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Chandos and Nigel looked ruefully at each other Then the knight patted his Squire upon his bandaged head

"You have carried yourself right well, Nigel I could not wish for better Fear not All will be well"

"My fair and honored lord," cried Nigel, "I am heavy at heart, for indeed I could do no other, and yet I have brought trouble upon you"

"Nay, the clouds will soon pass If he does indeed slay this Frenchman, you have done all that lay within your power, and your mind may rest easy"

"I pray that it will rest easy in Paradise," said Nigel; "for at the hour that I hear that I ae fros I will not live when oncetoo heavily," said Chandos, with a grave face "When a man has done all hehath a kind heart for all his hot head, and it may be that if I see hi the six burghers of this very town, and yet he pardoned theood news ere evening"

For three hours, as the sinking sun traced the shadow higher and ever higher upon the chael tossed feverishly upon his couch, his ears straining for the footfall of Aylward or of Chandos, bringing news of the fate of the prisoner At last the door flew open, and there before him stood the one ladly have seen It was the Red Ferret himself, free and joyous

With swift furtive steps he was across the roo the pendent hand "You have saved alloas fixed and the rope slung, when the good Lord Chandos told the King that you would die by your own hand if I were slain 'Curse this mule-headed Squire!' he cried 'In God's name let him have his prisoner, and let hi as he troubles me no more!' So here I have come, fair sir, to ask you what I shall do"

"I pray you to sit beside el "In a feords I will tell you what I would have you do Your arood fortune in entleman We are of a size, and I make little doubt that I can wear it Of ransom I would ask a thousand crowns"