t to-morrow
night?"

"I have little fancy for it," replied Richmond; "and if you will be
ruled by me, you will not attempt the enterprise yourself."

"My resolution is taken," said the earl; "but now, since we have reached
the brow of the hill, let us push forward to the lake."

A rapid ride of some twenty minutes brought them to the edge of
the lake, and they proceeded along the verdant path leading to the
forester's hut. On arriving at the dwelling, it appeared wholly
deserted, but they nevertheless dismounted, and tying their horses
to the trees at the back of the cottage, entered it. While they were
examining the lower room, the plash of oars reached their ears, and
rushing to the window, they descried the skiff rapidly approaching the
shore. A man was seated within it, whose attire, though sombre, seemed
to proclaim him of some rank, but as his back was towards them, they
could not discern his features. In another instant the skiff touched the
strand, and the rower leaping ashore, proved to be Sir Thomas Wyat.
On making this discovery they both ran out to him, and the warmest
greetings passed between them. When these were over, Surrey expressed
his surprise to Wyat at seeing him there, declaring he was wholly
unaware of his return from the court of France.

"I came back about a month ago," said Wyat. "His majesty supposes me at
Allington; nor shall I return to court without a summons."

"I am not sorry to hear it," said Surrey; "but what are you doing here?"

"My errand is a strange and adventurous one," replied Wyat. "You may
have heard that before I departed for France I passed some days in the
forest in company with Herne the Hunter. What then happened to me I may
not disclose; but I vowed never to rest till I have freed this forest
from the weird being who troubles it."

"Say you so?" cried Surrey; "then you are most fortunately encountered,
Sir Thomas, for I myself, as Richmond will tell you, am equally bent
upon the fiend's expulsion. We will be companions in the adventure."

"We will speak of that anon," replied Wyat. "I was sorry to find this
cottage uninhabited, and the fair damsel who dwelt within it, when I
beheld it last, gone. What has become of her?

"It is a strange story," said Richmond. And he proceeded to relate all
that was known to have befallen Mabel.

Wyat listened with profound attention to the recital, and at its close,
said, "I think I can find a clue to this mystery, but to obta