holden like as they had been i' the stocks. One, the foremost of the
crew--I do think he had a long tail and gaping hoofs, but I was over
frightened to see very clear--came with a mocking malicious grin, his
tongue lolling out, and his eyes glaring and fiend-like.

"'Pray, good friend,' said he, pulling off a little black bonnet, 'be
compassionate enough to help us with our load to the hill-top.' Now was
I terrified beyond measure, insomuch that I made a desperate tug,
whereby loosening myself, I ran like the wind, the wicked fiends
following and roaring after me with loud and bitter curses. I jumped
into the river, in my hurry having missed the ford, and I heard 'em
still shouting, and, as I thought, pursuing me; but the Virgin and St
Chadde were my helpers, for when Biddy opened the door in the morning, I
lay there in a great swoon, with my head bruised, and a hole in my good
grey cloak."

"And so thou comest here a-boasting of thy drunken discoveries," said
the Thane. "Thou shalt wish thou hadst not gotten thee so soon from the
fiend's clutches. A spice of old Nicholas' vocation may not be amiss;
yet, by way of relish to thy tale"----

The agony of the culprit was loud and appalling, but the chief was
inexorable, until his denunciations were interrupted by a stranger, who
craved a short respite for the groaning supplicant.

He was meanly clad: a coarse cloak, stained and threadbare, was thrown
open, showing a close habit of the most ordinary fabric; yet a natural
and graceful bearing imparted a dignity even to his poor and worthless
habiliments.