companions he
restrained his fury, promising himself that his punishment should lose
nothing by the fact of it being reserved to another and a safer time.
It was with difficulty that he had contented himself with returning
so mild an answer, but the man's retort drove him at once beyond the
bounds of prudence and patience, and made him utterly reckless.

"Mayhap you have," returned the man incredulously, "but I'll warrant
me it was no fault of thine. You showed us some of your skill just
now."

"I will prove it," shouted the knight, furiously, and, suiting the
action to the word, he seized hold of the nearest weapon, a stout ash
stick, and advancing towards the dazed and bleeding esquire, he dealt
him a blow on the head which stretched him insensible upon the turf.

"Coward!" cried the man, springing forward from among his companions.
"You are the coward. I will be no party to such a cold-blooded murder
as this," and his bosom swelled with indignation as he turned round to
his companions and pointed to where Manners lay.

"Who says I am a coward? Who dares to speak such insolence?" demanded
De la Zouch, trembling all over with rage.

"I do, and I repeat it," replied the other, bending over the prostrate
form of his late antagonist.

For a moment Sir Henry stood in speechless amazement at such
unlooked-for presumption, and then suddenly raising his weapon, he
brought it down upon his offending servant, and stretched him beside
the object of his sympathy.

"Who says I am a coward now?" he fiercely asked, turning upon the
abashed companions of the latest victim of his temper.

Whatever the others thought, they wisely held their peace, and,
terrified and cowed by the lesson their lord had taught them, they
silently raised the two inanimate bodies, and, according to their
instructions, proceeded to rejoin Dorothy and her guard ere they began
their journey back to the castle at Ashby.

* * * * *

CHAPTER XXII.

ON A FALSE SCENT.

I can counterfeit the deep tragedian!
Speak, and look back, and pry on every side,
Tremble, and start at wagging of a straw.
Pretending deep suspicion; ghastly looks
Are at my service like enforced smiles,
And both are ready in their offices,
At any time to grace my stratagems.

SHAKESPEARE.

Dorothy Vernon had impatiently awaited the conclusion of the
contest, and the prodigious amount of faith she had in her lover's
capabi