fire a culverin
at your return."

"Out with thy news, at once," cried the impatient Arundel, "nor stand
there hanging fire, like a musket when the priming is wet. What hast
to tell?"

"Ill news, Master Arundel, folk say can travel a mile, while good is
putting on his boots; but you seem not to be contented with its haste.
Nay," added Philip, noticing that the Knight began to show impatience,
"an' you will have it. It is little less than treason, I fear, they
are charging against Sir Christopher. It is a kind of Guy-Fawks plot
they are accusing him of hatching--that is to say, that he means to
make himself king of both colonies."

"Is that all, Philip," said the Knight, laughing. "By our lady, I have
heard worse stories about myself many a time, since I lived in these
woods."

"I tell thee, Sir Christopher," said the soldier, earnestly, "this is
no laughing matter. If I were in thy place, I would either fall back
on Sassacus and his tribe of Pequots, or gather me forthwith a few
hundred salvages, under arms, if you mean to stand your ground. It is
true, bows and arrows are beggarly things against muskets, in a fight
at arms-length, but at close quarters, knives and tomahawks can do
somewhat."

"But, good Philip," said the Knight, "thy words convey little
information. Canst not be more precise?"

"All I know," said the soldier, "is, that they say the trouble comes
from certain letters which have just arrived from England, charging
you, Sir Christopher, with I know not what horrid crimes. The person
who told me was sure they were very bad; but what they were, knew,
forsooth, no better than I."

"Perhaps the Lady Geraldine will be able to clear up the mystery,"
said the Knight to Arundel. "Let us dismiss all thought of it for the
present. There will be time enough hereafter to disquiet ourselves."

"And I will hie me presently," said Arundel, "to Boston, to inform the
Governor of your arrival, and to discover, if that be possible, what
means the nonsense that has taken possession of Philip, unless Lady
Geraldine can explain it, which will save me the trouble. Is it your
pleasure to accompany me, or remain you later?"

"I have some trifling duties to attend to," answered Sir Christopher,
"and shall remain. It will be enough for thee, with all convenient
dispatch, to inform him of the successful issue of our mission."

They now entered the house together, and the Knight went immediately
to seek the lady. He was