o descend and speak with him. As they
entered the room where Glendower was waiting, the latter glanced at
Oswald, inquiringly.

"The matter is settled," the latter said. "Sir Edmund will join us,
with heart and hand."

"I am indeed glad to hear it, Sir Oswald.

"Sir Edmund Mortimer," he went on, courteously, "hitherto we have
regarded each other as enemies; henceforth we are friends, and you are
my guest and not my prisoner. I have thought it over, and methinks that
you must tarry here, till we have certain news of the day on which the
Percys will set on foot their enterprise. It would not be safe for you
to return to your estates, until you are in a position to call your
vassals to arms at once; for the king, were he to hear that you were at
Ludlow, might call on the lieutenants of the western counties, and the
owners of all the castles, to attack you at once. Therefore, until it
is time to strike, it were best that you should remain with me.

"I do not propose that you should accompany me on my expeditions, for
to do so might do harm across the border. I will, therefore, assign you
a suitable house at Aberystwith, with such attendance and furnishing as
are due to a guest of your quality.

"The prospect seems to be a fair one. The northern lords, aided by the
Scots, should by themselves be a match for any gathering Henry could
collect at short notice; and, joined by my forces and yours, should
surely be able to overthrow all opposition."

"So it appears to me," Sir Edmund said. "'Tis indeed a powerful
confederation and, if all goes well, ought to leave no option to the
usurper but to die in battle, or to fly to France."

"Will you return with us to Aberystwith, Sir Oswald?" Glendower
presently asked the young knight.

"I will ride straight for England, with your permission," Oswald said.
"I am already thirty miles on my way, and the Percys urged me to return
as soon as possible."

"So be it. As soon as we have dined, an officer and four horsemen will
be in readiness to ride with you, as an escort."

A week later Oswald reached Alnwick. He was the bearer of letters from
Glendower and Mortimer, and was able to report the complete success of
his mission. As a mark of his satisfaction, the earl ordered a deed of
gift to be made to him, of a large strip of land extending over the
hills between Stoubes and Yardhope.

"Some day," he said, as he handed the document to him, "you will be
master of Yardhope, and by