ful sum,
as befits me, I being his heir and about to wed his daughter. However,
I shall do all that in me lies to get the poor old seignior out of the
hands of the rogues. Saints defend me!"

"The poor old seignior is much beholden to thee," said Master Headley,
advancing amid a clamour of exclamations from three or four serving-men
or grooms, one protesting that he thought his master was with him,
another that his horse ran away with him, one showing an arm which was
actually being bound up, and the youth declaring that he rode off to
bring help.

"Well wast thou bringing it," Master Headley answered. "I might be
still standing bound like an eagle displayed, against yonder tree, for
aught you fellows reeked."

"Nay, sir, the odds--" began the youth.

"Odds! such odds as were put to rout--by what, deem you? These two
striplings and one poor hound. Had but one of you had the heart of a
sparrow, ye had not furnished a tale to be the laugh of the Barbican and
Cheapside. Look well at them. How old be you, my brave lads?"

"I shall be sixteen come Lammas day, and Stephen fifteen at Martinmas
day, sir," said Ambrose; "but verily we did nought. We could have done
nought had not the thieves thought more were behind us."

"There are odds between going forward and backward," said Master
Headley, dryly. "Ha! Art hurt? Thou bleedst," he exclaimed, laying
his hand on Stephen's shoulder, and drawing him to the light.

"'Tis no blood of mine," said Stephen, as Ambrose likewise came to join
in the examination. "It is my poor Spring's. He took the coward's
blow. His was all the honour, and we have left him there on the heath!"
And he covered his face with his hands.

"Come, come, my good child," said Master Headley; "we will back to the
place by times to-morrow when rogues hide and honest men walk abroad.
Thou shalt bury thine hound, as befits a good warrior, on the battle-
field. I would fain mark his points for the effigy we will frame,
honest Tibble, for Saint Julian. And mark ye, fellows, thou godson
Giles, above all, who 'tis that boast of their valour, and who 'tis that
be modest of speech. Yea, thanks, mine host. Let us to a chamber, and
give us water to wash away soil of travel and of fray, and then to
supper. Young masters, ye are my guests. Shame were it that Giles
Headley let go farther them that have, under Heaven and Saint Julian,
saved him in life, limb, and purse."

The inn was large, being