ce may befall us. Withal, hereabout be no wild horses to
wake thee and warn thee of thy foeman anigh. Let us press on; there is
a moon, though she be somewhat hidden by clouds, and meseemeth the way
lieth clear before me; neither are we a great way from the Tofts."

Then Simon rode close up to Christopher, and took his rein and stayed
him, and said to him, as one who prayeth: "Young man, willest thou my
death?"

"That is as it may be," said Christopher; "willest thou mine?"

Simon held his peace awhile, and Christopher might not see what was in
his face amidst the gathering dusk; but he twitched his rein out of the
squire's hand, as if he would hasten onward; then the squire said: "Nay,
I pray thee abide and hear a word of me."

"Speak then," said Christopher, "but hasten, for I hunger, and I would
we were in the hall." And therewith he laughed.

Said Simon: "Thus it is: if I go back to my lord and bear no token of
having done his errand to Jack of the Tofts, then am I in evil case; and
if I come to the Tofts, I wot well that Jack is a man fierce of heart,
and ready of hand: now, therefore, I pray thee give me thy word to be my
warrant, so far as thou mayst be, with this woodman and his sons."

At that word Christopher brake out a-laughing loudly, till all the dusk
wood rang with the merry sound of his fresh voice; at last he said:
"Well, well, thou art but a craven to be a secret murderer: the Lord God
would have had an easy bargain of Cain, had he been such as thou. Come
on, and do thine errand to Jack of the Tofts, and I will hold thee
harmless, so far as I may. Though, sooth to say, I guessed what thine
errand was, after the horses waked thee and put a naked sword in thine
hand last night. Marry! I had no inkling of it when we left the Castle
yesterday morning, but deemed thy lord needed me to do him some service.
Come on then! or rather go thou on before me a pace; there, where thou
seest the glimmer betwixt the beech-trees yonder; if thou goest astray,
I am anigh thee for a guide. And I say that we shall not go far without
tidings."

Simon went on perforce, as he was bidden, and they rode thus a while
slowly, Christopher now and then crying, as they went: "To the right,
squire! To the left! Straight on now!" and so on. But suddenly they
heard voices, and it was as if the wood had all burst out into fire, so
bright a light shone out. Christopher shouted, and hastened on to pass
Simon, going quite close to hi