the morrow of the defeat at Risingham, and found next day by Dick

upon the body of the messenger.

Then, treading down the embers of the fire, Dick left the den, and

rejoined the old outlaw, who stood awaiting him under the leafless

oaks, and was already beginning to be powdered by the falling snow.

Each looked upon the other, and each laughed, so thorough and so

droll was the disguise.

"Yet I would it were but summer and a clear day," grumbled the

outlaw, "that I might see myself in the mirror of a pool. There be

many of Sir Daniel's men that know me; and if we fell to be

recognised, there might be two words for you, brother, but as for

me, in a paternoster while, I should be kicking in a rope's-end."

Thus they set forth together along the road to Shoreby, which, in

this part of its course, kept near along the margin or the forest,

coming forth, from time to time, in the open country, and passing

beside poor folks' houses and small farms.

Presently at sight of one of these, Lawless pulled up.

"Brother Martin," he said, in a voice capitally disguised, and

suited to his monkish robe, "let us enter and seek alms from these

poor sinners. Pax vobiscum! Ay," he added, in his own voice,

"'tis as I feared; I have somewhat lost the whine of it; and by

your leave, good Master Shelton, ye must suffer me to practise in

these country places, before that I risk my fat neck by entering

Sir Daniel's. But look ye a little, what an excellent thing it is

to be a Jack-of-all-trades! An I had not been a shipman, ye had

infallibly gone down in the Good Hope; an I had not been a thief, I

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