ng the hills to the east of the Derwent river; and when they had seen him ride off t

n," said Robin; "not ev

cried Anthony; "he must be near mad, I t

s plain enough, without seeking others.

they were in; there were no houses in sight; and in such circumstances it was but prudent to remain together until the character of the travellers should be plain; so the two, after a word, rode gentl

entlemen or prosperous yeomen; all three were bearded, and all carried arms as could be seen from the flash of the sun on their hilts. It was plain, too, that they were not rogues or cutters, since each carried his valise on his saddle, as well as from their appearance. Our gentlemen, then, after passing them with a s

but while he was yet twenty yards away he lifted his hat. He

n, I think, s

y name," s

our house, sir," said t

lic

ber-from Tideswell. How

Audrey, of

d one anoth

s a Catholic,

wered tha

impson, is with us; and will say mass at Tansley next

ure, sir," said Anthony, tou

h from Rheims. And Mr. Ludlam is to carry him further

Lud

ourne, and has but just

ill but just ride fo

om where the two lads waited. Robin, therefore, looking at them, saw the three all together on their horses with the circle of the sun about them, and a great flood of blood-coloured light on every side; the priest was in the midst of the three, and the two men leaning towards him seemed to be speaking and as if encouraging him strongly. For an in

bowed low to him as he lifted his hand with a few wo

o, was under thirty years old, plainly not of gentleman's birth, though he was courteous and well-mannered. It seemed a great matter to these three to have

his own county, to minister in the district of the Peak at least for awhile. He heard, too, news from Douay, and that the college, it was thought, might move from there to another place under the protection of the family of

ng at that time of Mr. Audrey of Matstead, at which Robin was glad, since his shame deepened on him every hour, and all the more now that he had met with those thre

last; "these moors are strange to me;

f the priest. "It is all in my road, and you will not be t

of your fr

knows the flat of his hand. We we

accept your guidance, sir

it five minutes later as a modest lad would be. Yet he followed it now; he leapt off

d to the priest. And Anthony