before the broad meadows of the mark were passed, and the woods hid the
village from us.

Then did Alswythe, in her kindness, fall into a like mistake as that I
had made with the boy; for she turned to me, smiling, and said that she
would surely take him into her service at Stert, and see to his training
hereafter, but then remembered that she had no longer home, and her
smile faded into tears.

My heart ached for her, knowing I could give her no comfort. After that
we rode in silence, and quickly, for the track was good.

Now there is little to tell of that ride till we reached the hilltop
that Wulfhere knew, and where we could look down on the land we were to
cross, and fancy we could see Glastonbury far away. Here Dudda the
Collier's task was ended, and I called him to me, pulling out the purse
the good prioress had given me, that I might give him a gold piece for
his faithful service.

He stood before me, cap in hand, and I gave him a bright new coin, and
he took it, turning it over curiously.

"Take it, Dudda," I said, "you have earned it well."

Then he grinned in his way, and answered: "It is no good to me, master.
I pray you give me silver instead. Like were I to starve if life lay in
the changing of this among our poor folk."

So I turned over the money to find silver, but there was not enough, and
so I took out that bag which I had found in the roadway, and had not
opened since, having almost forgotten it. There was silver and copper
only in that, and I began to give him his reward.

But still the man hesitated, and seemed anxious to ask me something,
and, while I counted out the money, he spoke: "Master, the men call you
Heregar, and that is an outlaw's name."

"Well." said I, fearing no reproach from that just now, and being sure
that by this time the man knew all about me from our thralls with us.
"Heregar, the outlawed thane I was, and am, except that the sheriff has
bid me ride on his business."

"Then, master," said he, "give me no reward but to serve you. No man's
man am I, either free or unfree, but son of escaped thralls who are dead
long ago. Therefore am I outlaw also by all rights, and would fain
follow you. And it seems to me that you will need one to mind your steed."

Now this was a long speech for the collier, who, as I had learnt, could
hold his tongue: and we were short-handed also, with all these horses.
Therefore I told him that it should be as he would, for service offered
fr