almoſt fevered the chine of the fierce animal, who was quickly diſpatched by the ſpectators of the combat.
James mounted a freſh horſe, and ere long another boar was raiſed, who taking his courſe to the north, ſeemed by his ſpeed to ſet his purſuers at defiance. Eagerly the monarch and his friend followed the flying animal, unheeding that their company decreaſed, till they loſt toward evening the boar, and found they were deſerted even by the domeſtics, and that the dogs, wearied with the chace, had quitted them.
The country round was wild and deſolate; no houſe appeared where they could inquire their road, or be ſheltered from the night.
A reedy lake bounded their ſight to the north; to the weſt lay high hills, whoſe tops were gilt by the declining ſun; eaſtward, the high, barren, and deſolate heath, on which they were, ſtretching beyond their fartheſt view; whilſt to the ſouth was ſeen an antient wood, near which they had parted about the time the boar had diſappeared. Concluding that ſome of the attendants, ſuppoſing they had entered the woods, were there ſearching for them, the king propoſed to Edmund they ſhould return thither.
As the ſun declined, a miſt aroſe from the lake; but no ſooner was it ſet than the heath was enveloped in a fog, which gave to thoſe objects it did not entirely conceal, ſtrange and falſe appearances. It was nearly dark when they reached the wood.
“Surely,” ſaid Edmund, “no perſon of your ſuite can be here; doubtleſs ere now, if they were, they would have followed and found you.”
As Edmund looked on the king, he ſaw his countenance pale, and exhibiting marks of unuſual fear.
“Turn,” he cried, “my friend, your ſteps from this blaſted wood, which ſhelters, I well know, no domeſtic of mine; for, if I miſtake not, this muſt be the place I have heard ſuch horrid tales concerning.”
“My life I ſhall ſell dearly in your defence. Say, my liege, is this gloomy wood the retreat of robbers and murderers?” or what is it you fear?”
