ingly, "as the
earl may, at the last moment, come to an agreement as to the price of
the goods. I should be sorry to return to my uncle without getting an
order, for the earl has, for years, been one of our best customers."

The landlord nodded.

"I understand," he said. "It would be as well, perhaps, that you should
say as much in the hearing of one of the drawers; so that, if
questioned, I shall have a witness who can bear me out."

Chapter 7: Back To Hotspur.

It was still broad daylight when, at half-past six, Oswald left the inn
and sauntered, at a leisurely pace, down the street. His eye at once
fell on Roger's tall figure, and he also saw two retainers of the earl,
loitering about. They were not the same men he had seen in the morning,
but doubtless had relieved those on watch.

He took the first turning off the main street and, after passing
through several lanes, found himself at the foot of the town wall. A
narrow lane ran between it and a row of small houses. No one was about,
and he thought that Roger would take advantage of the loneliness of the
spot, to endeavour to rid him of his followers, whose footsteps he
could hear some distance behind him. Presently, he glanced carelessly
round. The men were some thirty or forty yards behind him; and coming
up with them, at a rapid step, was Roger. A minute later, he heard a
voice raised in anger.

"Where are you going, fellow? There is plenty of room to pass, without
pushing between us. You want teaching manners."

Roger gave a loud laugh.

"Who is going to teach me?" he said.

"I will!" one of the men said, angrily placing his hand upon his sword
hilt.

As he did so, he was levelled to the ground by a tremendous blow from
Roger's staff. With a shout, the other soldier drew his sword; but,
before he could guard himself, the staff again descended, and he fell
senseless beside his comrade.

Roger at once knelt beside them, tore off strips of their garments and,
rolling them up, pressed them into their mouths; and, with string which
he had brought for the purpose, tied them in their place. Then, taking
out a few pieces of cord he tied their hands behind them, and their
ankles together; dragged them into a dark entry, and left them lying
there.

The whole transaction had occupied but two or three minutes, and had
attracted no attention, whatever. The soldiers' shout might have been
heard; but there was no clashing of weapons, and a shout was too