"The scent of something burnt or burning?"

"I have perceived it."

"Ah, here it is," and the three stopped short. They had just turned
the corner to which they had alluded. A thin smoke still arose from
the spot where the cottage had stood.

They all paused; then, without a word, hurried on ward by a common
impulse. They only found the smoking embers of the dwelling they
had come to seek.

"This is Drogo's doing," said Ralph of Herstmonceux.

"Could he have heard of our intentions?" said the mayor.

"No, but--he might have learned that poor Madge was a penitent, and
then--" said Martin.

"Well, our work is done, and as the country is not over safe so
near the lion's den--"

("Wolf's den, you mean," interrupted Ralph--)

"And we have come unattended, the sooner we retire the better."

"Too late!" said a stern voice: and Drogo stood before them.

"My Lord of Walderne, this is ill pleasantry," said Ralph.

"'Pleasantry,' you call it, well. So it is for those who win."

He whistled shrill,
And quick was answered from the hill;
That whistle garrisoned the glen,
With twice a hundred armed men.

In short, the three travellers were surrounded on all sides. Their
errand had been betrayed by one of Drogo's outlying scouts.

"What is thy purpose, Drogo?" said Martin.

"Do ye yield yourselves prisoners?"

"On what compulsion?"

"Force, the right that rules the world."

"And what pretext for using it?" said Ralph, drawing his sword.

"I should advise thee not to touch thy weapon, unless thy skill is
proof against an arrow. In a word, Ralph of Herstmonceux, art thou
for the king or the barons?"

"Thou knowest--the barons."

"And I for the king; no more need be said. Yield to ransom.

"I will not give my sword to thee," and Ralph flung it into a pond.

"And what right hast thou to arrest me?" said the mayor.

"Good mayor, hast thou not stirred up thy town of Hamelsham, thy
puissant butchers and bakers, to resist the good king and to send
aid to the rebellious Earl of Leicester, may the fiends rive him!
Wherefore I might, without further parley, hang thee to this beech,
which never bore a worthier acorn."

"Yes, hang him for the general amusement," said several deep
voices.

"Nay, dead men pay no ransom, and we will make his beer-swilling,
beef-eating brother burghers pay a good sum for his fat body.

"Thou hast thy choice, mayor. Ransom or rope?"

"Seeing I must choose, ransom; but rate me not