he stable, and plunged
through the pool into the lake."

"Hell's malison upon them, and upon you both!" cried Herne. "But you
shall pay dearly for your heedlessness,--if, indeed, it has not been
something worse. How long have they been gone?"

"It may be two hours," replied Fenwolf.

"Go to the cave," cried Herne, "and await my return there; and if I
recover not the prize, woe betide you both!"

And with these words, he vaunted upon his steed and disappeared.

"And woe betide you too, false fiend!" cried Fenwolf. "When you come
back you shall meet with a welcome you little expect. Would we had fired
the train, Tristram, even though we had perished with him!"

"It will be time enough to fire it on his return," replied the old
forester; "it is but postponing our vengeance for a short time. And now
to fix our positions. I will take my station in yon brake."

"And I in that hollow tree," said Fenwolf. "Whoever first beholds him
shall fire the train."

"Agreed!" replied Tristram. "Let us now descend to the cave and see that
all is right in the magazine, and then we will return and hold ourselves
in readiness for action."

VII.

How the Train was fired, and what followed the Explosion.

About ten o'clock in the night under consideration, Surrey and Richmond,
accompanied by the Duke of Shoreditch, and half a dozen other archers,
set out from the castle, and took their way along the great park, in the
direction of the lake.

They had not ridden far, when they were overtaken by two horsemen who,
as far as they could be discerned in that doubtful light, appeared
stalwart personages, and well mounted, though plainly attired. The
new-comers very unceremoniously joined them.

"There are ill reports of the park, my masters," said the foremost of
these persons to Surrey, "and we would willingly ride with you across
it."

"But our way may not be yours, friend," replied Surrey, who did not
altogether relish this proposal. "We are not going farther than the
lake."

"Our road lies in that direction," replied the other, "and, if you
please, we will bear you company as far as we go. Come, tell me
frankly," he added, after a pause, "are you not in search of Herne the
Hunter?"

"Why do you ask, friend?" rejoined the earl somewhat angrily.

"Because if so," replied the other, "I shall be right glad to join you,
and so will my friend, Tony Cryspyn, who is close behind me. I have an
old grudge to settle with t