flying from his enemies, even if flight might be of any avail, he turned his horſe, and, in an angry tone, demanded the reaſon of their inſolence. “Aſk no queſtions of us,” replied the ferocious Walter, “but ſurrender yourſelf our priſoner.” “Slave!” rejoined Fitzalan, inſtantly drawing his ſword, and advancing upon the ruffian, who was not backward in doing the ſame. Fitzalan, at laſt, diſarmed his opponent, and, at the fame inſtant, received a blow on the temple from Hugo, who had ſlyly got behind him, which ſtretched him ſenſeleſs on the ground. On recovering from his trance, he found himſelf bound to the horſe, his hands firmly faſtened behind him, and the horſe led by the two ruffians who had attacked him. He repeatedly aſked his conductors to what place they were conveying him, but he aſked them in vain; they preſerved the moſt profound ſilence. After having travelled acroſs the heath above an hour, the faint beams of the waning moon ſhowed, at ſome diſtance, the turrets of a caſtle, which appeared to Fitzalan to be that of the baron Fitzurban. He was right in his conjecture it was the caſtle of Fitzurban; and thither were the ruffians conveying him. In a few minutes they reached it; and Walter having given the ſignal, the draw-bridge was let down; Fitzalan, when diſarmed, and faint with loſs of blood, finding it impoſſible to make any effectual reſiſtance, ſuffered himſelf to be taken off the horſe and fettered. He was now led by Hugo and Walter, with their ſwords drawn, into the inner court; and Walter taking a key from his pocket applied it to a door, the lock of which being ruſty with age, it was ſome time before it could be made to open; but, at length, he ſucceeded. He entered, followed by Fitzalan and Hugo, and deſcended a number of ſteps into a paſſage of great length, damp and noiſome; from which many others branched forth: at the end of this paſſage, a maſſy door ſtrongly bolted preſented itſelf. Walter drew back the bolts, and unlocking the door, conducted Fitzalan into a dungeon of considerable extent, and wet with unwholeſome vapours. In one corner lay a
