road balcony, appeared in sight. It had evidently been a
hunting-lodge in olden times, and from the balcony ladies fair used to
shoot with cross-bow, or, perhaps, in later times with fire-arms, at the
deer as they were driven past. An old man and woman, apparently as old
as the building itself, came forth at the sound of the horses' hoofs.
They looked somewhat askance at Jack, but welcomed Burdale as an
acquaintance.

"You can give us shelter for the night, Master Rymer, I hope," he said,
jumping from his horse. "Here, I will help look after the steeds, while
your dame shows my companion the way into your house."

The old couple continued to cast somewhat doubtful glances at Jack.

"Have no fear," said Burdale; "he is of the right sort, and no risk of
his peaching, even if he did find out any thing he should not know."

With this assurance, as soon as Jack dismounted, the old man took his
horse, and accompanied Burdale round the tower to the stables. The
dame, meantime, beckoned to Jack to follow her. A flight of dilapidated
stone steps led them up to the entrance-hall, which occupied the whole
of one floor of the tower. A rough stair led to another floor above it;
and Jack observed the top of a flight of steps of more pretensions,
descending apparently to chambers below.

"Sit down, young sir," said the dame, pointing to an old oak chair.
"Thou wilt be hungry after thy long ride; and I will prepare a steak for
you and Ned Burdale."

The view from the window of the tower was confined on all sides by the
forest, through which, however, here and there glades opened out for
some distance, up which, in former days, the deer were accustomed to
sweep by, and afford an opportunity to fair dames and lords to exercise
their skill with their fowling-pieces. Already the sun was sinking
beneath the tops of the trees; and Jack began to fear that he should not
have time to reach Harwood Grange before the night altogether closed in.
He waited impatiently, therefore, for the return of Burdale, purposing
to set off immediately his horse should have had its food and enjoyed a
short rest. His companion, however, was longer than he expected, and by
the time he arrived the meal prepared by the old dame was almost ready.

"Take my advice," said Burdale: "remain here quietly to-night, and
to-morrow you will be able to visit the Grange, and give our horses
sufficient time to rest, that we may continue our journey into
Lincolnshi