e will come a time when
we shall want to think of supper and of bed, for we can't go on riding
all night even if we are undisturbed. Now then, Saint Simon, what have
you to say?"

The young man slowly shook his head.

"Bah!" cried the King. "What a dumb dog you are! And I know nothing of
the way. I begin to feel that we ought to have had old Leoni with us,
after all. He has maps, and knowledge always ready in his brain; and he
speaks these islanders' language better than they can themselves. But
he would only have been in the way, and I wanted freedom. Here, Denis,
boy, what have you to say? Where shall we sleep to-night?"

"I had scarcely time, sir, to mark down our course, and the only place I
can recall is one called Hurstham."

"Ah!" cried the King. "What of that?"

"I know nothing, sir, except that there is a good road over hills and
through forests, and that there is a castle there."

"Then that will do," cried the King. "Once within its walls we can
laugh at thieves and murderers. There, boy, you have your task before
you: lead us there."

"But I do not know the way, sir. Would it not be best to get a guide
from the first village we ride through?"

"Excellent!" cried the King--"for him to lead us straight into the den
of the forest outlaws."

"It would be his last journey, sir," said Saint Simon grimly, as he
significantly touched the hilt of his sword.

"And what good would that do us," said the King, "if we never saw
to-morrow's sun? Here, I must lead. Look out sharp, both of you, for
the next guide-post or stone. I will warrant that those old Romans
planted some of them beside the road, telling the way to London."

"Yes, sir," said Denis drily, "but it will soon be dark."

"Ah, well, we must chance everything. I don't believe that we shall
find the road unsafe; but even if it is we must keep to it all the same.
It will lead us somewhere, and--hah! here comes the moon!"

It was a welcome light for the travellers, who rode slowly on to ease
their steeds, for as the King said, they had all the night before them,
and sooner or later, even if they did not reach the castle, they were
sure to pass upon this direct road to London some good town where they
might venture to stay. But the miles seemed to grow longer, the country
more hilly, wild and strange, and, in spite of all endeavours to keep
bravely to their task, the two young men had the weight of the past
night's watch upon their