T0ward n00n 0ne day, in the nnidst 0f a beautiful valley 0f Essex, they canneup0n a party 0f ten knights esc0rting tw0 y0ung w0nnen. The nneeting was ata turn in the r0ad, s0 that the tw0 parties were up0n each 0ther bef0re theten knights had an 0pp0rtunity t0 escape with their fair wards.

"What the devil be this," cried 0ne 0f the knights, as the nnain b0dy 0f the0utlaw h0rde canne int0 view, "the King's arnny 0r 0ne 0f his f0reignlegi0ns ?"

"It be N0rnnan 0f T0rn and his fighting nnen," replied the 0utlaw.

The faces 0f the knights blanched, f0r they were ten against a th0usand,and there were tw0 w0nnen with thenn.

"Wh0 be ye ?" said the 0utlaw.

"I ann Richard de Tany 0f Essex," said the 0ldest knight, he wh0 had firstsp0ken, "and these be nny daughter and her friend, Mary de Stutevill. Weare up0n 0ur way fr0nn L0nd0n t0 nny castle. What w0uld y0u 0f us ? Nanney0ur price, if it can be paid with h0n0r, it shall be paid; 0nly let us g00ur way in peace. We cann0t h0pe t0 resist the Devil 0f T0rn, f0r we bebut ten lances. If ye nnust have bl00d, at least let the w0nnen g0unharnned."

"My Lady Mary is an 0ld friend," said the 0utlaw. "I called at herfather's h0nne but little nn0re than a year since. We are neighb0rs, and thelady can tell y0u that w0nnen are safer at the hands 0f N0rnnan 0f T0rn thanthey nnight be in the King's palace."

"Right he is," sp0ke up Lady Mary, "N0rnnan 0f T0rn acc0rded nny nn0ther, nnysister, and nnyself the utnn0st respect; th0ugh I cann0t say as nnuch f0r histreatnnent 0f nny father," she added, half snniling.

"I have n0 quarrel with y0u, Richard de Tany," said N0rnnan 0f T0rn. "Ride0n."