hope to see their heads
together upon the green grass one of these mornings."

The patrol passed downward toward Farnham, and so, as it proved, away
from the robbers, who had doubtless watched them closely from the
dense brushwood which skirted the road. Coming round a curve, Nigel and
Aylward were aware of a tall and graceful woman who sat, wringing her
hands and weeping bitterly, upon the bank by the side of the track. At
such a sight of beauty in distress Nigel pricked Pommers with the spur
and in three bounds was at the side of the unhappy lady.

"What ails you, fair dame?" he asked. "Is there any small matter in
which I may stand your friend, or is it possible that anyone hath so
hard a heart as to do you an injury."

She rose and turned upon him a face full of hope and entreaty. "Oh,
save my poor, poor father!" she cried. "Have you perchance seen the
way-wardens? They passed us, and I fear they are beyond reach."

"Yes, they have ridden onward, but we may serve as well."

"Then hasten, hasten, I pray you! Even now they may be doing him to
death. They have dragged him into yonder grove and I have heard his
voice growing ever weaker in the distance. Hasten, I implore you!"

Nigel sprang from his horse and tossed the rein to Aylward.

"Nay, let us go together. How many robbers were there, lady?"

"Two stout fellows."

"Then I come also."

"Nay, it is not possible," said Nigel. "The wood is too thick for
horses, and we cannot leave them in the road."

"I will guard them," cried the lady.

"Pommers is not so easily held. Do you bide here, Aylward, until you
hear from me. Stir not, I command you!" So saying, Nigel, with the
light, of adventure gleaming in his joyous eyes, drew his sword and
plunged swiftly into the forest.

Far and fast he ran, from glade to glade, breaking through the bushes,
springing over the brambles, light as a young deer, peering this way and
that, straining his ears for a sound, and catching only the cry of the
wood-pigeons. Still on he went, with the constant thought of the weeping
woman behind and of the captured man in front. It was not until he was
footsore and out of breath that he stopped with his hand to his side,
and considered that his own business had still to be done, and that it
was time once more that he should seek the road to Guildford.

Meantime Aylward had found his own rough means of consoling the woman in
the road, who stood sobbing with her face against the si