chimed in Sir George. "Well, some folks like one thing
and some another, there's no accounting for tastes."

The landlord scouted the proposal at once. He felt that somehow he was
on his mettle, and it was incumbent upon him to vindicate the honour
of his house. "Had the kind nobleman been possessed of a better
acquaintance with him," he said, "he would have known that it was not
in his nature to be overcome by trifles. Things, thank goodness, were
managed better than that at the Cock hostelry," and to support his
statement he wiped away the perspiration from his brow, and made a
further attempt to reach it down.

Edmund's feelings during these critical moments would be easier to
imagine than describe. Every moment he expected that the bundle would
be lifted off, and he anticipated the mortification of being dragged
out and being brought face to face with the man whom he now most
dreaded. As the other advanced and the unstable walls of his shelter
quivered until they threatened to fall upon him, he crouched down
further and further into the corner, preferring rather to be buried
under the solid squares of hay than to be discovered in such a
position. Sir Thomas' words inspired him with a ray of hope, but his
expectations were dashed as suddenly as they had arisen by the words
of the baron and the action of the busy landlord, who, all unconscious
of the torture he was inflicting, struggled valiantly on towards his
quarry.

At last his perseverance was rewarded, and he found himself able to
grasp the object of his toil; but Edmund as he felt the protecting
roof of hay departing, snatched at the withes which bound it round,
and dragged it down with all his might.

In vain did the furious landlord pull and tug. Try as he would, it
would not move an inch, and he was about to give it up in disgust and
offer some reason for his lack of success, when Stanley again came to
his aid.

"Stand aside, man; thou art too old for such a task, and too fat, too,
perchance. Let me get it out. Odd's fish, my good fellow, but there's
been much to do about a little thing. Here it is, see."

Edmund had, for the moment relaxed his hold, and it was at precisely
that same moment that Sir Thomas Staley took hold of the top of the
bundle to pull it up. There was but one chance left, and although it
promised a little hope of success, he deemed his position desperate
enough to warrant him in attempting it. He decided to leap out
simultaneous