which has turned to blood. Hark to the howl of the wind in the reeds and
the cry of the birds we cannot see. Ay, and look at our shadows on the
snow. Mine lies flat by a great hole, and yours rising against yonder
bank is that of a hooded man with hollow eyes--Death himself as I should
limn him! There, it is gone! What a fool am I, or how strong is that
wine of yours! Shall we be going also?"

"Nay, here comes my son with tidings. Well, Jack, have you found your
sister?" he added, addressing a dark and somewhat saturnine young man
who now rode up to them from over the crest of the hollow.

"No, sir, though we have beat the marsh through and through, so that
scarce an otter could have escaped us. And yet she's here, for Thomas of
Kessland caught sight of her red cloak among the reeds, and what's more,
Hugh de Cressi is with her, and Grey Dick too, for both were seen."

"I am glad there's a third," said Sir John drily, "though God save me
from his arrows! This Grey Dick," he added to the Count, "is a wild,
homeless half-wit whom they call Hugh de Cressi's shadow, but the finest
archer in Suffolk, with Norfolk thrown in; one who can put a shaft
through every button on your doublet at fifty paces--ay, and bring down
wild geese on the wing twice out of four times, for I have seen him do
it with that black bow of his."

"Indeed? Then I should like to see him shoot--at somebody else,"
answered Acour, for in those days such skill was of interest to all
soldiers. "Kill Hugh de Cressi if you will, friend, but spare Grey Dick;
he might be useful."

"Ay, Sir Edmund," broke in the young man furiously, "I'll kill him if I