r's daughter gave me has saved our lives."

A rough litter was constructed of boughs. On this Roger, after his
armour had been taken off, was laid. At their leader's orders six
Welshmen took it up, while two placed themselves, one on each side of
Oswald. Then the leader took the head of the party, and moved away into
the forest.

Oswald's head still swam from the effects of the blow, but as they went
on the feeling gradually ceased, and he was able to keep up with his
captors. Their course was ever uphill, and after an hour's walking they
arrived at a farmhouse, situated just at the upper edge of the forest.

The litter was laid down outside the house. The Welshman went in,
saying something to his men, who at once sat down on the ground; for
the journey, with Roger's weight, had been a toilsome one. He made
signs for Oswald to seat himself by the side of Roger. The latter was
now perfectly sensible.

"What has happened, master?" he asked.

"We have been badly beaten, Roger; but when I last saw them our men had
got together, and were fighting their way along the road. I fancy more
than half have been killed; but, as far as I could see of the field, I
should say that three or four times as many Welsh had fallen."

"That was a lucky thought of yours, Sir Oswald, about that chain."

"I had always an idea that it might be found useful; and it at once
occurred to me, as soon as I recovered my senses."

"Are you wounded, too?" Roger asked anxiously.

"No. I was beaten down by a heavy club, and my head still rings from
the blow. Otherwise, I am uninjured."

"What has happened to me, master?"

"You had an arrow through your neck, Roger; but fortunately it was on
one side. An inch to the right, and it would have struck your spine, or
perhaps gone through your windpipe. As it is, it does not seem to have
done much harm. Very little blood flowed when I pulled the arrow out.
You have got a bad gash on the back of the head, but your head piece
broke the force of the blow. It has laid your skull bare, but has not,
so far as I can see, penetrated it."

"Then we need think no more about it," Roger said.

"Well, that was a fight! The one we had at Knighton was as nothing to
it."

"Yes, I think that even you could not want a harder one, Roger."

"No; this was quite enough for one day's work. I should like a drink of
water, if I could get one."

Oswald made signs to one of the men, who went into the house and
returned w