winding stair to this room, and
so to the secret chamber beyond."

"And thou didst?"

"Ay, I did, the very next morning. I saw thee and thy brothers
sally forth a-hunting. I saw the men follow in thy train. I had
heard that the knight and his lady with their retinue were absent
at Windsor. It needed no great skill to slip in unseen and gain the
longed-for hiding place. I had some food in my wallet. I fondly
hoped it would prove enough; but the sounds of hunting day by day
all around have told me too well that I must not venture forth; and
as this room was slept in by night, I feared to sally forth after
food, lest I should be found and betrayed. I had heard of the
merciful nature of the master of Chad; but in his absence I knew
not what his servants might say or do. Doubtless there is a reward
offered for my apprehension; and if that be so, how could I help
fearing that any hired servant would betray me to my lord?"

"And thou thoughtest that servants slept in this room, and dared
not show thyself either by day or night for fear thou mightest be
betrayed! And only hunger and thirst drove thee forth at length?"

"Ay. And from my heart do I thank thee for thy kindness, young sir;
and gladly will I show thee in return the trick of yon chamber. If
thou canst kindle a torch it will light us better, for the way
thither is wondrous tortuous and narrow."

Bertram had a little lantern--a very treasured possession of
his--and after the usual tedious process of lighting had been gone
through, he softly led the way back to the sleeping chamber. With
his own hands he undid the fastening of the door and saw it swing
open, and then the two passed through into a very narrow aperture,
which proved to be a long narrow gallery contrived in the thickness
of the wall, which would only just admit of the passage of one
figure at a time.

As they went in they drew to the door, and the fugitive showed his
young companion how the bolt upon the inner side might be unloosed.

"It is easy enow in the light, but hard to feel in the black
darkness," he remarked; and then they pursued their devious way on
and on through this strange passage, which wound up and down and in
and out, and landed them at last at the foot of a spiral staircase,
so narrow and squeezed in by masonry as to be barely serviceable
for the purpose for which it was contrived. It led them to a small
door, through which they passed, to find themselves in a room of
fair size