e Church against
heretics, the Holy Father against apostates, the mightiest king in
Christendom against a vain and foolish woman. My plans are perfected.
A vessel manned by stout hearts will be here, in the river, a month
from to-day. Men who laugh at danger and have never known defeat will
be aboard of her. They will land at my signal, and must find all
things ready for the last blow. These miles of woodland will be
ablaze; no guard, such as the admiral can set, will prevent us. I want
thine aid. 'Tis an honour for thee to be linked with our holy cause;
beware how thou dost carry the dignity. This house of thine must be
hiding-place and headquarters for me. I shall come and go when I
please, and, be assured, I shall time my movements so that none shall
know of them. A safe asylum in the forest is necessary. I have chosen
this. I command; thou dost obey. Have I made it plain to thee?"

Windybank's dry lips murmured "Yes."

"Thou hast an enemy?"

"I have."

"Basil hath set his mark upon him."

"I know it."

"If thou art faithful, thy rival dies. Now lead us to the chamber of
which thou hast told us. Basil and I are weary, and would sleep.
Come, thou shall wait upon us and make us secure."

The men in black slept at the Tower that night.

Chapter VIII.

MASTER WINDYBANK WALKS ABROAD.

A month came and went, and during that time the stir of apprehension
died down in the forest. Men pursued their wonted occupations, by the
river, in the greenwood and the mines, without let or hindrance. Night
was as untroubled as the day; the dreaded men in black appeared no
more. Wayfarer and forester forgot to scan bush and bracken for the
deadly and cadaverous form of Basil. Simple, honest souls believed
that the admiral's council at Newnham, and the measures of defence
adopted thereat, had shown the emissaries of King Philip how impossible
was their wild enterprise.

"Verily," said they, "the villains have gotten a fright, and are gone
back to their rascally master."

Which opinion did credit to the clean-souled fellows who uttered it,
and a glaring injustice to the cunning knaves who had caused such a
fearful commotion amongst them. And all the while the plotters had
secret harbourage at Dean Tower, coming and going by stealth and in the
darkness, avoiding all men, playing no bogy tricks, but maturing their
plans.

Andrew Windybank had lived the wretchedest month of his life. A
mountain of c