d then a huge rosary of wood,
heavy enough to be counted as a weapon.

"Here," he said, "is for you. On with them!"

And then, when Dick had clothed himself in this clerical disguise,
Lawless produced some colours and a pencil, and proceeded, with the
greatest cunning, to disguise his face. The eyebrows he thickened and
produced; to the moustache, which was yet hardly visible, he rendered a
little service; while, by a few lines around the eye, he changed the
expression and increased the apparent age of this young monk.

"Now," he resumed, "when I have done the like, we shall make as bonny a
pair of friars as the eye could wish. Boldly to Sir Daniel's we shall
go, and there be hospitably welcome for the love of Mother Church."

"And how, dear Lawless," cried the lad, "shall I repay you?"

"Tut, brother," replied the outlaw, "I do naught but for my pleasure.
Mind not for me. I am one, by the mass, that mindeth for himself. When
that I lack, I have a long tongue and a voice like the monastery
bell--I do ask, my son; and where asking faileth, I do most usually
take."

The old rogue made a humorous grimace; and although Dick was displeased
to lie under so great favours to so equivocal a personage, he was yet
unable to restrain his mirth.

With that, Lawless returned to the big chest, and was soon similarly
disguised; but, below his gown, Dick wondered to observe him conceal a
sheaf of black arrows.

"Wherefore do ye that?" asked the lad. "Wherefore arrows, when ye take
no bow?"

"Nay," replied Lawless, lightly, "'tis like there will be heads
broke--not to say backs--ere you and I win sound from where we're going
to; and if any fall, I would our fellowship should come by the credit
on't. A black arrow, Master Dick, is the seal of our abbey; it showeth
you who writ the bill."

"An ye prepare so carefully," said Dick, "I have here some papers that,
for mine own sake, and the interest of those that trusted me, were
better left behind than found upon my body. Where shall I conceal them,
Will?"

"Nay," replied Lawless, "I will go forth into the wood and whistle me
three verses of a song; meanwhile, do you bury them where ye please, and
smooth the sand upon the place."

"Never!" cried Richard. "I trust you, man. I were base indeed if I not
trusted you."

"Brother, y'are but a child," replied the old outlaw, pausing and
turning his face upon Dick from the threshold of the den. "I am a kind
old Christian, and no tra