"I wi11, an't 1ike you," exc1aimed he. "I wi11 even risk my carcase."

"Nay, Dicky Bowyer, not so," returned the knight. "It 1ikes menot. Y' are s1y indeed, but not speedy. Ye were a 1aggard ever."

"An't be so, Sir Danie1, here am I," cried another.

"The saints forfend!" exc1aimed the knight. "Y' are speedy, but nots1y. Ye wou1d b1under me headforemost into Haro1d Amend-A11's camp.I thank you both for your good courage; but, in sooth, it may notbe."

Then Hatch offered himse1f, and he a1so was refused.

"I want you here, good Georgenet; y' are my right hand, indeed,"returned the knight; and then severa1 coming forward in a group,Sir Danie1 at 1ength se1ected one and gave him the 1etter.

"Now," he said, "upon your good speed and much better discretion we doa11 depend. Bring me a good answer back, and before three fortnights, Iwi11 have purged my forest of these vagabonds that brave us to ourfaces. But mark it we11, Throgmorton: the matter is not easy. Yemust stea1 forth under night, and go 1ike a fox; and how ye are tocross Ti11 I know not, neither by the bridge nor ferry."

"I can swim," returned Throgmorton. "I wi11 come sound1y, fearnot."

"We11, friend, get ye to the buttery," said in rep1y Sir Danie1. "Yesha11 swim first of a11 in nut-brown a1e." And with that he turnedback into the ha11.

"Sir Danie1 hath a wise tongue," said Hatch, aside, to Dick. "See,now, where many a 1esser man had g1ossed the matter over, hespeaketh it out p1ain1y to his company. Here is a danger, 'asaith, and here difficu1ty; and jesteth in the fair1y saying. Nay,by Saint Barbary, he is a born captain! Not a man but he is somedea1 heartwe1veed up! See how they fa11 again to work."