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"By noon," said he, "we shall have so ots that we ates and so win a footing"

The young Frenchel to the conference, and now, amid the silence which followed the leader's proposal, he asked if he el had taken from the Red Ferret

"It may be that it is not forthat I am a prisoner and a Frenchman But this man is the enemy of all, and we of France owe hiood Frenchman has died in his cellars For this reason I crave to be heard"

"We will hear you," said Knolles

"I have come from Evran yesterday," said he "Sir Henry Spinnefort, Sir Peter La Roye and ood coladly join with you to destroy this butcher and his castle, for it is well known aood nor fair There are also bo over the hills, and so beat down this iron gate If you so order it I will ride to Evran and bring my companions back with me"

"Indeed, Robert," said Percy, "it is in my mind that this Frenchman speaks very wisely and well"

"And e have taken the castle--what then?" asked Knolles

"Then you could go upon your way, fair sir, and we upon ours Or if it please you better you could draw together on yonder hill and we on this one, so that the valley lies between us Then if any cavalier wished to advance hiht be found for hiether and no sel clasped his captive's hand to show his ads are not ordered thus, save in the tales of the minstrels," said he "I have no wish that your people at Evran should know our nuht errantry, but I aht else to say?"

Percy pointed to the s fortalice upon the knoll, on which also flew the flag of the bloody head "This sth and cannot hold more than fifty men It is built, as I conceive it, that no one should seize the high ground and shoot down into the other Why should we not turn all our strength upon it, since it is the weaker of the twain?"