When Robin arrived at this point in his comments, the man whose life had
most probably been saved by the young Cavalier's interposition, called
to him to come forward,--a summons the manikin obeyed at first but
slowly: a second call, however, urged his alacrity; and he stood before
one of whom he was evidently in much dread, with a bent head and a
tremulous frame.
"Canst tell aught of that vile clay, whom the Lord hath delivered into
my hand?" he said, pointing to the lifeless corpse, while his chest
still heaved from the violence of the exertion he had undergone,
although in other respects he appeared as composed as if he had gone
forth only to enjoy the sweet breath of evening, and a ruder breeze than
he anticipated had passed across his brow. Robin stooped to examine the
distorted features of the dead, smeared as they were by the warm blood
that issued from more than one mortal wound.
"He was one of thy party but three hours past," continued the stranger,
speaking with energy and rapidity, "and thou knew'st him; heard I not
his words beneath the oak? Ay, and if it had been left unto thee, verily
I might have been given over to the destroyer, even as Hoshea was given
unto Shalmaneser. Speak, thou deformity, lest, finding thy mind as base
as its casket, I let it forth from its vile dwelling, even as a thing of
nought."
"'Tis poor Grimstone," exclaimed Robin, rising from his scrutiny, and
evidently affected by the loss of his boon companion on more occasions
than one; "he was ever after some devilry--but his attack upon such as
you----"
"Silence, sir. Did I not before intimate my wishes?"
"Well, then," muttered Robin, "his attack must have been purely a matter
of plunder. Grim. was never ambitious--never looked beyond a purse of
broad pieces;" adding in a lower tone, "he was always a fool."
"The carrion hath fallen in a pleasant place--so let the next comer look
to it, and do thou fetch hither my horse. Had it not been that my
saddle-girth gave way, I could have mastered twenty such footpads."
This was said in the tone of one who, however grateful for assistance,
would have been much better pleased to have found it needless, and to
have worked out the victory by his own hands.
Robin hurried to secure the animal, a well-trained war-horse, which had
stood quietly in the centre of the road, calmly awaiting the issue of
the combat: he observed that the saddle was turned completely round, and
hung under the belly. The horseman adjusted his cloak, wiped his sword
with the square cape, and had just replaced it in the scabbard, when the
Cavalier returned from his fruitless chase. As he advanced towards the
person to whom he had rendered such signal service, he noted that he was
a hale, stout man, probably past the meridian of life, of a stern and
awe-striking presence; and an involuntary feeling of respect made him
lift his hat from his head, and even remain uncovered while expressing
hopes "that he had received no injury from the cowards who had thus
beset his path." The other gave no reply to the inquiry, but fixed a
shrewd and penetrating gaze upon the young man's countenance. Apparently
the scrutiny pleased him, for he extended his hand, and seizing that of
his preserver, held it firmly within his palm for about the space of a
minute, then pressed it within his mailed grasp so strenuously, that the
youth felt the blood tingle to his finger-ends.