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drumming of his hoofs； he could have sung and shouted with the joy
of living。
Behind him； upon the little brown pony which had been Nigel's
former mount； rode Samkin Aylward the bowman； who had taken upon
himself the duties of personal attendant and body…guard。 His
great shoulders and breadth of frame seemed dangerously top…heavy
upon the tiny steed； but he ambled along； whistling a merry lilt
and as lighthearted as his master。 There was no countryman who
had not a nod and no woman who had not a smile for the jovial
bowman； who rode for the most part with his face over his
shoulder； staring at the last petticoat which had passed him。
Once only he met with a harsher greeting。 It was from a tall；
white…headed； red…faced man whom they met upon the moor。
〃Good…morrow； dear father！〃 cried Aylward。 〃How is it with you at
Crooksbury？ And how are the new black cow and the ewes from Alton
and Mary the dairymaid and all your gear？〃
〃It ill becomes you to ask； you ne'er…do…weel；〃 said the old man。
〃You have angered the monks of Waverley； whose tenant I am； and
they would drive me out of my farm。 Yet there are three more
years to run； and do what they may I will bide till then。 But
little did I think that I should lose my homestead through you；
Samkin； and big as you are I would knock the dust out of that
green jerkin。 with a good hazel switch if I had you at
Crooksbury。〃
〃Then you shall do it to…morrow morning； good father； for I will
come and see you then。 But indeed I did not do more at Waverley
than you would have done yourself。 Look me in the eye； old
hothead； and tell me if you would have stood by while the last
Loring … look at him as he rides with his head in the air and his
soul in the clouds … was shot down before your very eyes at the
bidding of that fat monk！ If you would； then I disown you as my
father。〃
〃Nay； Samkin； if it was like that； then perhaps what you did was
not so far amiss。 But it is hard to lose the old farm when my
heart is buried deep in the good brown soil。〃
〃Tut； man！ there are three years to run； and what may not happen
in three years？ Before that time I shall have gone to the wars；
and when I have opened a French strong box or two you can buy the
good brown soil and snap your fingers at Abbot John and his
bailiffs。 Am I not as proper a man as Tom Withstaff of Churt？
And yet he came back after six months with his pockets full of
rose nobles and a French wench on either arm。〃
〃God preserve us from the wenches； Samkin！ But indeed I think
that if there is money to be gathered you are as likely to get
your fist full as any man who goes to the war。 But hasten； lad；
hasten！ Already your young master is over the brow。〃
Thus admonished； the archer waved his gauntleted hand to his
father； and digging his heels into the sides of his little pony
soon drew up with the Squire。 Nigel glanced over his shoulder and
slackened speed until the pony's head was up to his saddle。
〃Have I not heard； archer；〃 said he； 〃that an outlaw has been
loose in these parts？〃
〃It is true； fair sir。 He was villain to Sir Peter Mandeville；
but he broke his bonds and fled into the forests。 Men call him
the ‘Wild Man of Puttenham。'〃
〃How comes it that he has not been hunted down？ If the man be a
draw…latch and a robber it would be an honorable deed to clear the
country of such an evil。〃
〃Twice the sergeants…at…arms from Guildford have come out against
him； but the fox has many earths； and it would puzzle you to get
him out of them。〃
〃By Saint Paul！ were my errand not a pressing one I would be
tempted to turn aside and seek him。 Where lives he； then？〃
〃There is a great morass beyond Puttenham； and across it there are
caves in which he and his people lurk。〃
〃His people？ He hath a band？〃
〃There are several with him。〃
〃It sounds a most honorable enterprise；〃 said Nigel。 〃When the
King hath come and gone we will spare a day for the outlaws of
Puttenham。 I fear there is little chance for us to see them on
this journey。〃
〃They prey upon the pilgrims who pass along the Winchester Road；
and they are well loved by the folk in these parts； for they rob
none of them and have an open hand for all who will help them。〃
〃It is right easy to have an open hand with the money that you
have stolen；〃 said Nigel； 〃but I fear that they will not try to
rob two men with swords at their girdles like you and me； so we
shall have no profit from them。〃
They had passed over the wild moors and had come down now into the
main road by which the pilgrims from the west of England made
their way to the national shrine at Canterbury。 It passed from
Winchester； and up the beautiful valley of the Itchen until it
reached Farnham； where it forked into two branches； one of which
ran along the Hog's Back； while the second wound to the south and
came out at Saint Catherine's Hill where stands the Pilgrim
shrine； a gray old ruin now； but once so august； so crowded and so
affluent。 It was this second branch upon which Nigel and Aylward
found themselves as they rode to Guildford。
No one； as it chanced； was going the same way as themselves； but
they met one large drove of pilgrims returning from their journey
with pictures of Saint Thomas and snails' shells or little leaden
ampullae in their hats and bundles of purchases over their
shoulders。 They were a grimy； ragged； travel…stained crew； the
men walking； the women borne on asses。 Man and beast； they limped
along as if it would be a glad day when they saw their homes once
more。 These and a few beggars or minstrels； who crouched among
the heather on either side of the track in the hope of receiving
an occasional farthing from the passer…by； were the only folk they
met until they had reached the village of Puttenham。 Already
there； was a hot sun and just breeze enough to send the dust
flying down the road； so they were glad to clear their throats
with a glass of beer at the ale…stake in the village； where the
fair alewife gave Nigel a cold farewell because he had no
attentions for her； and Aylward a box on the ear because he had
too many。
On the farther side of Puttenham the road runs through thick woods
of oak and beech； with a tangled undergrowth of fern and bramble。
Here they met a patrol of sergeants…at…arms； tall fellows；
well…mounted； clad in studded…leather caps and tunics； with lances
and swords。 They walked their horses slowly on the shady side of
the road； and stopped as the travelers came up； to ask if they had
been molested on the way。
〃Have a care；〃 they added； 〃for the ‘Wild Man' and his wife are
out。 Only yesterday they slew a merchant from the west and took a
hundred crowns。〃
〃His wife； you say？〃
〃Yes； she is ever at his side； and has saved him many a time； for
if he has the strength it is she who has the wit。 I hope to see
their heads together upon the green grass one of these mornings。〃
The patrol passed downward toward Farnham； and so； as it proved；
away from the robbers； who had doubtless watched them closely from
the dense brushwood which skirted the road。 Coming round a curve；
Nigel and Aylward were aware of a tall and graceful woman who sat；
wringing her hands and weeping bitterly； upon the bank by the side
of the track。 At such a sight of beauty in distress Nigel pricked
Pommers with the spur and in three bounds was at the side of the
unhappy lady。
〃What ails you； fair dame？〃 he asked。 〃Is there any small matter
in which I may stand your friend； or is it possible that anyone
hath so hard a heart as to do you an injury。〃
She rose and turned upon him a face full of hope and entreaty。
〃Oh； save my poor； poor father！〃 she cried。 〃Have you perchance
seen the way…wardens？ They passed us； and I fear they are beyond
reach。〃
〃Yes； they have ridden onward； but we may serve as well。〃
〃Then hasten； hasten； I pray you！ Even now they may be doing him
to death。 They have dragged him into yonder grove and I have
heard his voice growing ever weaker in the distance。 Hasten； I
implore you！〃
Nigel sprang from his horse and tossed the rein to Aylward。
〃Nay； let us go together。 How many robbers were there； lady？〃
〃Two stout fellows。〃
〃Then I come also。〃
〃Nay； it is not possible；〃 said Nigel。 〃The wood is too thick for
horses； and we cannot leave them in the road。〃
〃I will guard them；〃 cried the lady。
〃Pommers is not so easily held。 Do you bide here； Aylward； until
you hear from me。 Stir not； I command you！〃 So saying； Nigel；
with the light； of adventure gleaming in his joyous eyes； drew his
sword and plunged swiftly into the forest。
Far and fast he ran； from glade to glade； breaking through the
bushes； springing over the brambles； light as a young deer；
peering this way and that； straining his ears for a sound； and
catching only the cry of the wood…pigeons。 Still on he went； with
the constant thought of the weeping woman behind and of the
captured man in front。 It was not until he was footsore and out
of breath that he stopped with his hand to his side； and
considered that his own business had still to be done； and that it
was time once more that he should seek the road to G