f he
will favor us with an account thereof?"

Hereupon the soldier recounted to them all that had passed in his
prison, including his interview with Spikeman, and attack on the
jailer, and also the conversation in the wood, except those parts
which had relation to Prudence.

"I see not," said Arundel, upon the conclusion of the narrative, "why
the wily Assistant should be thine enemy, but he clearly is. Thou art
honored in this respect as well as I."

"My mind doth misgive me that you are right," said Philip. "Away from
him. He seems an arch villain, though in his presence the feeling
changes, for he hath a tongue to wile a bird from the bough."

"Be sure I am not mistaken. See now whether Sir Christopher be not of
the same opinion."

Thus appealed to, the knight answered:

"I fear that your judgment, Master Arundel, is correct, though caring
not to enter into the reasons which have forced me to this conclusion.
But we will endeavor to use such caution that any mischievous designs
of his shall be defeated. Happily my homestead is not comprised within
the limits of the colony, and the sentence of banishment is complied
with, Philip being here."

Hereupon Sir Christopher rose and entered the house, and the soldier
took advantage of his absence to deliver the message of Prudence,
which, as he had threatened, he colored a little. With all his efforts
he was unable to conceal the interest which he felt for the girl, but
the young man good naturedly allowed him to suppose it unnoticed. In a
short time the knight reappeared, and invited them in to dinner.

The apartment which they entered opened immediately upon the porch,
and was a room some twenty feet square, constituting somewhat more
than a quarter of the building. The walls were merely unhewn logs,
divested of the bark, and filled in with a tenacious clay resembling
mortar. Against them were nailed, or supported by wooden pegs, in
divers places, branching horns of the moose and deer, over which were
hung hunting-shirts and skins of various wild animals, tanned with the
hair on. The antlers also, in many instances, supported guns, and
swords, and hunting pouches, and powder-horns, and, in short, whatever
might be necessary for attack or defence in war, and success in the
chase. In the centre of the room a table for four or five persons was
set, and a squaw was busy near a fire preparing the meal.

It was not long before the simple dinner, consisting principally