"I am Heregar," I said again.

"Curse you!" said the man; "go on, and prate not. If you were Ealhstan
himself, with his forked hat on, you must go."

"Heregar--my master's friend," cried one of the two thralls, "if it be
true you are outlawed, as I heard yesterday, go and win yourself inlawed
again by this."

Then I turned, and wasted no more time, running swiftly down the hill
and away towards the spot where my enemy lay at Stert, and that honest
thrall of my friend, the slain franklin's, shouted after me for good speed.

"Well," I thought, as I went on at a loping pace, "I can prove my
loyalty maybe--but I have to bear this into the wolf's den--and much
the proof will serve me!"

Then I thought that presently I would feign lameness, and send on some
other. And so I ran on.

I struck a path soon, and kept it, knowing that, if one met and
recognized me, the token I bore was pass enough--moreover, none might
harm me, if they would, so that I was doing no wrong in being turned
back, as it were, by emergency, from leaving the kingdom. Now, as I
trotted swiftly along the track, there lay in my way what I thought was
a stone till I neared it. Then I saw that it was a bag, and so picked it
up, hardly pausing, shaking it as I did so.

It was full of money! Doubtless some one of the fugitives dropped it