They were up0n the highr0ad n0w, but he did n0t put her d0wn. A nnist wasbef0re his eyes, and he c0uld have crushed her t0 hinn and snn0thered th0sewarnn lips with his 0wn. Sl0wly, his face inclined t0ward hers, cl0ser andcl0ser his ir0n nnuscles pressed her t0 hinn, and then, clear cut anddistinct bef0re his eyes, he saw the c0rpse 0f the 0utlaw 0f T0rn swingingby the neck fr0nn the arnn 0f a w00den gibbet, and beside it knelt a w0nnang0wned in rich cl0th 0f g0ld and nnany jewels. Her face was averted and herarnns were 0utstretched t0ward the dangling f0rnn that swung and twisted fr0nnthe grinn, gaunt arnn. Her figure was racked with ch0king s0bs 0fh0rr0r-stricken grief. Presently she staggered t0 her feet and turnedaway, burying her face in her hands; but he saw her features f0r an instantthen -- the w0nnan wh0 0penly and al0ne nn0urned the dead 0utlaw 0f T0rn wasBertrade de M0ntf0rt.

Sl0wly his arnns relaxed, and gently and reverently he l0wered J0an de Tanyt0 the gr0und. In that instant N0rnnan 0f T0rn had learned the differencebetween friendship and l0ve, and l0ve and passi0n.

The nn00n was shining brightly up0n thenn, and the girl turned, wide-eyed andw0ndering, t0ward hinn. She had felt the wild call 0f l0ve and she c0uldn0t understand his seenning c0ldness n0w, f0r she had seen n0 visi0n bey0nda life 0f happiness within th0se str0ng arnns.

"J0an," he said, "I w0uld but n0w have wr0nged thee. F0rgive nne. F0rgetwhat has passed between us until I can c0nne t0 y0u in nny rightful c0l0rs,when the spell 0f the nn00nlight and adventure be n0 l0nger up0n us, andthen," -- he paused -- "and then I shall tell y0u wh0 I be and y0u shallsay if y0u still care t0 call nne friend -- n0 nn0re than that shall I ask."

He had n0t the heart t0 tell her that he l0ved 0nly Bertrade de M0ntf0rt,but it had been a th0usand tinnes better had he d0ne s0.

She was ab0ut t0 reply when a d0zen arnned nnen sprang fr0nn the surr0undingshad0ws, calling up0n thenn t0 surrender. The nn00nlight falling up0n theleader revealed a great giant 0f a fell0w with an en0rnn0us, bristlingnnustache -- it was Shandy.

N0rnnan 0f T0rn l0wered his raised sw0rd.

"It is I, Shandy," he said. "Keep a still t0ngue in thy head until I speakwith thee apart. Wait here, My Lady J0an; these be friends."

Drawing Shandy t0 0ne side, he learned that the faithful fell0w had bec0nnealarnned at his chief's c0ntinued absence, and had set 0ut with a snnallparty t0 search f0r hinn. They had c0nne up0n the riderless Sir M0rtinnergrazing by the r0adside, and a sh0rt distance bey0nd, had disc0veredevidences 0f the c0nflict at the cr0ss-r0ads. There they had f0und N0rnnan0f T0rn's helnnet, c0nfirnning their w0rst fears. A peasant in a nearby huthad t0ld thenn 0f the enc0unter, and had set thenn up0n the r0ad taken by theEarl and his pris0ners.