party of huntsmen, some
mounted, some on foot, broke through the glade at the very spot where we
stood.

It was not the bishop's men; but to my horror I recognised in the
leading horseman, his worship the Mayor.

At sight of me in my cap and gown, and of my comrade with his bow and
the dead fox, and of the horse tethered to the tree--(the bishop's horse
had strayed, I know not whither)--the hunters raised a loud cry, and
closed upon us.

"Seize the varlets," cried the mayor, "they are caught at last. By my
life, a scholar, too. If he smart not for this, and something else,
call me a dullard."

I saw by that he did not recognise me, although he cherished a lively
memory of that morning's adventure.

My comrade, somewhat to my surprise, submitted quietly to superior
numbers, and I was fain to do the like. It were better to be punished
for poaching, than to be arraigned before the High Court of Star Chamber
for publishing seditious libels.

"Bring them away, bring them away," cried the mayor, who was in no
amiable mood. "I warrant they shall learn one lesson well, for once in
their lives. Scholars indeed! a parcel of lewd, blood-thirsty, poaching
scoundrels, with no more conscience than a London apprentice. Come,
away with them to the city."

At this a gay young stripling rode up.

"Father," he said, "is our day's sport to be spoiled for a brace of
rogues like these? Surely they will keep an hour or two, while we have
our chase. Let some one guard them in the ranger's house, and we can
take them up with us as we return at evening."

His young companions seconded his request. So the Mayor, who would have
enjoyed more to clap us in the pillory than to win half the antlers in
Shotover woods, consented, and bade three of his men conduct us to the
ranger's lodge hard by, and keep us there till the party returned.

I saw my comrade's eye light up at this, but he said nothing; and
looking very crestfallen and abashed we followed our guard, with hands
tied, and heard the huntsmen's horns tantivy merrily away for their
day's sport.

The ranger's lodge was a hut of but a single room, into which our
keepers thrust us with little ceremony, and made to the door. They were
stout men, all of them, and carried cross bows, besides the daggers at
their girdles. We heard them grumble angrily to be baulked of their
day's sport by a couple of college boys like us, and to be shut up here
all day long with neither drin