men, the sun will be shortly setting, and some of
you have many miles to ride. We have done the day's work in a
thorough and righteous fashion; and I will now give you my
blessing, and dismiss you to your homes. I trust this may be the
last time that I have to assemble you together to drive from
amongst us those who are tainted by the curse of heresy."

Half an hour later the party for Chad were riding quietly homeward
through the forest with two cowled monks in their company. The last
charge to these from the prior had been:

"Thou, Brother Fabian, keep a sharp eye by night and by day upon
the boys; and thou, Brother Nathaniel, upon the knight and his
lady. If any of those are in the secret, be it your mission to find
out and bring it home to them."

Chapter IX: The Search.

"If Brother Emmanuel is found, Chad will be forfeit."

Such was the burden of Edred's thoughts as he rode homeward at his
brothers' side, just behind their father and mother, at the close
of that eventful day's proceedings.

It was a thought that could not but be fraught with some terror to
the boy, who knew that he had been instrumental in hiding the
threatened monk, and that if by some gruesome chance the secret
were to be discovered, their bitter enemy would make it an excuse
for prosecuting his malicious and covetous purpose towards Chad
with redoubled ardour, and with every prospect of success. At
present the prior was standing neutral betwixt the two foes; at
present the king was well disposed towards Sir Oliver. But should
it be proved beyond dispute that he had set the Church at defiance,
and had harboured a suspected heretic within his walls, then the
prior would at once turn against him, and representations would be
made to the king which would almost force him to turn away his
favour. The Lord of Chad would be a disgraced and suspected person,
whilst in all probability the wiles of the ambitious Mortimer would
prove successful, and the claim of Sir Edward Chadwell would be
admitted, and the estate pass into his hands.

The thought was maddening. The bare idea of being forced to leave
the old home sent the hot blood coursing through the boy's body. If
such a thing as that were to befall them, it would break their
father's heart. And how should he ever hold up his head again,
knowing that in some sort he had been the author of the mischief?

All the brothers had been heart and soul together in their desire
to hide the brot