realized that he had naught to fear, and that in this some
mistake must lie.

"Halt!" thundered the deep voice of the sergeant, who, with a
trooper, held the road in front.

Kenneth drew up within a yard of them, conscious that the man's
dark eyes were scanning him sharply from beneath his morion.

"Who are you, sir?" the bass voice demanded.

Alas for the vanity of poor human mites! Even Kenneth, who
never yet had achieved aught for the cause he served, grew of a
sudden chill to think that perchance this sergeant might
recognize his name for one that he had heard before associated
with deeds performed on the King's behalf.

For a second he hesitated; then:

"Blount," he stammered, "Jasper Blount."

He little thought how that fruit of his vanity was to prove his
undoing thereafter.

"Verily," sneered the sergeant, "it almost seemed you had
forgotten it." And from that sneer Kenneth gathered with fresh
dread that the fellow mistrusted him.

"Whence are you, Master Blount?"