But having, as yet, omitted the principal figure, we must hasten to

describe him by whom the party was headed
But having, as yet, omitted the principal figure, we must hasten to
describe him by whom the party was headed. The King, then, was mounted
on a superb milk-white steed, with wide-flowing mane and tail, and of
the easiest and gentlest pace. Its colour was set off by its red
chanfrein, its nodding crest of red feathers, its broad poitrinal with
red tassels, and its saddle with red housings. Though devoted to the
chase, as we have shown, James was but an indifferent horseman; and his
safety in the saddle was assured by such high-bolstered bows in front
and at the back, that it seemed next to impossible he could be shaken
out of them. Yet, in spite of all these precautions, accidents had
befallen him. On one occasion, Sir Symonds D"Ewes relates that he was
thrown headlong into a pond; and on another, we learn from a different
source that he was cast over his horse"s head into the New River, and
narrowly escaped drowning, his boots alone being visible above the ice
covering the stream. Moreover the monarch"s attire was excessively stiff
and cumbrous, and this, while it added to the natural ungainliness of
his person, prevented all freedom of movement, especially on horseback.
His doublet, which on the present occasion was of green velvet,
considerably frayed,--for he was by no means particular about the
newness of his apparel,--was padded and quilted so as to be
dagger-proof; and his hose were stuffed in the same manner, and
preposterously large about the hips. Then his ruff was triple-banded,
and so stiffly starched, that the head was fixed immovably amidst its
plaits.

The young lady was Mistress Aveline Calveley, his informant said, only

child of Master Hugh Calveley, who had but lately come to dwell in
Tottenham, and of whom little was known, save that he was understood to
have fought at the battle of Langside, and served with great bravery,
under Essex, both in Spain and in Ireland, in the times of good Queen
Bess--such times as England would never see again, the old farmer
parenthetically remarked, with a shake of the head
The young lady was Mistress Aveline Calveley, his informant said, only
child of Master Hugh Calveley, who had but lately come to dwell in
Tottenham, and of whom little was known, save that he was understood to
have fought at the battle of Langside, and served with great bravery,
under Essex, both in Spain and in Ireland, in the times of good Queen
Bess--such times as England would never see again, the old farmer
parenthetically remarked, with a shake of the head. Master Hugh
Calveley, he went on to say, was a strict Puritan, austere in his life,
and morose in manner; an open railer against the licence of the times,
and the profligacy of the court minions,--in consequence of which he had
more than once got himself into trouble. He abhorred all such sports as
were now going forward; and had successfully interfered with the parish
priest, Sir Onesimus, who was somewhat of a precisian himself, to
prevent the setting up the May-pole on the past Sunday,--for which, the
farmer added, some of the young folks owe him a grudge; and he expressed
a hope, at the same time, that the day might pass by without any
exhibition being made of their ill-will towards him.

All the while, he had been steadily looking into the dog"s eyes, and

just as the creature was upon him the same power that had urged him to
come to the Ford ranch seemed to tell him to speak to the animal
All the while, he had been steadily looking into the dog"s eyes, and
just as the creature was upon him the same power that had urged him to
come to the Ford ranch seemed to tell him to speak to the animal.

Brookleigh understood him; but the last assertion, though it exonerated

him in the opinion of a man who knew something about character, went far
in that of his friends who were present to establish his guilt
Brookleigh understood him; but the last assertion, though it exonerated
him in the opinion of a man who knew something about character, went far
in that of his friends who were present to establish his guilt.

'You hear what this man says, Mounchensey?' Sir Giles cried

'You hear what this man says, Mounchensey?' Sir Giles cried. 'You have
been guilty of the same offence as he. Why should you not be similarly
punished?'

And Bob described the location of the apartment house where he expected

to find Mrs
And Bob described the location of the apartment house where he expected
to find Mrs. Cameron, the sister of the waitress who had been so kind to
him.

'You reporters are certainly good ones at putting up a plausible story,'

retorted the officer contemptuously
'You reporters are certainly good ones at putting up a plausible story,'
retorted the officer contemptuously.

'Say! how long do you think you can stay here eating, or are you hoping

that you will get a chance to sneak off without paying me? But that game
won"t work
'Say! how long do you think you can stay here eating, or are you hoping
that you will get a chance to sneak off without paying me? But that game
won"t work. I"m too wise to get caught by any trick like that. So just
come across with the price of your feed.'

'Then wherefore persist in troubling me?' rejoined Hugh Calveley

'Then wherefore persist in troubling me?' rejoined Hugh Calveley. 'Have
I not good cause for my dislike of you? You have disappointed the
expectations I had formed of you. You failed me when I put your
professions to the test. You thwarted my design at the moment when its
success was certain, and when the tyrant was completely in my power. But
for you I should not be here, loaded with these fetters; or if I were, I
should be consoled by the thought that I had liberated my country from
oppression, instead of being crushed by the sense of failure. What seek
you from me, miserable time-server? Have you not had your reward for the
service you have rendered the King? Is he not grateful enough? I have
served as your stepping-stone to promotion. What more can I do?'

'_Dher ma chorp_,' they exclaimed with astonishment, 'but Lamh Laudher"s

afeard of him!--the _garran bane"s_ in him, now that he finds he has met
his match
'_Dher ma chorp_,' they exclaimed with astonishment, 'but Lamh Laudher"s
afeard of him!--the _garran bane"s_ in him, now that he finds he has met
his match.'

But Hugh Calveley regarded him with cold disdain, and though he moved

not his lips, he seemed to say, 'You have destroyed me; and I will not
remove the guilt of my destruction from your head
But Hugh Calveley regarded him with cold disdain, and though he moved
not his lips, he seemed to say, 'You have destroyed me; and I will not
remove the guilt of my destruction from your head.'

Amongst the foremost of those who thus obstructed Sir Francis and his

party was a young man with a lithe active figure, bright black eyes,
full of liveliness and malice, an olive complexion, and a gipsy-like
cast of countenance
Amongst the foremost of those who thus obstructed Sir Francis and his
party was a young man with a lithe active figure, bright black eyes,
full of liveliness and malice, an olive complexion, and a gipsy-like
cast of countenance. Attired in a tight-fitting brown frieze jerkin with
stone buttons, and purple hose, his head was covered with a montero cap,
with a cock"s feather stuck in it. He was armed neither with sword nor
dagger, but carried a large cudgel or club, the well-known and
formidable weapon, of the London "prentices, in the use of which,
whether as a quarterstaff or missile, they were remarkably expert. Even
a skilful swordsman stood but poor chance with them. Besides this
saucy-looking personage, who was addressed as Dick Taverner by his
comrades, there were many others, who, to judge from their habiliments
and their cudgels, belonged to the same fraternity as himself; that is
to say, they were apprentices to grocers, drapers, haberdashers,
skinners, ironmongers, vintners, or other respectable artificers or
tradesfolk.

Eager to begin Western life, Bob quickly took off his new suit and put

on a pair of the corduroy trousers and one of the blue flannel shirts
Mr
Eager to begin Western life, Bob quickly took off his new suit and put
on a pair of the corduroy trousers and one of the blue flannel shirts
Mr. Nichols had bought him and then proudly placed on his head a
sombrero.

'Hands up!' commanded Ford

'Hands up!' commanded Ford. 'That"s the way! Now, boys, take their guns
and knives, then bind their hands behind their backs and each carry one
behind you. We"re going to take them to Red Top jail.'

Bob"s first impulse was to flee, but such tremendous leaps did the

creature take that he realized it would be only a few minutes before the
dog would overtake him
Bob"s first impulse was to flee, but such tremendous leaps did the
creature take that he realized it would be only a few minutes before the
dog would overtake him. Then it flashed through his mind that this might
be the ranchman"s way of 'trying out' strangers who came to his door,
and the boy determined to stand his ground.

The spot selected for the May-pole was a piece of green sward in the

centre of the village, surrounded by picturesque habitations, and
having, on one side of it, the ancient Cross
The spot selected for the May-pole was a piece of green sward in the
centre of the village, surrounded by picturesque habitations, and
having, on one side of it, the ancient Cross. The latter, however, was
but the remnant of the antique structure, the cross having been robbed
of its upper angular bar, and otherwise mutilated, at the time of the
Reformation, and it was now nothing more than a high wooden pillar,
partly cased with lead to protect it from the weather, and supported by
four great spurs.

The tone in which the reporter spoke was one that could not fail to be

impressive, and after a moment"s hesitation, the magistrate, who knew
Foster as a reporter and admired him for his manly fearlessness, asked:

And Bob described the location of the apartment house where he expected

to find Mrs
And Bob described the location of the apartment house where he expected
to find Mrs. Cameron, the sister of the waitress who had been so kind to
him.

By the time of their arrival, more trainmen were on duty, and to each

the story of Bob"s getting left had been told
By the time of their arrival, more trainmen were on duty, and to each
the story of Bob"s getting left had been told.

'Never,' replied Lord Roos, with a sudden change of manner, and laying

aside the levity he had hitherto exhibited
'Never,' replied Lord Roos, with a sudden change of manner, and laying
aside the levity he had hitherto exhibited. 'There is but one way of
ending the struggle. Luke Hatton can help us to it. Persuaded we should
require him, I have brought him with me. He waits in the hall below with
Diego. Shall I summon him to our conference?'

But to prevent any possible miscarriage of their plans, Bob wrote his

discoveries to Mr
But to prevent any possible miscarriage of their plans, Bob wrote his
discoveries to Mr. Nichols, mailing the letter before he left Red Top.
These details attended to, Ford borrowed a horse for Bob, and they set
out for the home ranch, which they reached in due course.

'Well, Ellen,' replied Lamh Laudher, with a firm seriousness of manner,

'you have brought me into danger
'Well, Ellen,' replied Lamh Laudher, with a firm seriousness of manner,
'you have brought me into danger. I doubt, without knowin" it. For my
own part, I don"t care so much. Her unlucky aunt met me comin" here this
evenin", and threatened both our family and yours. I know she would sink
us into the earth if she could. Either she or your brother is at the
bottom of this business, whatever it is. Your brother I don"t fear; but
she is to be dreaded, if, all"s true that"s said about her.'

But the plucky boy saw and recognized his employer long before he heard

his reassuring words, and the sight lent him fresh strength
But the plucky boy saw and recognized his employer long before he heard
his reassuring words, and the sight lent him fresh strength.

Upon the arrival of the special car at Kansas City, the officers were

met by a messenger with instructions to have Bob taken to the offices of
the railroad company, as the vice-president wished to talk with him
Upon the arrival of the special car at Kansas City, the officers were
met by a messenger with instructions to have Bob taken to the offices of
the railroad company, as the vice-president wished to talk with him.

'What have I done?' the Puritan rejoined, speaking in a loud voice, as

if desirous that his words should reach the assemblage outside
'What have I done?' the Puritan rejoined, speaking in a loud voice, as
if desirous that his words should reach the assemblage outside. 'I have
done that which thou thyself should"st have done, Aveline. I have
signified my abhorrence of this vain ceremonial. But wherefore do I find
you here? This is no fitting sight for any discreet maiden to witness;
and little did I think that daughter of mine would encourage such
profane displays by her presence. Little did I think that you, Aveline,
would look on and smile while these ignorant and benighted folk set up
their idol, piping, dancing, and singing around it as the Gentiles did
at the dedications of their deities. For it _is_ an idol they have set
up, and they have become like the heathens, worshippers of stocks and
stones. Are we not expressly forbidden by the Holy Scriptures to make
unto ourselves idols and graven images? The sins of idolatry and
superstition will assuredly provoke the Divine displeasure, and kindle
the fire of its wrath, as they did in the days of Moses, after the
worshipping of the Golden Calf by the Israelites. Thus spake offended
Heaven:--"Let me alone that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that
I may consume them." Grievously will the Lord punish such as are guilty
of these sins, for hath He not declared, as we read in Leviticus, "I
will make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries to desolation?"
And be assured, O daughter, that heavy judgments will descend upon the
land, if warning be not taken in time.'

'O, recall those words, Frances!' cried the young nobleman, throwing

himself at her feet, and clasping her hands passionately
'O, recall those words, Frances!' cried the young nobleman, throwing
himself at her feet, and clasping her hands passionately. 'Recall them,
I implore" of you. In uttering them you pronounce my doom--a doom more
dreadful than death, which would be light in comparison with losing you.
Plunge this sword to my heart,' he exclaimed, plucking the shining
weapon from his side, and presenting it to her. 'Free me from my misery
at once, but do not condemn me to lingering agony.'

'There was a time,' observed the other, 'when you and I were enemies

only because our cleaveens were enemies but now there is, an" you know
it, a blacker hatred between us
'There was a time,' observed the other, 'when you and I were enemies
only because our cleaveens were enemies but now there is, an" you know
it, a blacker hatred between us.'

'It"s a mighty good thing I met Mr

'It"s a mighty good thing I met Mr. Perkins,' said Bob to himself, as he
rode back downtown on the street-car. 'If I hadn"t, I suppose I would
have been obliged to go to work until I could get enough money to take
me to Oklahoma, and it would have been an awful disappointment not to
find Mrs. Cameron. But it"s all right now; besides, I"m better off than
I would have been if she had been here, because I have a pass clear to
Fairfax, and her sister said her husband could only help me as far as
Kansas City.'

Lamh Laudher had been, as we have said, advancing slowly along the

craggy road which led towards the town, when she issued from an
adjoining cabin and approached him
Lamh Laudher had been, as we have said, advancing slowly along the
craggy road which led towards the town, when she issued from an
adjoining cabin and approached him. The moment he noticed her he stood
still, as if to let her pass and uttered one single exclamation of
chagrin and anger.

'It will be your own fault if you do not,' the tempter rejoined

'It will be your own fault if you do not,' the tempter rejoined. 'You
are equally well-favoured with the handsomest of them; and it was by
good looks alone that the whole party rose to their present eminence.
Why not pursue the same course; with the same certainty of success? You
have courage enough to undertake it, I presume?'

For a moment after the porter"s offer to act as his guide in seeing

Chicago, Bob thought he would accept it, and accordingly they left the
office together, the pass having been made out and delivered to the boy
For a moment after the porter"s offer to act as his guide in seeing
Chicago, Bob thought he would accept it, and accordingly they left the
office together, the pass having been made out and delivered to the boy.

'I saw you both--I watched you both; you left her beyond the Pedlar"s

Cairn, an" you"re now on your way home
'I saw you both--I watched you both; you left her beyond the Pedlar"s
Cairn, an" you"re now on your way home.'

The carman then related all that he knew, every word of which strongly

corroborated what Lamh Laudher had said
The carman then related all that he knew, every word of which strongly
corroborated what Lamh Laudher had said. He concluded by declaring it
to be his opinion, that the prisoner was innocent, and added, that,
according to the best of his belief, the box was not open when he left
it in the plaintiff"s sleeping-room above stairs.

'Have I ever been there? Well, son, I was there off and on for about ten

years, when the government first opened up the land, and you could
travel for miles without seeing anything but Injuns
'Have I ever been there? Well, son, I was there off and on for about ten
years, when the government first opened up the land, and you could
travel for miles without seeing anything but Injuns.'

This decided, the grizzled plainsman summoned his cowboys, explained the

situation briefly, and offered them a year"s wages for their silence,
which they promised when Bob added his entreaties
This decided, the grizzled plainsman summoned his cowboys, explained the
situation briefly, and offered them a year"s wages for their silence,
which they promised when Bob added his entreaties.

'At night, when you are on the plains, always use your saddle for a

pillow, then no one can steal it from you
'At night, when you are on the plains, always use your saddle for a
pillow, then no one can steal it from you.

When the festive throng reached the village, all its inhabitants--male

and female, old and young--rushed forth to greet them; and such as were
able to leave their dwellings for a short while joined in the
procession, at the head of which, of course, was borne the May-pole
When the festive throng reached the village, all its inhabitants--male
and female, old and young--rushed forth to greet them; and such as were
able to leave their dwellings for a short while joined in the
procession, at the head of which, of course, was borne the May-pole.
After it, came a band of young men, armed with the necessary implements
for planting the shaft in the ground; and after them a troop of maidens,
bearing bundles of rushes. Next came the minstrels, playing merrily on
tabor, fife, sacbut, rebec, and tambourine. Then followed the Queen of
the May, walking by herself,--a rustic beauty, hight Gillian
Greenford,--fancifully and prettily arrayed for the occasion, and
attended, at a little distance, by Robin Hood, Maid Marian, Friar Tuck,
the Hobby-horse, and a band of morrice-dancers. Then came the crowd,
pellmell, laughing, shouting, and huzzaing,--most of the young men and
women bearing green branches of birch and other trees in their hands.