every night and morning as carefully as the horse, a ceremony
they thought entirely needless.




CHAPTER 3



Falcon and Fetterlock


'Ours is the sky
Where at what fowl we please our hawk shall fly.'--T. Randolph.


Beyond York that species of convoy, which ranged between
protection and supervision, entirely ceased; the Scottish party
moved on their own way, through lanes and fields at times, but
oftener through heath, rock, and moor, for England was not yet
thickly inhabited, though there was no lack of hostels or of
convents to receive them on this the great road to the North,
and to its many shrines for pilgrimage.

Perhaps Sir Patrick relaxed a little of his vigilance, since the
good behaviour of his troop had won his confidence, and they
were less likely to be regarded as invaders than by the
inhabitants of the district nearer their own frontier.