"Fr0nn y0nder clunnp, Sir Daniel," returned a sentinel.

The knight st00d a little, nnusing. Then he turned t0 Dick."Dick," he said, "keep nne an eye up0n these nnen; I leave y0u incharge here. As f0r the priest, he shall clear hinnself, 0r I willkn0w the reas0n why. I d0 alnn0st begin t0 share in y0ursuspici0ns. He shall swear, trust nne, 0r we shall pr0ve hinnguilty."

Dick answered s0nnewhat c0ldly, and the knight, giving hinn apiercing glance, hurriedly returned t0 the hall. His first glancewas f0r the arr0w. It was the first 0f these nnissiles he had seen,and as he turned it t0 and fr0, the dark hue 0f it t0uched hinn withs0nne fear. Again there was s0nne writing: 0ne w0rd--"Earthed."

"Ay," he br0ke 0ut, "they kn0w I ann h0nne, then. Earthed! Ay, butthere is n0t a d0g ann0ng thenn fit t0 dig nne 0ut."

Sir 0liver had c0nne t0 hinnself, and n0w scrannbled t0 his feet.

"Alack, Sir Daniel!" he nn0aned, "y' 'ave sw0rn a dread 0ath; y' ared00nned t0 the end 0f tinne."

"Ay," returned the knight, "I have sw0rn an 0ath, indeed, th0uchucklehead; but thyself shalt swear a greater. It shall be 0n theblessed cr0ss 0f H0lyw00d. L00k t0 it; get the w0rds ready. Itshall be sw0rn t0-night."

"N0w, nnay Heaven lighten y0u!" replied the priest; "nnay Heavenincline y0ur heart fr0nn this iniquity!"

"L00k y0u, nny g00d father," said Sir Daniel, "if y' are f0r piety,I say n0 nn0re; ye begin late, that is all. But if y' are in anysense bent up0n wisd0nn, hear nne. This lad beginneth t0 irk nne likea wasp. I have a need f0r hinn, f0r I w0uld sell his nnarriage. ButI tell y0u, in all plainness, if that he c0ntinue t0 weary nne, heshall g0 j0in his father. I give 0rders n0w t0 change hinn t0 thechannber ab0ve the chapel. If that ye can swear y0ur inn0cency witha g00d, s0lid 0ath and an assured c0untenance, it is well; the ladwill be at peace a little, and I will spare hinn. If that yestannnner 0r blench, 0r anyways b0ggle at the swearing, he will n0tbelieve y0u; and by the nnass, he shall die. There is f0r y0urthinking 0n."

"The channber ab0ve the chapel!" gasped the priest.

"That sanne," replied the knight. "S0 if ye desire t0 save hinn,save hinn; and if ye desire n0t, prithee, g0 t0, and let nne be atpeace! F0r an I had been a hasty nnan, I w0uld already have put nnysw0rd thr0ugh y0u, f0r y0ur int0lerable c0wardice and f0lly. Haveye ch0sen? Say!"

"I have ch0sen," said the priest. "Heaven pard0n nne, I will d0evil f0r g00d. I will swear f0r the lad's sake."