and
swore that I would strive, to the utmost in my power, to do as he bade
me; and he put his hands on my head, and bade me go in peace; and I
tell you, I mean to prove to him that his words have not been in vain."

Two days later, Oswald started with Roger, and rode to Warkworth
Castle, some ten miles away; bearing an order to the governor to add
Roger to the strength of the garrison, telling him that he had shown
himself to be a brave soldier, and a skilful one, and that he could
place confidence in him, and appoint him to any sub-command that might
become vacant.

On the way, they entered a wood. Here Roger took off his monastic garb,
and clad himself in armour such as was worn by the garrison of Alnwick.
The monk's clothes were made up into a bundle, and left in the wood,
Oswald saying:

"I will carry them back with me, on my return, Roger. It may be that
they may come in useful, yet, if you and I travel together again in the
Percys' service."

A month passed, and then the Earl of March came, by sea, to Alnwick.
Douglas and the regent had marched against him with an overwhelming
force; and, as they were both personal enemies, he knew that his fate
would be sealed if he fell into their hands, and he had therefore been
driven to declare himself, openly, as a vassal of the English king.

On the day after his arrival he happened to be in Hotspur's room, when
Oswald entered.

"Ah! ah!" he said, "This is your messenger, Percy.

"You left me with scant notice, sir."

And he smiled.

"I was forced to do so, my lord earl; for, in truth, I was not sure
that you would not prevent me from following my lord's orders, to
return after seeing you."

"You were right. In the first place, I was not sure that you were a
true messenger; and in the second place, I feared that you might, on
return, fall into the hands of the Douglases; who would speedily find
means to wring from you an account of your mission. Therefore, I
thought that it were best that you should tarry a while with me, at
Dunbar.

"The young fellow has a good head, Lord Percy, and is as hard to hold
as a wildcat. I put the matter of watching him into the hands of two or
three of my men, whose wits I have tried more than once, and know them
to be among the most trustworthy of my followers. This lad, however,
outwitted them. How, they have never been able to explain; but my
fellows were found, trussed up like fowls for roasting, in an alley
into which they