ing that was at hand to a
missile, and rained pots, pans, and pipkins on the armed heads of the
enemy. The baron raged like a tiger, and the cottager laid about him
like a thresher. One of the soldiers struck Robin's sword from his hand
and brought him on his knee, when the boy, who had been roused by the
tumult and had been peeping through the inner door, leaped forward in
his shirt, picked up the sword and replaced it in Robin's hand, who
instantly springing up, disarmed and wounded one of his antagonists,
while the other was laid prostrate under the dint of a brass cauldron
launched by the Amazonian dame. Robin now turned to the aid of Marian,
who was parrying most dexterously the cuts and slashes of her two
assailants, of whom Robin delivered her from one, while a well-applied
blow of her sword struck off the helmet of the other, who fell on his
knees to beg a boon, and she recognised Sir Ralph Montfaucon. The men
who were engaged with the baron and the peasant, seeing their leader
subdued, immediately laid down their arms and cried for quarter. The
wife brought some strong rope, and the baron tied their arms behind
them.

"Now, Sir Ralph," said Marian, "once more you are at my mercy."

"That I always am, cruel beauty," said the discomfited lover.

"Odso! courteous knight," said the baron, "is this the return you make
for my beef and canary, when you kissed my daughter's hand in token of
contrition for your intermeddling at her wedding? Heart, I am glad to
see she has given you a bloody coxcomb. Slice him down, Mawd! slice him
down, and fling him into the river."

"Confess," said Marian, "what brought you here, and how did you trace
our steps?"

"I will confess nothing," said the knight.

"Then confess you, rascal," said the baron, holding his sword to the
throat of the captive squire.

"Take away the sword," said the squire, "it is too near my mouth, and
my voice will not come out for fear: take away the sword, and I will
confess all." The baron dropped his sword, and the squire proceeded;
"Sir Ralph met you, as you quitted Lady Falkland's castle, and by
representing to her who you were, borrowed from her such a number of
her retainers as he deemed must ensure your capture, seeing that your
familiar the friar was not at your elbow. We set forth without delay,
and traced you first by means of a peasant who saw you turn into this
valley, and afterwards by the light from the casement of this solitary
dwelling