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before you drenched and barefoot, we should be held for questioning. "
"The wench is right," said Thur. "What can we do, Vada? Know you the country?"
"As much as I can walk. A mile from the city is a road leading westward. We must
ride far and fast until we come again to the forest. Where that is I know not ... and we
must travel by night."
"Plague take this flat country!" Thur exclaimed:
"I should not fear the men of Wanda, but there were two monks among them, and
they will not drop this witch-hunt until they have secured some victim," Olaf informed
them glumly.
"Monks, say you?" asked Thur, frowning in consternation. "That indeed puts
another complexion on the affair. They will rouse the country against us and spread the
tale from point to point ... and get help from every religious house. "
"But as yet they are on foot and four miles behind us," said Jan, trying to draw
comfort from the fact.
"Aye, but they are hunters, and can keep a steady pace," Vada told them bitterly.
At this Jan hastily turned his horse towards the broad grass verge of the road, and
along this they fled at full stretch. The city lay before them, a fair and gracious sight in
the evening light.
Thur pointed to a group of poplars growing a. hundred yards down the road to
their left. "You three take shelter beneath those trees until I come to you. There you will
be well hidden. I go into the city to buy food and drink and a man's dress for Vada here. If
I return not in an hour, ride on without me. Olaf! You dismount, and let Jan take your
horse while you hide in a ditch and keep watch for those oncoming louts, but I think they
cannot come up in less than an hour and a half. They have exhausted themselves with too
much bad shooting and running about and yelling."
"Thur, let me go," Jan entreated.
"Nay, I am inconspicuous, and have more experience."
So saying, he rapidly made off, while Olaf sought a safe place to spy
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from, and Jan and Vada rode slowly to the poplars, leading Olaf s horse. they dismounted
and sat beneath the trees, with their backs against fallen hunk. Silence fell between them,
and Jan sought for something to talk about in vain. He feared that Vada would resent his
silence, but a he more agitated he grew, the further speech fled from him, until a little
sigh caused him to turn, and he saw that Vada had fallen asleep. Even in her slumber the
lines of privation and suffering were not eased, and he averted his eyes because the sight
was not a pleasing one, and the little starts and groans she gave afflicted his ear. He was
thankful when Thur relieved his vigil, riding towards them with Olaf running at his
stirrup.
Vada was gently roused: "You have not been gone an hour, Thur," said Jan. He
noted that Thur was in high spirits, and had secured a fourth horse, which he led by the
bridle and upon which his purchases, were packed. He threw a bundle at Vada's feet.
"Here, mistress, get behind the bushes and don this gear. Aye, there is no quicker man at a
purchase than I in all England!" When Vada had vanished, Thur began to transfer his
belongings to the new horse. "Poor Nan has had no rest," he observed, "and she can do,
with a lighter weight than mine. This mare is fresh and hearty, and I have taken a fancy to
her."
"Where in fortune did you come by her?" queried Olaf.
"By a stroke of luck there was a horse-fair holding within five minutes' walk of
the gate. 'Tis better to be born lucky than rich... who comes here?
A trim figure clad in russet-brown approached them, still clasping two knives to
its breast.
"Those knives are our most precious possession, Vada, since we can do nothing
without them," Thur said gravely. "Yet, they are most dangerous to you, and if found in
your possession would seal your doom. Will you trust them to me?"
"I will indeed," she answered readily.
Thur took them, still wrapped in the white cloth, and bade Olaf unstrap his cloak
from the saddle. When this was done he wrapped the knives within its folds and fastened
it securely back in place.
"Thank you, Vada. Your faith is not misplaced. Now, you, Olaf, hearken, and obey
without question. I give these knives into your charge to be brought safely to my
house and there restored to Vada. It is a solemn charge, lad, and if we are pursued, you
must make good your escape, and hide them safely. Only after that must you return to see
if you can aid us. These knives have marks on hilt and blade that shout
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you can aid us. These knives have marks on hilt and blade that shout 'magic!' to all who
look, and 'twill be the stake for us all if they are found on us. Without them, we may pass
as peaceful travellers. It is, therefore, your duty not to let that evidence fall into their
hands, but bring the blades safely to my house. You will do this faithfully?"
"As God is my witness," replied Olaf solemnly.
"Good. We have wasted much precious time. Let us be gone. There are yet two
good hours to nightfall. "
They mounted, and were about to ride from beneath the poplars when a sound of
voices raised in dispute came from the road. Waiting, they saw a tattered and foot-weary
mob scuffling along in the dusk, and two monks in the midst of them, walking each side
of the landlord John, whom they seemed to have in custody.
"There they go," breathed Thur. "What luck we had not ridden out."
The landlord appeared to be reluctant, and the monks had some difficulty in
urging him along. This was the cause of their acrimonious urgings to proclaim himself a
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