t a pace which taxed to the utmost the strength
of the wounded men. Geoffrey and his party returned in high spirits to
Southwark.

On the Monday Walter went over to Richmond, accompanied by the armourers
and by the lads who had been in the boat with him. The nine ruffians,
strongly guarded, were brought up in the justice room. Walter first
gave his evidence, and related how he had overheard a portion of the
conversation, which led him to believe that an attack would be made upon
the boat coming down the river.

"Can you identify either of the prisoners as being the man whom you saw
at the door of the hut?"

"No," Walter said. "When I first saw him I was too far off to make out
his face. When he left the hut it was dark."

"Should you know the other man, the one who was addressed as sir knight,
if you saw him again?"

"I should," Walter replied. He then gave an account of the attack upon
the boat, but said that in the suddenness of the affair and the growing
darkness he noticed none of the figures distinctly enough to recognize
them again. Two or three of the other apprentices gave similar testimony
as to the attack.

A gentleman then presented himself, and gave his name as Sir William
de Hertford. He said that he had come at the request of the Lady Alice
Vernon, who was still suffering from the effects of the wound and
immersion. She had requested him to say that at some future occasion she
would appear to testify, but that in the confusion and suddenness of
the attack she had noticed no faces in the boat which assailed them, and
could identify none concerned in the affair.

The justice who had headed the attack on the hut then gave his evidence
as to that affair, the armourer also relating the incidents of the
conflict.

"The prisoners will be committed for trial," the justice said. "At
present there is no actual proof that any of them were concerned in
this murderous outrage beyond the fact that they were taken in the place
where it was planned. The suspicion is strong that some at least were
engaged in it. Upon the persons of all of them were valuable daggers,
chains, and other ornaments, which could not have been come by honestly,
and I doubt not that they form part of the gang which has so long been a
terror to peaceful travelers alike by the road and river, and it may
be that some who have been robbed will be able to identify the articles
taken upon them. They are committed for trial: firstly, as hav