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"Nay, my lord, I thank thee, but I must hence this night to Barham Broom. But for my news, 'tis this: the out-law men call Beltane, hath, by devilish arts, sacked and burned Garthlaxton Keep." "Why, this I knew; there is a lewd song already made thereon, as thus: "They gave Garthlaxton to the flame, Be glory to Duke Beltane's name, And unto lusty Giles the same, Dixit!"
So saying, Sir Benedict fell upon his knee before that great assemblage and caught Beltane's hand and kissed it; whereon, from those gleaming ranks rose a deep and thunderous shout while lance and spear-head flashed again.
But full oft Black Roger lifted his bronzed right hand the hand that had felt Beltane's sudden kiss and needs must he view it with eyes of wonder, as if it had been indeed some holy thing, what time he kept his midnight vigil beside the fire.
Then Beltane took out other two gold pieces and set them in the blind man's bony hand, saying: "Take these three gold pieces and buy you food, and thereafter " "Gold!" cried the blind man, "gold! Now the Saints keep and bless thee, young sir, sweet Jesu love thee ever!" and fain would he have knelt to kiss my Beltane's feet.
And because of this, many were they, knights and nobles and esquires, who sought out Beltane's lonely hut beside the brook, with offers of service, or to try a fall with him. But at their offers Beltane laughed and shook his head, and all who came to wrestle he threw upon their backs. And thus my Beltane dwelt within the greenwood, waxing mightier day by day.
"Thy man am I, to follow thee in life and go down with thee in death " Now hereupon Beltane came close, and in the dim light Black Roger beheld the new Beltane glaring down at him fierce-eyed and with great mailed fist clenched to smite; but even so Black Roger gave not back, only he drew dagger and strove to set it in Beltane's iron fingers.
Roger was down gasping on his knees, Beltane's hand was tight-clenched upon the hilt of his sword, as out into the moonlight crept one, very bent and feeble, shrouded in a long grey cloak; a pitiful figure, that, leaning a hand upon the rock, slowly raised a drooping head. Then Beltane saw that this was the witch Jolette.
"Say you so, boy?" said the stranger, and rising, took from behind a tree a long and heavy lance and thrust it into Beltane's grip; then, drawing his sword, he set it upright in the sward, and upon the hilt he put his cap, saying: "Ride back up the glade, and try an thou canst pick up my cap on thy point, at a gallop."
Down swayed the branch, low and lower, until Beltane's mailed foot, a-swing in mid air, found something beneath slipped away found it again, and thereupon, loosing the branch, down he came upon the ruined mill-wheel.
"What would ye? What seek ye of such as I?" But hereupon Black Roger spurred beside Beltane, his eyes wide and fearful in the shadow of his helm, his strong, mailed hand a-tremble on Beltane's arm. "Beware, my lord, beware!" he cried, "'tis nigh the midnight hour and she a noted witch heed her not lest she blight thy fair body, lest she " "Peace, Roger! Now speak, woman what would ye?"
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