would think was
naught when set against a rapier. Nevertheless I made such play with it,
that presently I knocked Jasper's weapon clean out of his hand so that
he could not recover it. And after that I seized him by the throat and
beat with my cudgel until he roared and begged for mercy, beseeching me
not to kill him.

"Have no fear, cousin," said I, still laying on to him, "I will not kill
thee, for I would have thee repent of all thy misdeeds."

And with that I gave him two or three sound cuts and then flung him from
me against the wall, where he lay groaning and cursing me.

After that I saw Jasper Stapleton no more. He never showed his face in
Beechcot again, and in a few days his mother, Dame Barbara, disappeared
also; and so they vanished out of my life, and I was glad of it, for
they had worked me much mischief.

When I reached the manor-house I let myself in by a secret way that I
knew of and went straight to the great hall, where sat my uncle, Sir
Thurstan, wrapped in cloaks and rugs, before a great fire of wood. He
was all alone, and hearing my step he half turned his head.

"Is that Jasper?" he inquired.

"Nay, sir," said I. "It is I--Humphrey--and I am come home again."

And I went forward and kneeled down before him and put my hands on his
knees.

For a moment he stared at me as men stare at ghosts, then he gave a
great sob of delight, stretched out his arms, put them about my neck,
and wept over me like a woman.

"Oh lad, lad!" said he. "If thou didst but know how this old heart did
grieve for thy sake. And thou art here, well and strong, and I did cause
thy name to be graven on thy parents' tombstone!"

"Never mind, sir," said I, "we can cut it out again. Anyway I am not
dead, but I have seen some rare and terrible adventures."

"Sit thyself down at my side," quoth he, "and tell me all about them.
Alive and well--yes, and two inches taller, as I live! Well, I thank God
humbly. But thou art hungry, poor boy,--what ho! where are those
rascals? Call for them, Humphrey,--thou must be famished."

"All in good time, sir," said I, and went over to the rope which led to
the great bell and pulled it vigorously, so that the clangor filled the
park below with stirring sound. And Geoffrey Scales, waiting impatiently
at the inn, heard it and ran round with the news, and they rang the
church bells, and every soul in Beechcot that could walk came hurrying
to the manor and would have audience of me in the