been deceived by the wind ſweeping through the branches of the old half-leafleſs trees that were thinly ſcattered over the heath. He therefore proceeded: but, in a few minutes, again heard very plainly the noiſe of horſemen, advancing with great rapidity: he once more halted, and, favoured by the wind, and the ſtillneſs which reigned around him, heard one of them ſay to the other–“By’r lady! Walter, I wiſh we were well out of this adventure: for if he ſhould prove ſuch a lion-hearted fellow, as I have been told he is, it may, perhaps, coſt us ſome broken bones, if even it ſhould not turn out worſe.” “Why, what a fool you are, Hugo!” re-joined the other, angrily. “Do you think that us two, well-armed, are not a match for him? It is very well that the baron does not hear you expreſs your childiſh fears, he would certainly fend you to keep company with the ghoſts in the caverns of the caſtle; but, on the other hand, do but think of the angels[1] we ſhall get poſſeſſion of when we go back. Two hundred–think of that, Hugo–ſweet, pretty creatures! how I long to be fingering them. By St. Cuthbert! I ſhould deſire no better ſport than to have ſuch a commiſſion every day. Faith, I would ſoon be as rich as the baron; and not a whit leſs honeſt with it. But come, come, ſpur on, he cannot be far before us; and the ſooner we get through the buſineſs, the ſooner we ſhall get our reward. But, if we ſhould loſe him through you fears, you may e’en go back to the caſtle by yourſelf: for my part, I would as ſoon meet the devil as meet the baron, when he has been diſappointed in one of his projects.”
Fitzalan heard this myſterious diſcourſe with a conſiderable degree of anxiety. He was convinced that they were aſſaſſins; and though he knew not why, yet ſtill he was firmly convinced that he was the object of their purſuit. The aſſaſſins were now ſo near that they diſcovered Fitzalan, and loudly called out to him to ſtop. As Fitzalan diſdained the leaſt thought of
- ↑ An antient gold coin worth ten ſhillings.
