d to be prepared for the
event. Will, being the mouthpiece of the party, and accustomed,
moreover, at times to a precise and methodical manner of delivery, was
the chief speaker.

"Sir, we arrest you for high treason. You are charged with firing off
beacons without our privity or consent, thereby endangering the safety
of the lord abbot, and the peaceable governing of this realm." He
paused, quaking even at his own eloquence; but the stranger made no
reply, till, throwing aside his cloak, he drew out a hagbut or
demi-hague as it was sometimes called, being a sort of small harquebuss,
with its match ready kindled.

"Tell the Abbot of Whalley that neither ye nor the whole horde of drones
and drivellers about his hive, shall take me against my own liberty and
consent. Hold back! Your first step, is your last, save to your grave! I
will see the abbot shortly, but not by your grace or assistance." Saying
this, he bounded down the steep like the roused deer, in its first pride
of flight, scorning the chase. The light flashing from his weapons
marked his form rapidly receding from their grasp.

But Ralph, who, as we may suppose, was minded to imitate the evolutions
of his master, being it seemed of a more heavy and considerate
demeanour, paused for a space ere he leapt.

This deliberation was fatal to his enterprise. The enemy, recovering
from their confusion, seized him in default of his master, and without
further ado bore him away as a visible acquittance of themselves to the
abbot. There could be no great harm in throwing the blame of this
unlucky affair on the companion of the escaped incendiary: besides, it
would be an effective lesson to him on the danger of keeping bad
company.

Through bog and brake, over moor and mountain, they hurried on with
their prisoner, who, dooming them all to "clootie" and his imps, and
commending himself to Michael, Mary, and a number of his especial
patrons in the Romish calendar, was urged forward with more than their
usual speed.

The blaze had ceased to be visible when they came to the last descent
towards the village. Far and wide the alarm had spread; consternation
and inquiry were on every countenance. The guards were besieged with
anxious faces, supplicating intelligence, and much impeded thereby in
their progress to the abbey.

Outside the gates they found a dense crowd waiting for the news. The
abbot and his brethren were in close council, expecting every moment the
arriv