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The outlaw； who had opened his eyes； looked with a scowl from his
captor to the new…comer。 〃You are in luck； archer；〃 said he； 〃for
I have come to grips with many a man； but I cannot call to mind
any who have had the better of me。〃
〃You have indeed the grip of a bear；〃 said Aylward； 〃but it was a
coward deed that your wife should hold me while you dashed out my
brains with a stick。 It is also a most villainous thing to lay a
snare for wayfarers by asking for their pity and assistance； so
that it was our own soft hearts which brought us into such danger。
The next who hath real need of our help may suffer for your sins。〃
〃When the hand of the whole world is against you；〃 said the outlaw
in a surly voice； 〃you must fight as best you can。〃
〃You well deserve to be hanged； if only because you have brought
this woman； who is fair and gentle…spoken； to such a life；〃 said
Nigel。 〃Let us tie him by the wrist to my stirrup leather；
Aylward； and we will lead him into Guildford。〃
The archer drew a spare bowstring from his case and had bound the
prisoner as directed； when Nigel gave a sudden start and cry of
alarm。
〃Holy Mary！〃 he cried。 〃Where is the saddle…bag？〃
It had been cut away by a sharp knife。 Only the two ends of strap
remained。 Aylward and Nigel stared at each other in blank dismay。
Then the young Squire shook his clenched hands and pulled at his
yellow curls in his despair。
〃The Lady Ermyntrude's bracelet！ My grandfather's cup！〃 he cried。
〃I would have died ere I lost them！ What can I say to her？ I
dare not return until I have found them。 Oh； Aylward； Aylward！
how came you to let them be taken？〃
The honest archer had pushed back his steel cap and was scratching
his tangled head。 〃Nay； I know nothing of it。 You never said
that there was aught of price in the bag； else had I kept a better
eye upon it。 Certes！ it was not this fellow who took it； since I
have never had my hands from him。 It can only be the woman who
fled with it while we fought。〃
Nigel stamped about the road in his perplexity。 〃I would follow
her to the world's end if I knew where I could find her； but to
search these woods for her is to look for a mouse in a
wheat…field。 Good Saint George； thou who didst overcome the
Dragon； I pray you by that most honorable and knightly achievement
that you will be with me now！ And you also； great Saint Julian；
patron of all wayfarers in distress！ Two candles shall burn
before your shrine at Godalming； if you will but bring me back my
saddle…bag。 What would I not give to have it back？〃
〃Will you give me my life？〃 asked the outlaw。 〃Promise that I go
free； and you shall have it back； if it be indeed true that my
wife has taken it。〃
〃Nay； I cannot do that；〃 said Nigel。 〃My honor would surely be
concerned； since my loss is a private one； but it would be to the
public scathe that you should go free。 By Saint Paul！ it would be
an ungentle deed if in order to save my own I let you loose upon
the gear of a hundred others。〃
〃I will not ask you to let me loose；〃 said the 〃Wild Man。〃 〃If
you will promise that my life be spared I will restore your bag。〃
〃I cannot give such a promise； for it will lie with the Sheriff
and reeves of Guildford。〃
〃Shall I have your word in my favor？〃
〃That I could promise you； if you will give back the bag； though I
know not how far my word may avail。 But your words are vain； for
you cannot think that we will be so fond as to let you go in the
hope that you return？〃
〃I would not ask it；〃 said the 〃Wild Man；〃 〃for I can get your bag
and yet never stir from the spot where I stand。 Have I your
promise upon your honor and all that you hold dear that you will
ask for grace？〃
〃You have。〃
〃And that my wife shall be unharmed？〃
〃I promise it。〃
The outlaw laid back his head and uttered a long shrill cry like
the howl of a wolf。 There was a silent pause； and then； clear and
shrill； there rose the same cry no great distance away in the
forest。 Again the 〃Wild Man〃 called； and again his mate replied。
A third time he summoned； as the deer bells to the doe in the
greenwood。 Then with a rustle of brushwood and snapping of twigs
the woman was before them once more； tall； pale； graceful；
wonderful。 She glanced neither at Aylward nor Nigel； but ran to
the side of her husband。
〃Dear and sweet lord；〃 she cried； 〃I trust they have done you no
hurt。 I waited by the old ash； and my heart sank when you came
not。〃
〃I have been taken at last； wife。〃
〃Oh； cursed； cursed day！ Let him go； kind； gentle sirs； do not
take him from me！〃
〃They will speak for me at Guildford；〃 said the 〃 Wild Man。〃 〃They
have sworn it。 But hand them first the bag that you have taken。〃
She drew it out from under her loose cloak。 〃Here it is； gentle
sir。 Indeed it went to my heart to take it； for you had mercy
upon me in my trouble。 But now I am； as you see； in real and very
sore distress。 Will you not have mercy now？ Take ruth on us；
fair sir！ On my knees I beg it of you； most gentle and kindly
Squire！〃
Nigel had clutched his bag； and right glad he was to feel that the
treasures were all safe within it。 〃 My proffer is given；〃 said
he。 〃I will say what I can； but the issue rests with others。 I
pray you to stand up； for indeed I cannot promise more。〃
〃Then I must be content；〃 said she； rising； with a composed face。
〃I have prayed you to take ruth； and indeed I can do no more； but
ere I go back to the forest I would rede you to be on your guard
lest you lose your bag once more。 Wot you how I took it； archer？
Nay； it was simple enough； and may happen again； so I make it
clear to you。 I had this knife in my sleeve； and though it is
small it is very sharp。 I slipped it down like this。 Then when I
seemed to weep with my face against the saddle； I cut down like
this … 〃
In an instant she had shorn through the stirrup leather which
bound her man； and he； diving under the belly of the horse； had
slipped like a snake into the brushwood。 In passing he had struck
Pommers from beneath； and the great horse； enraged and insulted；
was rearing high； with two men hanging to his bridle。 When at
last he had calmed there was no sign left of the 〃Wild Man or of
his wife。 In vain did Aylward； an arrow on his string； run here
and there among the great trees and peer down the shadowy glades。
When he returned he and his master cast a shamefaced glance at
each other。
〃I trust that we are better soldiers than jailers；〃 said Aylward；
as he climbed on his pony。
But Nigel's frown relaxed into a smile。 〃At least we have gained
back what we lost；〃 said he。 〃Here I place it on the pommel of my
saddle； and I shall not take my eyes from it until we are safe in
Guildford town。〃
So they jogged on together until passing Saint Catherine's shrine
they crossed the winding Wey once more； and so found themselves in
the steep high street with its heavy…caved gabled houses； its
monkish hospitium upon the left； where good ale may still be
quaffed； and its great square…keeped castle upon the right； no
gray and grim skeleton of ruin； but very quick and alert； with
blazoned banner fl