list who drew sword in England? and he confessed that he had been
proscribed as a malignant. Your father, godly as he is, would have
little compunction in despoiling such an Amalekite. Besides, bethink
you, he can make more as easily as your good mother maketh cranberry
dumplings.'

'Enough said!' I answered sternly. 'It will not bear discussion. Get ye
to your couch, lest I summon our host and tell him what manner of man he
hath entertained.'

With many grumbles Saxon consented at last to curl his long limbs up
upon a mat, whilst I lay by his side and remained awake until the mellow
light of morning streamed through the chinks between the ill-covered
rafters. Truth to tell, I feared to sleep, lest the freebooting habits
of the soldier of fortune should be too strong for him, and he should
disgrace us in the eyes of our kindly and generous entertainer. At last,
however, his long-drawn breathing assured me that he was asleep, and I
was able to settle down to a few hours of welcome rest.

Chapter XII. Of certain Passages upon the Moor

In the morning, after a breakfast furnished by the remains of our
supper, we looked to our horses and prepared for our departure. Ere we
could mount, however, our kindly host came running out to us with a load
of armour in his arms.

'Come hither,' said he, beckoning to Reuben. 'It is not meet, lad, that
you should go bare-breasted against the enemy when your comrades are
girt with steel. I have here mine own old breastplate and head-piece,
which should, methinks, fit you, for if you have more flesh than I, I am
a larger framework of a man. Ah, said I not so! Were't measured for you
by Silas Thomson, the court armourer, it could not grip better. Now
on with the head-piece. A close fit again. You are now a cavalier whom
Monmouth or any other leader might be proud to see ride beneath his
banner.'

Both helmet and body-plates were of the finest Milan steel, richly
inlaid with silver and with gold, and carved all over in rare and
curious devices. So stern and soldierly was the effect, that the
ruddy, kindly visage of our friend staring out of such a panoply had an
ill-matched and somewhat ludicrous appearance.

'Nay, nay,' cried the old cavalier, seeing a smile upon our features,
'it is but right that so precious a jewel as a faithful heart should
have a fitting casket to protect it.'

'I am truly beholden to you, sir,' said Reuben; 'I can scarce find words
to express my thanks. H