besides, his young kinsman is not dead. We heard something of his
side of the tale, and the youth is not even like to die now. My
father could protect thee from his wrath. Stay here, and thou wilt
have naught to fear."

The fugitive took the lad's hand and pressed it to his lips.

"I will serve thee for ever and ever for this boon," he answered;
and Bertram went back to his room, to lie awake and muse over what
had befallen till the dawn broke and his brothers awoke to the new
day.

To keep any secret from his two brothers was a thing impossible to
Bertram, and before they had finished dressing that morning, Edred
and Julian were both made aware of the strange adventure of the
night previous. Looking up to Bertram, as they both did, as the
embodiment of prowess and courage, they did not grudge him his
wonderful discovery, but they were eager to visit the fugitive
themselves, and to carry him food and drink.

The days that followed were days of absolute enchantment to the
boys, who delighted in waiting on Warbel and passing hours in his
company. He told them entrancing stories of adventure and peril. He
was devoted to his three youthful keepers, and wished for nothing
better than to enter service with their father.

Later on, when all hue and cry after the missing man was over, and
when Lord Mortimer's young kinsman was so far recovered that it
would be impossible to summon Warbel for any injury inflicted on
him, Bertram conducted him to the hut of one of his father's