ping among their blue-eyed chivalry, carrying
little affright, but rather earning peals of merry laughter.

CHAPTER XII.

Of my second setting forth for _Normandy_, and in what guise I took
passage.

I next prepared to start on my journey to St. Pierre Port; and, before I
went, I tarried for awhile in the rude chapel of St Apolline, to say a
prayer for myself and those good men whom it was in my heart to succour.
But, my prayers ended, I must fare forth. And lo! even as I turned to
leave the chapel, I heard the sound of hasty steps and voices, and
already three of the pirates were in the yard, singing out--

"Come forth, master priest, and help us find our quarry!"

How my heart rapped as I made myself seen of them at the gate, and, with
a gay face, fetched out a merry inquiry--

"What seek you, early birds, so soon afield?"

Never face and attitude surely so belied the man within; for, indeed, I
doubted if my legs would bear me, and my poor heart, as I spoke, went
rap, rap!

"Now, hast thou seen two runaways by thy gate this morning, master
priest--one a stalwart, dangerous fellow, the other a measly, monkish
lad? And, prithee, see thou speak the truth."

I assured them lightly none had passed save the fishers to their boats,
and they seemed satisfied, till one, looking more keenly than the rest,
came near to me, and, with a suspicious gesture, cried out--

"And thou hast not got them hidden up thy wide sleeve, good priestling?
Come, we will search with a good will thy parsonage."

My heart leapt again. But I managed to ring out a laugh that sounded
careless--

"Oh yes," said I, "gentlemen galore, and heaps of little beardless monks
lie stacked in my poor house yonder. Bring them forth, good sir, and
leave more room for me."

He led the way to search, but the others seemed unwilling, having good
trust in him that I counterfeited, and all that might afford a
hiding-place in the hut was opened and turned about--nay, the very holy
rest of the chapel was disturbed as search was made, walls and wainscot
rapped, cupboards forced, and stones prised up, the while I stood at
ease peeling a light cane that I had cut from the wood.

"Now, good brothers," said I, lightly, as they stood at fault in the
midst of the chapel, "are you satisfied I am no concealer of other men's
property or persons hereabout?"

"Yea, we will press on," said one of them. "They have taken to the
caves like enough, and we shall h