the Duke
of Gloucester's message to his Majesty. So soon as we had entered the
room Harleston, regardless of etiquette, flung himself into a chair and
was sound asleep almost the instant that he touched it. When I had
handed the packet unto the King my duty was done and I had no ambition
to supp