thus able more boldly to search for a
passage across the moat. The night was cloudy and the wind blew strong,
which, though he was in consequence not so well able to find his way,
prevented him being seen or heard. At length, partly wading and partly
scrambling over the rubbish, he reached the opposite bank. He waited to
rest, that he might the more rapidly spring up the bank. He gained the
top, when looking back and seeing no one, he hurried along the open
ground. He stopped not till he had obtained the shelter of some
brushwood, which formed, as it were, the outskirts of the forest. He
was well aware that, as at daylight his escape would be discovered, and
that he could easily be tracked, he must make the best speed his
strength would allow. He knew the country so well that he had no
difficulty in finding his way even in the dark. He could not, however,
venture to return to his own cottage. There was no lack of
hiding-places where he might remain till the search after him had
somewhat slackened.

At length, weary from his exertion, and having overrated his strength,
he sat himself down to rest, as he thought in safety, for a few minutes.
His eyelids closed in slumber, and, unconsciously to him, hour after
hour had passed away.

The sound of horns and the cries of huntsmen were heard in the forest.
They awoke old Moretz from his sleep. He started up, but it was too
late to conceal himself. A horseman in a rich costume, which showed his
rank, was close to him. "Whither away, old friend?" he exclaimed, as
Moretz instinctively endeavoured to conceal himself in some brushwood
near at hand. He stopped on hearing the voice of the huntsman.

"My lord," he answered, "I throw myself upon your mercy. I am guiltless
of any crime, and was cast unjustly into prison, from which I have made
my escape. If I am retaken, my life will be forfeited."

"That is strange," exclaimed the nobleman. "I will do my best to
protect you, but I cannot venture to dispute with the law, as I might
have done once on a time. As we came along we met a gang of persons,
hunting, they told us, for an escaped prisoner. There is no time to be
lost. Here!" and the nobleman called to one of his attendants, a tall
man, very similar in figure to the woodcutter. "Here; change dresses
with my old friend, and do you, as you are a bold forester and a strong,
active young man, climb up into the thickest tree, and hide yourself as
best you can t