the wine untasted.

"How!" he cried, in a changed voice. "Selden? Speak! What of Selden?"

Dick stammered forth the tale of the ambush and the massacre.

The knight heard in silence; but as he listened, his countenance became
convulsed with rage and grief.

"Now here," he cried, "on my right hand, I swear to avenge it! If that I
fail, if that I spill not ten men's souls for each, may this hand wither
from my body! I broke this Duckworth like a rush; I beggared him to his
door; I burned the thatch above his head; I drove him from this country;
and now, cometh he back to beard me? Nay, but, Duckworth, this time it
shall go bitter hard!"

He was silent for some time, his face working.

"Eat!" he cried, suddenly. "And you here," he added to Matcham, "swear
me an oath to follow straight to the Moat House."

"I will pledge mine honour," replied Matcham.

"What make I with your honour?" cried the knight. "Swear me upon your
mother's welfare!"

Matcham gave the required oath; and Sir Daniel readjusted the hood over
his face, and prepared his bell and staff. To see him once more in that
appalling travesty somewhat revived the horror of his two companions.
But the knight was soon upon his feet.

"Eat with despatch," he said, "and follow me yarely to mine house."

And with that he set forth again into the woods; and presently after the
bell began to sound, numbering his steps, and the two lads sat by their
untasted meal, and heard it die slowly away up-hill into the distance.

"And so ye go to Tunstall?" Dick inquired.

"Yea, verily," said Matcham, "when needs must! I am braver behind Sir
Daniel's back than to his face."

They ate hastily, and set forth along the path through the airy upper
levels of the forest, where great beeches stood apart among green lawns,
and the birds and squirrels made merry on the boughs. Two hours later,
they began to descend upon the other side, and already, among the
tree-tops, saw before them the red walls and roofs of Tunstall House.

"Here," said Matcham, pausing, "ye shall take your leave of your friend
Jack, whom y'are to see no more. Come, Dick, forgive him what he did
amiss, as he, for his part, cheerfully and lovingly forgiveth you."

"And wherefore so?" asked Dick. "An we both go to Tunstall, I shall see
you yet again, I trow, and that right often."

"Ye'll never again see poor Jack Matcham," replied the other, "that was
so fearful and burthensome, and yet plucked you from