d among little crags,
haunted by hawks and crows. It looked a very solitary, peaceful hill,
and he stopped at a farm beside the road to inquire of the way
thither, because he was afraid of finding himself unable to cross the
streams.

At his knock there came out an ancient man, with whom Gilbert entered
into simple travellers' talk of the weather and the road; Gilbert
asked him the name of the place, and the man told him that it was
called the Gate of the Old Hollow. Then Gilbert pointing to the hill
that lay in the midst, asked him what that was. The old man looked at
him for a moment without answering, and then said in a low voice,
"That, sir, is the Hill of Trouble." "That is a strange name!" said
Gilbert. "Yes," said the old man, "and it is a strange place, where no
one ever sets foot--there is a cruel tale about it; there is something
that is not well about the place."

Gilbert was surprised to hear the other speak so gravely; but the old
man, who was pleased with his company, asked him if he would not rest
awhile and eat; and Gilbert said that he would do so gladly, and the
more gladly if the other would tell him the story of the place. The
old man led him within into a large room, with plain oak furniture,
and brought him bread and honey and milk; and Gilbert ate, while the
old man told him the legend of the Hill.

He said that long years ago it was a place of heathen worship, and
that there stood a circle of stones upon it, where sacrifice was done;
and that men, it was said, were slain there with savage rites; and
that when the Christian teachers came, and the valley became obedient
to the faith, it was forbidden the villagers to go there, and for long
years it was desolate; but there had dwelt in the manor-house hard by
a knight, fearless and rough, who regarded neither God nor man, who
had lately wedded a wife whom he loved beyond anything in the world.
And one day there was with the knight a friend who was a soldier, and
after dinner, in foolish talk, the knight said that he would go to the
Hill, and he made a wager on it. The knight's lady besought him not to
go, but he girded on his sword and went laughing. Now at the time, the
old man said, there was much fighting in the valley, for the people
were not yet subject to the English king, but paid tribute to their
own Lords; and the knight had been one that fought the best. What the
knight saw on the hill no one ever knew, but he came back at sundown,
pal