Only the two ends of strap
remained. Aylward and Nigel stared at each other in blank dismay.
Then the young Squire shook his clenched hands and pulled at his
yellow curls in his despair.
"The Lady Ermyntrude's bracelet! My grandfather's cup!" he cried.
"I would have died ere I lost them! What can I say to her? I
dare not return until I have found them. Oh, Aylward, Aylward!
how came you to let them be taken?"
The honest archer had pushed back his steel cap and was scratching
his tangled head. "Nay, I know nothing of it. You never said
that there was aught of price in the bag, else had I kept a better
eye upon it. Certes! it was not this fellow who took it, since I
have never had my hands from him. It can only be the woman who
fled with it while we fought."
Nigel stamped about the road in his perplexity. "I would follow
her to the world's end if I knew where I could find her, but to
search these woods for her is to look for a mouse in a
wheat-field. Good Saint George, thou who didst overcome the
Dragon, I pray you by that most honorable and knightly achievement
that you will be with me now! And you also, great Saint Julian,
patron of all wayfarers in distress! Two candles shall burn
before your shrine at Godalming, if you will but bring me back my
saddle-bag. What would I not give to have it back?"
"Will you give me my life?" asked the outlaw.
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