stifled　with　the　straw；　he　felt　himself　carried　on；　down　the　steps；　across　the　court；　and　then　he　knew；　from　the　darkness　and　the　changed　sound　of　Osmond's　tread；　that　they　were　in　the　stable。　　Osmond　laid　him　carefully　down；　and　whispered〃All　right　so　far。　　You　can　breathe？〃
  〃Not　well。　　Can't　you　let　me　out？〃
  〃Not　yetnot　for　worlds。　　Now　tell　me　if　I　put　you　face　downwards；　for　I　cannot　see。〃
  He　laid　the　living　heap　of　straw　across　the　saddle；　bound　it　on；　then　led　out　the　horse；　gazing　round　cautiously　as　he　did　so；　but　the　whole　of　the　people　of　the　Castle　were　feasting；　and　there　was　no　one　to　watch　the　gates。　　Richard　heard　the　hollow　sound　of　the　hoofs；　as　the　drawbridge　was　crossed；　and　knew　that　he　was　free；　but　still　Osmond　held　his　arm　over　him；　and　would　not　let　him　move；　for　some　distance。　　Then；　just　as　Richard　felt　as　if　he　could　endure　the　stifling　of　the　straw；　and　his　uncomfortable　position；　not　a　moment　longer；　Osmond　stopped　the　horse；　took　him　down；　laid　him　on　the　grass；　and　released　him。　　He　gazed　around；　they　were　in　a　little　wood；　evening　twilight　was　just　coming　on；　and　the　birds　sang　sweetly。
  〃Free！　free！this　is　freedom！〃　cried　Richard；　leaping　up　in　the　delicious　cool　evening　breeze；　〃the　Queen　and　Lothaire；　and　that　grim　room；　all　far　behind。〃
  〃Not　so　far　yet；〃　said　Osmond；　〃you　must　not　call　yourself　safe　till　the　Epte　is　between　us　and　them。　　Into　the　saddle；　my　Lord；　we　must　ride　for　our　lives。〃
  Osmond　helped　the　Duke　to　mount；　and　sprang　to　the　saddle　behind　him；　set　spurs　to　the　horse；　and　rode　on　at　a　quick　rate；　though　not　at　full　speed；　as　he　wished　to　spare　the　horse。　　The　twilight　faded；　the　stars　came　out；　and　still　he　rode；　his　arm　round　the　child；　who；　as　night　advanced；　grew　weary；　and　often　sunk　into　a　sort　of　half　doze；　conscious　all　the　time　of　the　trot　of　the　horse。　　But　each　step　was　taking　him　further　from　Queen　Gerberge；　and　nearer　to　Normandy；　and　what　recked　he　of　weariness？　　Onon；　the　stars　grew　pale　again；　and　the　first　pink　light　of　dawn　showed　in　the　eastern　sky；　the　sun　rose；　mounted　higher　and　higher；　and　the　day　grew　hotter；　the　horse　went　more　slowly；　stumbled；　and　though　Osmond　halted　and　loosed　the　girth；　he　only　mended　his　pace　for　a　little　while。
  Osmond　looked　grievously　perplexed；　but　they　had　not　gone　much　further　before　a　party　of　merchants　came　in　sight；　winding　their　way　with　a　long　train　of　loaded　mules；　and　stout　men　to　guard　them；　across　the　plains；　like　an　eastern　caravan　in　the　desert。　　They　gazed　in　surprise　at　the　tall　young　Norman　holding　the　child　upon　the　worn…　out　war…horse。
  〃Sir　merchant；〃　said　Osmond　to　the　first；　〃see　you　this　steed？　Better　horse　never　was　ridden；　but　he　is　sorely　spent；　and　we　must　make　speed。　　Let　me　barter　him　with　you　for　yonder　stout　palfrey。　　He　is　worth　twice　as　much；　but　I　cannot　stop　to　chafferay　or　no　at　once。〃
  The　merchant；　seeing　the　value　of　Osmond's　gallant　black；　accepted　the　offer；　and　Osmond　removing　his　saddle；　and　placing　Richard　on　his　new　steed；　again　mounted；　and　on　they　went　through　the　country　which　Osmond's　eye　had　marked　with　the　sagacity　men　acquire　by　living　in　wild；　unsettled　places。　　The　great　marshes　were　now　far　less　dangerous　than　in　the　winter；　and　they　safely　crossed　them。　　There　had；　as　yet；　been　no　pursuit；　and　Osmond's　only　fear　was　for　his　little　charge；　who；　not　having　recovered　his　full　strength　since　his　illness；　began　to　suffer　greatly　from　fatigue　in　the　heat　of　that　broiling　summer　day；　and　leant　against　Osmond　patiently；　but　very　wearily；　without　moving　or　looking　up。　　He　scarcely　revived　when　the　sun　went　down；　and　a　cool　breeze　sprang　up；　which　much　refreshed　Osmond　himself；　and　still　more　did　it　refresh　the　Squire　to　see；　at　length；　winding　through　the　green　pastures；　a　blue　river；　on　the　opposite　bank　of　which　rose　a　high　rocky　mound；　bearing　a　castle　with　many　a　turret　and　battlement。
  〃The　Epte！　the　Epte！　　There　is　Normandy；　sir！　　Look　up；　and　see　your　own　dukedom。〃　　〃Normandy！〃　cried　Richard；　sitting　upright。　　〃Oh；　my　own　home！〃　　Still　the　Epte　was　wide　and　deep；　and　the　peril　was　not　yet　ended。　　Osmond　looked　anxiously；　and　rejoiced　to　see　marks　of　cattle；　as　if　it　had　been　forded。　　〃We　must　try　it；〃　he　said；　and　dismounting；　he　waded　in；　leading　the　horse；　and　firmly　holding　Richard　in　the　saddle。　　Deep　they　went；　the　water　rose　to　Richard's　feet；　then　to　the　horse's　neck；　then　the　horse　was　swimming；　and　Osmond　too；　still　keeping　his　firm　hold；　then　there　was　ground　again；　the　force　of　the　current　was　less；　and　they　were　gaining　the　bank。　At　that　instant；　however；　they　perceived　two　men　aiming　at　them　with　cross…bows　from　the　castle；　and　another　standing　on　the　bank　above　them；　who　called　out；　〃Hold！　　None　pass　the　ford　of　Montemar　without　permission　of　the　noble　Dame　Yolande。〃　　〃Ha！　Bertrand；　the　Seneschal；　is　that　you？〃　returned　Osmond。　　〃Who　calls　me　by　my　name？〃　replied　the　Seneschal。　　〃It　is　I；　Osmond　de　Centeville。　　Open　your　gates　quickly；　Sir　Seneschal；　for　here　is　the　Duke；　sorely　in　need　of　rest　and　refreshment。〃
  〃The　Duke！〃　exclaimed　Bertrand；　hurrying　down　to　the　landing…place；　and　throwing　off　his　cap。　　〃The　Duke！　the　Duke！〃　rang　out　the　shout　from　the　men…at…arms　on　the　battlements　above　and　in　an　instant　more　Osmond　had　led　the　horse　up　from　the　water；　and　was　exclaiming；　〃Look　up；　my　Lord；　look　up！　　You　are　in　your　own　dukedom　again；　and　this　is　Alberic's　castle。〃
  〃Welcome；　indeed；　most　noble　Lord　Duke！　　Blessings　on　the　day！〃　cried　the　Seneschal。　　〃What　joy　for　my　Lady　and　my　young　Lord！〃
  〃He　is　sorely　weary；〃　said　Osmond；　looking　anxiously　at　Richard；　who；　even　at　the　welcome　cries　that　showed　so　plainly　that　he　was　in　his　own　Normandy；　scarcely　raised　himself　or　spoke。　　〃He　had　been　very　sick　ere　I　brought　him　away。　　I　doubt　me　they　sought　to　poison　him；　and　I　vowed　not　to　tarry　at　Laon　another　hour　after　he　was　fit　to　move。　　But　cheer　up；　my　Lord；　you　are　safe　and　free　now；　and　here　is　the　good　Dame　de　Montemar　to　tend　you；　far　better　than　a　rude　Squire　like　me。〃
  〃Alas；　no！〃　said　the　Seneschal；　〃our　Dame　is　gone　with　young　Alberic　on　a　pilgrimage　to　Jumieges　to　pray　for　the　Duke's　safety。　　What　joy　for　them　to　know　that　their　prayers　have　been　granted！〃
  Osmond；　however；　could　scarcely　rejoice；　so　alarmed　was　he　at　the　extreme　weariness　and　exhaustion　of　his　charge；　who；　when　they　brought　him　into　the　Castle　hall；　hardly　spoke　or　looked；　and　could　not　eat。　　They　carried　him　up　to　Alberic's　bed；　where　he　tossed　about　restlessly；　too　tired　to　sleep。
  〃Alas！　alas！〃　said　Osmond；　〃I　have　been　too　hasty。　　I　have　but　saved　him　from　the　Franks　to　be　his　death　by　my　own　imprudence。〃
  〃Hush！　　Sieur　de　Centeville；〃　said　the　Seneschal's　wife；　coming　into　the　room。　　〃To　talk　in　that　manner　is　the　way　to　be　his　death；　indeed。　　Leave　the　child　to　mehe　is　only　over…weary。〃
  Osmond　was　sure　his　Duke　was　among　friends；　and　would　have　been　glad　to　trust　him　to　a　woman；　but　Richard　had　but　one　instinct　left　in　all　his　weakness　and　exhaustionto　cling　close　to　Osmond；　as　if　he　felt　him　his　only　friend　and　protector；　for　he　was；　as　yet；　too　much　worn　out　to　understand　that　he　was　in　Normandy　and　safe。　　For　two　or　three　hours；　therefore；　Osmond　and　the　Seneschal's　wife　watched　on　each　side　of　his　bed；　soothing　his　restlessness；　until　at　length　he　became　quiet；　and　at　last　dropped　sound　asleep。
  The　sun　was　high　in　the　heavens　when　Richard　awoke。　　He　turned　on　his　straw…filled　crib；　and　looked　up。　　It　was　not　the　tapestried　walls　of　his　chamber　at　Laon　that　met　his　opening　eyes；　but　the　rugged　stone　and　tall　loop…hole　window　of　a　turret　chamber。　　Osmond　de　Centeville　lay　on　the　floor　by　his　side；　in　the　sound　sleep　of　one　overcome　by　long　watching　and　weariness。　　And　what　more　did　Richard　see？
  It　was　the　bright　face　and　sparkling　eyes　of　Alberic　de　Montemar；　who　was　leaning　against　the　foot　of　his　bed；　gazing　earnestly；　as　he　watched　for　his　waking。　　There　was　a　cry〃Alberic！　Alberic！〃　　〃My　Lord！　my　Lord！〃　Richard　sat　up　and　held　out　both　arms；　and　Alberic　flung　himself　into　them。　　They　hugged　each　other；　and　uttered　broken　exclamations　and　screams　of　joy；　enough　to　have　awakened　any　sleeper　but　one　so　wearied　out　as　Osmond。
  〃And　is　it　true？　　Oh；　am　I　really　in　Normandy　again？〃　cried　Richard。
  〃Yes；　yes！oh；　yes；　my　Lord！　　You　are　at　Montemar。　　Everything　here　is　yours。　　The　bar…tailed　hawk　is　quite　well；　and　my　mother　will　be　here　this　evening；　she　let　me　ride　on　the　instant　we　heard　the　news。〃
  〃We　rode　long　and　late；　and　I　was　very　weary；〃　said　Richard！　〃but　I　don't　care；　now　we　are　at　home。　　But　I　can　hardly　believe　it！　　Oh；　Alberic；　it　has　been　very　dreary！〃
  〃See　here；　my　Lord！〃　said　Alberic；　standing　by　the　window。　　〃Look　here；　and　you　will　know　you　are　at　home　again！〃
  Richard　bounded　to　the　window；　and　what　a　sight　met　his　eyes！　The　Castle　court　was　thronged　with　men…at…arms　and　horses；　the　morning　sun　sparkling　on　many　a　burnished　hauberk　and　tall　conical　helmet；　and　above　them　waved　many　a　banner　and　pennon　that　Richard　knew　full　well。　　〃There！　there！〃　he　shouted　aloud　with　glee。　　〃Oh；　there　is　the　horse…shoe　of　Ferrieres！　and　there　the　chequers　of　Warenne！　　Oh；　and　best　of　all；　there　isthere　is　our　own　red　pennon　of