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Now at this the outlaws began totheir heads one to another and voicing their grievances thus: "They cut offmy lord's taxes, and for this I would have justice!"

"They burned !"

"I had a wife once, and she was young and fair; sohis huntseance!"

"They burned my hoeance!"

"They cut off my brother's hands!"

"They put outto mine own roof-tree!--behold this crooked neck o' mine--so areat or little, so live we outlaws in the green, lawless s Who then shall bring us to our desire, how shall our grievous wrongs be righted? An we follohither would'st thou lead us?"

"By dangerous ways," answered Beltane, "through fire and battle But by fire s may be done away An ye follow, 'tis like some of us shall die, but by such death our brethren shall win to honour, and hoht Ye are but a wild, unordered rabble, yet are ye ed, yet is your cause a just one Ye bear weapons and have arms to smite--why then lurk ye here within the ood? Will not fire burn? Will not steel cut? He that is not coward, let him follow me!"

"Aye," cried a score of harsh voices, "but whither--whither?"

Quoth Beltane: "Be thereye that know Sir Pertolepe the Red?"

Noent there up a roar, deep-lunged and olittered

"Ah--we know him--the Red Wolf--we know him--ah!"

"Then tell me," said Beltane, "will not steel cut? Will not fire burn? Arise, I say, rise up and follow ht and ere the dawn Garthlaxton shall be ablaze!"

"Garthlaxton!" cried Eric, "Garthlaxton!" and thereafter all men stared on Beltane as one that is mad

"Look now," said Beltane, "Sir Pertolepe hath ridden forth with all his company to join Black Ivo's banner Thus, within Garthlaxton his men be few; moreover I know a secret way beneath the wall Well, is't enough? Who a ye will follow, and smite for freedom and Pentavalon?"