t, my child," replied the lady bravely. "Heaven will protect us
when none else can."

"But do not robbers abound in these woods? Have I not heard you say
so?"

"It is true; but they will not hurt thee or me. Remember whose son thou
art."

"Ay, I am the king's son; but I would fain have a morsel to eat."

Just then there was a crackling among the underwood, and a sound of
voices approaching the spot.

The boy clutched his mother's hand and trembled. She stood pale and
motionless.

The sound of feet grew nearer, and presently the voices of those who
spoke became distinguishable.

"Some will be sure to find their way to this wood," said one.

"I hope such as do may have full purses," said another. "I have taken
nothing these three days."

"Ay, truly, and these wars have made folk so poor, they are not worth
robbing when we do find them."

"Soft! methought I heard a voice!" suddenly said one of the speakers.

The band halted and listened, and then, hearing nothing, pushed on.

"It's as likely as not we might fall in with royalty itself this night,
for I hear the king's rout has been complete at Hexham."

"And more than that, he has fled from the field in one direction, while
his queen and son have sought another!"

"Hist!" again cried he who had spoken before. "I certainly heard a
voice. This way, my men; follow me."

And advancing at as rapid a pace as the wooded ground allowed of, he
conducted them in the direction of the voices. Suddenly they emerged
into a clearing, where confronted them the lady and her boy.

Loud laughed these greedy robbers, for they spied the jewels on the
lady's person and the rich robes on her and her son.

Like cowardly ruffians, as _they_ were, they rushed forward, heedless of
the sex or age of their victims, and threatening to slay them should
they resist, tore away jewels, and gold, and silk--all that was of
value, roughly handling the two in so doing, and meeting every attempt
to speak or resist with the menace of a drawn sword.

It was a rich plunder, for the lady's jewels were large and precious,
and, besides, she bore about her no small quantity of gold and other
treasure. When they had taken all they could lay their wicked hands on,
the men fell to dividing among themselves their ill-gotten booty,
glorying as they did so in their crime, and laughing brutally at the
expense of their two defenceless victims.

As might be supposed, the task of dividing the sp