pardon, not
I," said Hugh. "But be that as it may, what of Eve?"

"Fear not for Eve, son, for here she bides in sanctuary until the
Frenchman is out of England, or perchance," he added grimly, "under
English soil."

"Ay, ay, we'll guard the maid," broke in Master de Cressi. "Come! to
saddle ere you be trapped."

So they descended to a back entrance, and through it into the courtyard,
where the four armed men waited with six good horses, one of them Hugh's
own. Here he bade farewell to his brothers, to his father, who kissed
him on the brow, and to Sir Andrew, who stretched his hand above his
head in blessing. Then he turned to Eve and was about to embrace
her even before that company, when Sir Andrew looked at him, and,
remembering the penance that had been laid upon him, he but pressed her
hand, whispering:

"God be with you, sweetheart!"

"He is with us all, but I would that you could be with me also," she
answered in the same low voice. "Still, man must forth to battle
and woman must wait and watch, for that is the world's way. Whate'er
befalls, remember that dead or living I'll be wife to no man but you.
Begone now ere my heart fails me, and guard yourself well, remembering
that you bear in your breast not one life, but two."

Then Hugh swung himself to the saddle of which Grey Dick had already
tested the girths and stirrup leathers. In another minute the six of
them were clattering over the stones of Middlegate Street, while the
burgesses of Dunwich peeped from their window places, wondering what
knight with armed men rode through their town thus early.

Just as the grey dawn broke they passed the gate, which, there being
peace in the land, was already open. Fifteen minutes later they were
on the lonely Westleton Heath, where for a while naught was to be heard
save the scream of the curlew and the rush of the wings of the wild-duck
passing landward from the sea. Presently, however, another sound reached
their ears, that of horses galloping behind them. Grey Dick pulled rein
and listened.

"Seven, I think, not more," he said. "Now, master, do you stand or run,
for these will be Clavering horses?"

Hugh thought for a moment. His aim was not to fight, but to get through
to London. Yet if he fled the pursuers would raise the country on them
as they came, so that in the end they must be taken, since those who
followed would find fresh horses.

"It seems best to stand," he said.

"So say I," answered Grey