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Updated: May 16, 2025
Lord De Aldithely himself had been obliged to flee, but his son would never be delivered up peaceably to the king's messengers, for De Aldithely castle was strong and well defended. This was the meaning of the arrows shot at the strange boy.
Bidding the groom to bring the horse to the door of the inn at once, he hurried away, paid his reckoning, examined carefully the string of his bow, and looked over his store of arrows. "And now, Josceline, son of Lord De Aldithely," he said, "my arrow will bid thee halt this time, and not my voice.
The spies who kept watch on De Aldithely castle were four in number, and were hired by Sir Thomas De Lany, who had been commissioned by the king to capture Josceline in any manner that he could. It chanced that there was but one of them on duty in the wood that morning a certain short, stalky little fellow whose name was Walter Skinner, and who was fond of speaking of himself as a king's man.
In more than one quarter his reticence was severely blamed. By some it was called cowardice, by others self-seeking. "And now thou knowest the worst," said Lady De Aldithely. "Within three days I will contrive to send Robert Sadler hence on an errand. When he is gone thou shalt go forth in the daylight, and that same night my son and I will flee into Scotland.
He was old for his years, very daring, and fond of adventure. And he loved Lady De Aldithely not only for her kindness to him, but for the attention she had given to Fleetfoot. At last he spoke. "I have a plan. But, perchance, thou mistakest and there is no traitor within the walls." Lady De Aldithely looked at him quickly. "Nay, I am not mistaken," she said.
Occasionally the men-at-arms sallied out, but there were no guests, for Lady De Aldithely was determined to keep her son, if possible, and would trust few strangers. It was a mystery to Humphrey why she had trusted Hugo. "I may have dreams of earthquakes," he grumbled, "and what doth it count? Naught.
Yea, I will have him, though I set half England on the chase. His father is my enemy. And shall the son defy me? I will hale him to a dungeon, and so I tell thee, De Kirkham." It was not a long ride to De Aldithely castle for those who need neither skulk nor hide, and the messengers of the king were at Selby ere nightfall. Here they determined to rest and go on the next morning.
It was as Humphrey had said. Hugo was a favorite with all in the castle. His company was a great solace to Lady De Aldithely in particular. She was drawn to trust him, and every day confided more and more to him concerning her painful and perilous situation. "I am convinced," she said one day when two weeks had passed, "that there is mischief brewing.
"I must tell thee, Humphrey, that Robert Sadler designeth for a sum of money to deliver Josceline to the king." Humphrey stared. "I have discovered it, and have been almost crazed in consequence. But a deliverer hath come." "I saw no one," said Humphrey in a dazed tone. "Didst thou not see Hugo?" asked Lady De Aldithely with a faint smile.
Then recovering himself he had made answer, "Oh, ay. It will no doubt be best to see for yourself first, and there is no denying that the three can then be put outside the walls." Receiving no reply, he had withdrawn and delivered his message. Lady De Aldithely was standing evidently in deep thought when the little group entered. The strange lad looked at her curiously.
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