ll before the
pursuivants started. The weather was warm, it being the last of July, and
the Hall was two days' journey from London by hard riding. Therefore
whatever distance she might gain in the first stage of the trip would be
of incalculable advantage.

Toward the end of the day, her horse showing great signs of fatigue,
Francis was of necessity forced to allow the animal to settle into a
walk. As the steed slackened pace the girl relapsed into thought. So
absorbed did she become that she was startled into something closely akin
to fright when a man sprang from behind some trees, ran into the road,
and seized her horse by the bridle.

At this time the woods and forests of England were infested by
highwaymen, gipsies, or Egyptians as they were called, and wandering
vagrants whose depredations had been the cause of severe legislation to
rid the country of its pests. It had not occurred to Francis that she
might be molested by any of these, and she could not forbear a slight
scream at the appearance of the man.

His clothing, though of rich material, was torn and ragged as though it
had been caught by thorns in the unfrequented paths of the forest. His
head was bare of covering, his locks disheveled; his face and hands were
of an uneven dark color as though stained with some decoction unskilfully
applied. His whole manner was so distraught that Francis trembled
excessively.

"Boy," cried the man wildly, "dismount, and give me thy horse."

At the first sound of his voice the girl started violently, leaned
forward and scanned his face keenly.

"Anthony Babington," she cried as she recognized the unhappy man, "how
came you here?"

"You know me?" cried Babington in dismay. "Who in the fiend's name are
you that know me?"

"One that knows all of your nefarious purpose," said Francis accusingly,
her girl nature imputing to this man her father's trouble. "Wretched man,
knowest thou that the queen's men search for thee even now?"

"Ha!" cried Babington peering into her face, "'tis the page that was with
Stafford at Salisbury. Boy, where is thy master?"

"At Stafford Hall."

"And thou! Thou art not with him. Hast thou been at court?" Babington
peered suspiciously into her countenance.

"Yes;" answered the unsuspecting girl. "I have been at court, Anthony
Babington, where all thy deed is known. The whole palace, ay! the whole
city of London is in an uproar because of the discovery of thy intention
to kill the quee