ient captain, Sir
Geoffrey (who was supposed to have been instigated to his revolt by the
gold and promises of the Lancastrian chiefs), and were on their way to
join the rebels; but as war for them was but the name for booty, they
felt the wonted instinct of the robber, when they caught sight of the
old man and the fair maid.

Both Adam and his daughter wore, unhappily, the dresses in which they
had left the court, and Sibyll's especially was that which seemed to
betoken a certain rank and station.

"Awake, rouse ye!" said the captain of the band, roughly shaking the arm
which encircled Sibyll's slender waist. Adam started, opened his eyes,
and saw himself begirt by figures in rusty armour, with savage faces
peering under their steel sallets.

"How came you hither? Yon oak drops strange acorns," quoth the chief.

"Valiant sir," replied Adam, still seated, and drawing his gown
instinctively over Sibyll's face, which nestled on his bosom, in slumber
so deep and heavy, that the gruff voice had not broken it, "valiant
sir! we are forlorn and houseless, an old man and a simple girl. Some
evil-minded persons invaded our home; we fled in the night, and--"

"Invaded your house! ha, it is clear," said the chief. "We know the
rest."

At this moment Sibyll woke, and starting to her feet in astonishment and
terror at the sight on which her eyes opened, her extreme beauty made a
sensible effect upon the bravoes.

"Do not be daunted, young demoiselle," said the captain, with an air
almost respectful; "it is necessary thou and Sir John should follow us,
but we will treat you well, and consult later on the ransom ye will pay
us. Jock, discharge the young sumpter mule; put its load on the black
one. We have no better equipment for thee, lady; but the first haquenee
we find shall replace the mule, and meanwhile my knaves will heap their
cloaks for a pillion."

"But what mean you?--you mistake us!" exclaimed Sibyll. "We are poor; we
cannot ransom ourselves."

"Poor!--tut!" said the captain, pointing significantly to the costly
robe of the maiden--"moreover his worship's wealth is well known. Mount
in haste,--we are pressed." And without heeding the expostulations of
Sibyll and the poor scholar, the rebel put his troop into motion, and
marched himself at their head, with his lieutenant.

Sibyll found the subalterns sterner than their chief; for as Warner
offered to resist, one of them lifted his gisarme, with a frightful
oath,