第64章

DeBracybowedlowandinsilence，andwasabouttowithdraw，whentheyeomenburstatonceintoashoutofexecrationandderision。Theproudknightinstantlystopped，turnedback，foldedhisarms，drewuphisformtoitsfullheight，andexclaimed，``Peace，yeyelpingcurs！whoopenuponacrywhichyefollowednotwhenthestagwasatbay——DeBracyscornsyourcensureashewoulddisdainyourapplause。Toyourbrakesandcaves，yeoutlawedthieves！andbesilentwhenaughtknightlyornobleisbutspokenwithinaleagueofyourfox-earths。’’

Thisill-timeddefiancemighthaveprocuredforDeBracyavolleyofarrows，butforthehastyandimperativeinterferenceoftheoutlawChief。Meanwhiletheknightcaughtahorsebytherein，forseveralwhichhadbeentakeninthestablesofFront-de-Bufstoodaccoutredaround，andwereavaluablepartofthebooty。Hethrewhimselfuponthesaddle，andgallopedoffthroughthewood。

Whenthebustleoccasionedbythisincidentwassomewhatcomposed，thechiefOutlawtookfromhisnecktherichhornandbaldricwhichhehadrecentlygainedatthestrifeofarcherynearAshby。

``Nobleknight。’’hesaidtohimoftheFetterlock，``ifyoudisdainnottogracebyyouracceptanceabuglewhichanEnglishyeomanhasonceworn，thisIwillprayyoutokeepasamemorialofyourgallantbearing——andifyehaveaughttodo，and，ashappenethofttoagallantknight，yechancetobehardbestedinanyforestbetweenTrentandTees，windthreemots*uponthehornthus，_Wa-sa-hoa！_

*Thenotesuponthebuglewereancientlycalledmots，and*aredistinguishedintheoldtreatisesonhunting，notbymusical*characters，butbywrittenwords。

anditmaywellchanceyeshallfindhelpersandrescue。’’

Hethengavebreathtothebugle，andwindedonceandagainthecallwhichbedescribed，untiltheknighthadcaughtthenotes。

``Gramercyforthegift，boldyeoman，’’saidtheKnight；``andbetterhelpthanthineandthyrangerswouldIneverseek，wereitatmyutmostneed。’’

Andtheninhisturnhewindedthecalltillallthegreenwoodrang。

``Wellblownandclearly，’’saidtheyeoman；

``beshrewmeanthouknowestnotasmuchofwoodcraftasofwar！——thouhastbeenastrikerofdeerinthyday，Iwarrant——Comrades，markthesethreemots——itisthecalloftheKnightoftheFetterlock；

andhewhohearsit，andhastensnottoservehimathisneed，Iwillhavehimscourgedoutofourbandwithhisownbowstring。’’

``Longliveourleader！’’shoutedtheyeomen，``andlonglivetheBlackKnightoftheFetterlock！——

Mayhesoonuseourservice，toprovehowreadilyitwillbepaid。’’

Locksleynowproceededtothedistributionofthespoil，whichheperformedwiththemostlaudableimpartiality。Atenthpartofthewholewassetapartforthechurch，andforpioususes；aportionwasnextallottedtoasortofpublictreasury；

apartwasassignedtothewidowsandchildrenofthosewhohadfallen，ortobeexpendedinmassesforthesoulsofsuchashadleftnosurvivingfamily。

Therestwasdividedamongsttheoutlaws，accordingtotheirrankandmerit，andthejudgmentoftheChief，onallsuchdoubtfulquestionsasoccurred，wasdeliveredwithgreatshrewdness，andreceivedwithabsolutesubmission。TheBlackKnightwasnotalittlesurpr