termination of the banquet, when the king, having saluted the company,
returned to the presence-chamber.



V. Of the Ghostly Chase beheld by the Earl of Surrey and the Duke of
Richmond in Windsor Forest.


On that same night, and just as the castle clock was on the stroke of
twelve, the Earl of Surrey and the Duke of Richmond issued from the
upper gate, and took their way towards Herne's Oak. The moon was
shining brightly, and its beams silvered the foliage of the noble trees
with which the park was studded. The youthful friends soon reached
the blasted tree; but nothing was to be seen near it, and all looked so
tranquil, so free from malignant influence, that the Duke of Richmond
could not help laughing at his companion, telling him that the supposed
vision must have been the offspring of his over-excited fancy. Angry at
being thus doubted, the earl walked off, and plunged into the haunted
dell. The duke followed, but though they paused for some time beneath
the gnarled oak-tree, the spirit did not appear.

"And thus ends the adventure of Herne the Hunter!" laughed the duke,
as they emerged from the brake. "By my halidom, Surrey, I am
grievously disappointed. You must have mistaken some large stag,
caught by its antlers in the branches of the oak-tree, for the demon."

"I have told you precisely what occurred," replied Surrey angrily. "Ha!
there he is--look! look!"