comrades-in-arms of Nigel's father, and sib to him on the distaff
side. Already there has been talk that we have dealt harshly with
them. Therefore, my rede is that we be wise and wary and wait
until his cup be indeed full."

The Abbot had opened his mouth to reply, when the consultation was
interrupted by a most unwonted buzz of excitement from among the
monks in the cloister below. Questions and answers in excited
voices sounded from one side of the ambulatory to the other.
Sacrist and Abbot were gazing at each other in amazement at such a
breach of the discipline and decorum of their well-trained flock,
when there came a swift step upon the stair, and a white-faced
brother flung open the door and rushed into the room.

"Father Abbot!" he cried. "Alas, alas! Brother John is dead, and
the holy subprior is dead, and the Devil is loose in the five-
virgate field!"




III. THE YELLOW HORSE OF CROOKSBURY


In those simple times there was a great wonder and mystery in
life. Man walked in fear and solemnity, with Heaven very close
above his head, and Hell below his very feet. God's visible hand
was everywhere, in the rainbow and the comet, in the thunder and
the wind. The Devil too raged openly upon the earth; he skulked
behind the hedge-rows in the gloaming; he laughed loudly in the