make for the Long Pools, if thou canst bring me
there."

Christopher laughed: "Aha!" said he, "then am I some faraway cousin
of Dr. Knowall when the whole tale is told: forsooth I can lead thee
thither; but tell me, what shall I do of valiant deeds at the Long
Pools? for there is no fire-drake nor effit, nay, nor no giant, nor
guileful dwarf, nought save mallard and coot, heron and bittern; yea,
and ague-shivers to boot."

Simon looked sourly on him and said: "Thou are bidden to go with me,
young man, or gainsay the Marshal. Art thou mighty enough thereto? For
the rest, fear not but that the deed shall come to thee one day."

"Nay," said Christopher, "it is all one to me, for I am at home in these
woods and wastes, I and my shafts. Tell me of the deeds when thou
wilt." But indeed he longed to know the deed, and fretted him because of
Simon's surliness and closeness. Then he said: "Well, Squire Simon, let
us to the road; for thou shalt know that to-night we must needs house us
under the naked heaven; in nowise can we come to the Long Pools before
to-morrow morning."

"Yea, and why not?" said the squire; "I have lain in worse places."

"Wilt thou tell me thereof?" said Christopher.

"Mayhappen," said Simon, "if to-morrow comes and goes for both of us
twain."

So they rode their ways through the wood, and baited at midday with what
Simon bare in his saddle-bags, and then went on till night fell on them;
then asked Simon how long they were from the Long Pools, and Christopher
told him that they were yet short of them some fifteen miles, and those
long ones, because of the marish grounds. So they tethered their horses
there and ate their supper; and lay down to sleep in the house of the
woods, by a fire-side which they lighted.

But in the midnight Christopher, who was exceeding fine-eared, had an
inkling of someone moving afoot anigh him, and he awoke therewith, and
sprang up, his drawn short-sword in his hand, and found himself face to
face with Simon, and he also with his sword drawn. Simon sprang aback,
but held up his sword-point, and Christopher, not yet fully awake, cried
out: "What wouldst thou? What is it?"

Simon answered, stammering and all abashed: "Didst thou not hear then?
it wakened me."

"I heard nought," said Christopher; "what was it?"

"Horses going in the wood," said Simon

"Ah, yea," said Christopher, "it will have been the wild colts and the
mares; they harbour about these marsh-land par