rd of pity, when, in a
moment, half-a-dozen knights leapt over to fulfil her unspoken wish.
With this accession of strength the captive was easily freed, and a
queer figure he was. It would have been difficult for a stranger to
have determined exactly what he was; for, covered as he was to the
depth of several inches with black mud, he looked more like an animal
of prehistoric times--such as we see represented by fossils--than any
human being.

De Lacey was promptly rolled upon the turf, and the pages set to work
and endeavoured to reach his person by scraping away the adhesive
slime with the aid of sticks and stones.

"Get up, man, get up," exclaimed Sir George. "Here is Doll waiting to
honour thee with a dance."

Dorothy shrank back, while Sir John, utterly exhausted, sank back
again helplessly upon the ground. Seeing that he was totally unable
to walk of his own accord, and in too dirty a condition to lean
upon anyone's arm, a rough extempore litter was made, upon which the
unfortunate knight was set and carried away, loudly lamenting the
unkindness of the fate which had brought him to such a sorry plight.

"And now let us see what we can do for De la Zouch," said Sir George
Vernon, and they proceeded to the spot where the injured knight was
lying.

"How now, Sir Henry? What's this, any bones broken, eh? How did you do
it, man; was it here?" and having delivered himself of this string of
questions, the King of the Peak leaned against the wall and awaited
the reply.

"More hurt than injured, I believe," replied the other, "but Eustace
here will tell thee all about it;" and Eustace, who had carefully got
the story by heart, recounted how, when they were after a fine bevy
of quail, his master's pole had snapped as he was springing up, and
instead of clearing the wall he had fallen heavily against it.

The pole, broken in twain, which lay upon the grass close by, attested
the truth of the statement.

"Sir Benedict," exclaimed the baron, "thou art somewhat learned in
leechcraft; see if thou canst do aught. Tell us what is amiss."

A Woode stooped down, and after a prolonged examination he gave it as
his opinion that some of his friend's ribs were broken.

Another litter was quickly made up and De la Zouch, who was now
feeling the full effects of the injuries he had received, and who in
reality stood in need of assistance, was placed upon it and carried
off in the wake of Sir John de Lacey.

Leaving them to