to that. Indeed, after the rigorous and
exhaustive search that had been already made, there was no reason
why any further entrance should be made into Chad.

But although Sir Oliver had heard this mandate with indifference
and contempt, it had filled the hearts of the boys with dismay. In
a week's time the vessel would sail that was to carry Brother
Emmanuel away to foreign soil, and out of the clutches of his
present enemies; and if this guard around the house were to be
maintained all that while, what chance had they of smuggling their
fugitive away and down to the coast, as they had set their hearts
on doing?

But inasmuch as necessity has ever been the mother of invention,
and the lads were not only bold and fearless but ready of resource,
they had laid their heads together with some good effect, and now
the first and one of the most important steps of the little drama
had been carried to a successful conclusion.

The next day was a busy and bustling one at Chad. Upon the morrow
its lord and master rode forth to Windsor with his eldest son and
the best of his followers. There was a great burnishing of arms and
grooming and feeding of steeds. Every man was looking up his best
riding dress and putting it into spic-and-span order, and the whole
place rang with the sound of cheery voices and the clash of steel.

In and out and backwards and forwards throughout the day passed the
three boys, watching everything, asking eager questions of all, and
expressing keen interest in the whole expedition.

Edred was of course a great figure. His face was all swathed up.
One side was completely concealed by the wrappings, and as he found
the light trying to even the other eye, his plumed hat was drawn
low down over his brow, so that no one would have guessed who he
was but for the fact that his mishap was well known by this time to
all the household.

Even after supper the restless boys could not keep still. Edred and
Julian had won their father's consent to riding some few miles with
him on the morrow towards Windsor, and they ran off as soon as the
meal was concluded to visit their steeds and see that their saddles
were in order. After they had done this, they sallied out by one of
the smaller gates to take an evening stroll in the wood, calling
out to the custodian of the portal that they should return by the
great gate.

They wandered away some distance into the wood; but when they
returned it was only Bertram and Ju