are my men?"

"Here is one," said the janitor, leading Hubert to the cell over
the gateway which he occupied himself, where on a couch lay poor
Almeric with a broken arm; broken in falling down the steps.

"And where are the rest?" said Hubert after expressing his sympathy
to the wounded squire.

"In the forest; they were raving like madmen in the courtyard, and
I opened the gates and let them out to cool their brains. They will
doubtless be here anon."

"What didst thou see, Almeric, that frightened thee out of thy
reason?"

"Ask me not! I may tell thee anon, but let us leave this evil
place," said Almeric.

"We must wait for our men--I will go out and blow my horn without
the barbican."

He blew a mighty blast, and after awhile first one and then another
responded to the appeal, looking thoroughly ashamed of themselves;
till four were in presence. But the fifth never arrived; doubtless
he had met some mishap in the forest.

"The wolves have got him," said the old man. "There is an old she
wolf with a litter of cubs not far off, and I heard a mighty
howling there-a-way after the gates were opened. If he staggered in
her way in the darkness she would be sure to tear him to pieces."

They sought for him in vain, but could not risk having to pass
another night in the place. Almeric was able to sit his horse with
difficulty, Hubert taking the reins and riding at his side and
supporting him from time to time with his arm. The sprightly lad
was quite changed.

"I know not what it was," he said, "but it was something in that
darkness, an awful face, a giant form, a deathly thing of horror,
and we lost our presence of mind and sought absence of body. That
is all I can say. It was something borne upon our wills and we
could not resist. I shall never want to try such experiments
again."

Even our Hubert, brave as he had been, was changed. He understood
his father's affliction better, nor was he ever quite so light
hearted and frivolous again. The joy of youth was dimmed. Yet he
often thought that the apparition of the slain Frenchman might have
been but a dream sent from heaven, to encourage him in his
undertaking on his father's behalf.

Chapter 18: The Retreat Of The Outlaws.

The day was fine, and in the sun the heat was oppressive, but a
grateful coolness lay beneath the shades of the forest, as our two
brethren, Martin and Ginepro, pursued their way under the spreading
canopy of leaves in search of