he
pikemen. How comes it that one of his kidney should lend help to the
Prelatist cause?'

'Love again,' quoth I. 'This same love is a pretty flower when it grows
unchecked, but a sorry weed if thwarted.'

'He hath an ill-feeling towards many in the camp,' said Reuben, 'and he
would ruin the army to avenge himself on them, as a rogue might sink
a ship in the hope of drowning one enemy. Sir Stephen himself hath
incurred his hatred for refusing to force his daughter into accepting
his suit. He has now returned into the camp, and I have reported the
matter to you, that you may judge whether it would not be well to send
a file of pikemen and lay him by the heels lest he play the spy once
more.'

'Perhaps it would be best so,' Saxon answered, full of thought, 'and yet
no doubt the fellow would have some tale prepared which would outweigh
our mere suspicions. Could we not take him in the very act?'

A thought slipped into my head. I had observed from the tower that there
was a single lonely cottage about a third of the way to the enemy's
camp, standing by the road at a place where there were marshes on either
side. Any one journeying that way must pass it. If Derrick tried to
carry our plans to Feversham he might be cut off at this point by a
party placed to lie in wait for him.

'Most excellent!' Saxon exclaimed, when I had explained the project. 'My
learned Fleming himself could not have devised a better rusus belli. Do
ye convey as many files as ye may think fit to this point, and I shall
see that Master Derrick is primed up with some fresh news for my Lord
Feversham.'

'Nay, a body of troops marching out would set tongues wagging,' said
Reuben. 'Why should not Micah and I go ourselves?'

'That would indeed be better.' Saxon answered. 'But ye must pledge your
words, come what may, to be back at sundown, for your companies must
stand to arms an hour before the advance.'

We both gladly gave the desired promise; and having learned for certain
that Derrick had indeed returned to the camp, Saxon undertook to let
drop in his presence some words as to the plans for the night, while we
set off at once for our post. Our horses we left behind, and slipping
out through the eastern gate we made our way over bog and moor,
concealing ourselves as best we could, until we came out upon the lonely
roadway, and found ourselves in front of the house.

It was a plain, whitewashed, thatch-roofed cottage, with a small board
above t