m I
hate, hath been hanged by the heels. We will give Robert full measure to
chew upon. Write also that Fulke himself is sick to death of a dropsy."

'"Nay?" cried Fulke, hanging in the well-shaft. "Drown me out of hand, but
do not make a jest of me."

'"Jest? I?" said De Aquila. "I am but fighting for life and lands with a
pen, as thou hast shown me, Fulke."

'Then Fulke groaned, for he was cold, and, "Let me confess," said he.

'"Now, this is right neighbourly," said De Aquila, leaning over the shaft.
"Thou hast read my sayings and doings--or at least the first part of
them--and thou art minded to repay me with thy own doings and sayings. Take
penner and inkhorn, Gilbert. Here is work that will not irk thee."

'"Let my men go without hurt, and I will confess my treason against the
King," said Fulke.

'"Now, why has he grown so tender of his men of a sudden?" said Hugh to
me; for Fulke had no name for mercy to his men. Plunder he gave them, but
pity, none.

'"Te! Te!" said De Aquila. "Thy treason was all confessed long ago by
Gilbert. It would be enough to hang Montgomery himself."

'"Nay; but spare my men," said Fulke; and we heard him splash like a fish
in a pond, for the tide was rising.

'"All in good time," said De Aquila. "The night is young; the wine is old;
and we need only the merry tale. Begin the story of thy life since when
thou wast a lad at Tours. Tell it nimbly!"

'"Ye shame me to my soul," said Fulke.

'"Then I have done what neither King nor Duke could do," said De Aquila.
"But begin, and forget nothing."

'"Send thy man away," said Fulke.

'"That much I can," said De Aquila. "But, remember, I am like the Danes'
King; I cannot turn the tide."

'"How long will it rise?" said Fulke, and splashed anew.

'"For three hours," said De Aquila. "Time to tell all thy good deeds.
Begin, and Gilbert--I have heard thou art somewhat careless--do not twist
his words from their true meaning."

'So--fear of death in the dark being upon him--Fulke began; and Gilbert, not
knowing what his fate might be, wrote it word by word. I have heard many
tales, but never heard I aught to match the tale of Fulke, his black life,
as Fulke told it hollowly, hanging in the shaft.'

'Was it bad?' said Dan, awestruck.

'Beyond belief,' Sir Richard answered. 'None the less, there was that in
it which forced even Gilbert to laugh. We three laughed till we ached. At
one place his teeth so chattered that we could not we