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The sun was dohat time they left the hill country and came out upon a wide heath void of trees and desolate, where was a wind cold and cla rush and reed stirred fitfully, filling the dark with stealthy rustlings

"Master," quoth Roger, shivering and glancing about histone Waste, and yonder the swamps of Hundleby Fen--you can smell them from here! And 'tis an evil place, this, for 'tis said the souls of h revel when the hts witches and warlocks ride shrieking upon the wind, with goblins daer?" quoth the archer, "now the sweet Saint Giles go with us--amen!" and he crossed himself devoutly

So went they in silence awhile until they were co ooze, and where trees, stunted and loom

"Lord," spake Walkyn, his voice low and awe-struck, "here is the marsh, a place of death for the slime to suck him under Full many a man lieth 'neath the reeds yonder, for there is but one path, very narrow and winding-- follow close then, and step where I shall step"

"Aye, o; 'tis said they do grow from the bones of perished oblin blast thee"

So went they, following a narrow track that wound betwixt slow-stirring sedge, past trees huddled and distorted that seemed to writhe and shiver in the clammy air until, beyond the swas looue before the hand, as froed: "Stand!" cried the voice, "who goes?"

"What, and is it thou, rogue Perkyn?" cried Walkyn, "art blind not to know rowled the voice, "but blind or no, I see others with thee"

"Good friends all!" quoth Walkyn

"Stand forth that Inear, Beltane beheld abow in his hand with an arrow on the string, at sight of whorowled theunder his matted hair, "I like not the looks o' these friends o' thine--"

"Nor we thine, foul fellow," quoth Giles, and spat again whole-heartedly