was sitting up, and gazing about
him in bewildered fashion. "Take my hand, brother; let me help you to
your feet."

"Tell me," said the friar, leaning on the knight, after he had risen,
"was that a bolt from the sky which just now did strike me down?"

"I do fear it was this staff, brother," answered the other, smiling,
"with my poor arm to guide it. 'Twas an ill-requital for your
hospitality, and I ask your forgiveness."

"So small a thing as man's forgiveness of man," spoke Tuck,
sententiously, "I freely accord to you." He peeped at Sir Richard, and
recognized him at once as the knight of the woeful visage. He made no
sign of this knowledge, however. "Are these your companions, Sir Knight,
of whom you did tell me last night?" he asked, indicating the others
with a wide gesture.

"Why, yes, and no, brother," replied the knight, whimsically. "They are
not my companions in a sense, and yet I do purpose to make them such
forthwith. But come, 'tis time for me to be stirring an I would make an
end of my quest. I will be frank with you, brother. I seek Robin Hood,
and had hoped that he might be attending you to-day in this very place."

The friar put up his hands with an exclamation of horror. "I am a lover
of peace, Sir Knight, and do not consort with such as these."

"Nay, I think no harm of Master Hood," the knight hastened to say, "but
I much yearn to see and speak with him."

"If that be all, and you will come with me," said Tuck, scenting a good
prey for Robin, "I will undertake to show you where these villains say
their nightly Mass. I could not live long in this wood without knowing
somewhat of Master Hood, be sure; and matters of religion have perforce
my most earnest attention."

"I will go with you, brother," said the Black Knight.

The friar led the three to his cell. "Bid all the men return to your
castle," the Black Knight commanded, loudly, "save four of those most to
be trusted." Under his breath he bade Sir Richard tell his fellows to
pretend to disperse, and to follow stealthily after their master soon as
an hour was gone.

Friar Tuck had produced some old monkish gowns from under a bench. He
bade the seven of them put them on, the three knights and the four
chosen men. "We will attend the Mass as brothers of my order, which is
Dominican, as you may see," explained Tuck, easily. "You, Sir Knight of
the iron wrist, shall wear this dress, which was an abbot's once. I
would we had a horse for you;