on hast thou
committed this foul treason against our house, and the good prospering
of this realm?"

"The deed was not mine."

"Believe him not, my lord,--we are upon our testimony," said the
accusers.

Ralph, turning aside, met them face to face. He commenced a short but
shrewd examination, as follows:--

"You were a-watching, I suppose?" said he, carelessly.

"Ay, were we," sharply replied three or four ready tongues.

"Then, how could I fire the beacon without your leave?" A short pause
evinced their dislike to this question; but Will, more ready than
discreet, soon summoned assurance to meet the inquiry, thus--

"My lord, we had just taken them into the hut, thinking to show them a
courtesy; but that knave's throat holds more liquor than his mother's
kneading-trough, or"--

"If in the hut, how could I set the beacon in a low?"

"But thou hadst a companion," hastily shouted Nicholas, finding their
first position untenable.

"And how comes it to pass that ye be taking or guiding thither any
person, and more particularly wayfarers, whom we know not? How comes it,
I say, that ye suffer this without my permission?" said the abbot,
sternly.

"Will was their guide; and we cared not to refuse your reverence's
messenger."

"My messenger!" returned Paslew, with a glance that almost bent them to
the ground.

"Please your highness," said Will, falling on his knees, "the stranger
was a-visiting of the beacons, so said he, to know if they were
carefully watched. He came to me, as with an authority from your
reverence, and I mounted them up to the guard-house, unwillingly enough.
'Tis a sore pull for a pair of shanks like mine."

The abbot now saw plainly into the machinations by which he had been
betrayed, and reprimanding his men for their negligence, and so careless
an observance of his commands, ordered them off severally to the stocks.
Their lamentations were loud but unavailing, especially when they found
that Ralph was simply dismissed, for a space, to solitary confinement.

Yet was Paslew still at a loss to determine whence this subtle device
originated, unless from his brother of Kirkstall, and he resolved to
question Ralph secretly. It was owing to this purpose probably that the
usual summary process of executive justice was not more speedily
administered.

A great marvel and gossip, as may readily be supposed, now arose
throughout the whole country. Rumour, with her hundred tongues, flew
fast, and