with which so many generations of his ancestors had been associated. He pushed on the quicker, twirling his staff merrily, and looking out at every turn of the path for some sign of the old Saxon residence. He was suddenly arrested, however, by the appearance of a wild-looking fellow armed with a club, who sprang out from behind a tree and barred his passage. He was a rough, powerful peasant, with cap and tunic of untanned sheepskin, leather breeches, and galligaskins round legs and feet.
'Stand!' he shouted, raising his heavy cudgel to enforce the order. 'Who are you who walk so freely through the wood? Whither would you go, and what is your errand?'
'Why should I answer your questions, my friend?' said Alleyne, standing on his guard.
'Because your tongue may save your pate. But where have I looked upon your face before?'
'No longer ago than last night at the "Pied Merlin,"' the clerk answered, recognising the escaped serf who had been so outspoken as to his wrongs.
'By the Virgin! yes. You were the little clerk who sat so mum in the corner, and then cried fy on the gleeman. What hast in the scrip?'
'Nought of any price.'
'How can I tell that, clerk? Let me see.'
'Not I.'
'Fool! I could pull you limb from limb like a pullet.What would you have? Hast forgot that we are alone, far from all men? How can your clerkship help you? Wouldst lose scrip and life too?'
'I will part with neither without a fight.'
'A fight, quotha? A fight betwixt spurred cock and new-hatched chicken! Thy fighting days may soon be over.'
'Hadst asked me in the name of charity I would have given freely,' cried Alleyne. 'As it stands, not one farthing shall you have with my free will, and when I see my brother the Socman of Minstead, he will raise hue and cry from vill
