The St. Louis Republic., 1905-12-24
SUNDAY MAoAzI
5 1R n 1 G F. L

Cmldford have come ont aenise him.
but the fox has many earths. and It would
puzzle you to get him out of them"
BY Saint Paul! were my esrand not .
pressing one I would be tempted to turn
aside and seek him. Where lives be.
then."
There Is . great moe2s beyond
Puttenham, and across It there are caves
in which he and his people lurk."
His people? He hath . band?"
There are several with him.
1T sounds . most Honorable enter
prise" said Nigel. when the King
hath come and gone We win spare . day
for the outlaws Of Puttenham. I fear
there is little chance for US to zee them
On this Journey"
They prey upon the pilgrims Who pass
along the Winchester Road. and they
are wen loved by the folk in these parts.
for they rob none Of them and have IN
open hand for an who win help them."
1T is right easy to have an open hand
with the money that you have stojen."
said Nigel: but fear that they win not
try to rob two men with swords at their
girdles like you and me. 20 We shall have
no profit from them"
They had passed over the Wild moors
and had come down now into the main
road by which the pilgrims from the west
Of England made their way to the nation
al shrine at Canterbury. 1t passed from
Winchester. and up the beautiful valley
Of the ltchen until it reached Farnham,
where It forked into two branches. one
of which ran along the Hogs Back. while
the second wound to the south and came
out at Saint Catharinc's Hill where
stands the Pilgrim shrine, a gray old ruin
now. but once 50 august, so crowded and
50 afiiuent. 1t was this second branch
upon which Nigel and Awkward found
themselves as they rode to Cuildford.
No one. as it chanced. was going the
same way as themselves. but they met
one large drove Of pilgrims returning
from their journey with pictures Of Saint
Thomas and snails' shells or little leaden
ampull;e in their hats and bundles Of
purchases over their shoulders. They
were a grimy. ragged. travel-staincd
crew. the men walking. the women horne
on asses. Man and beast. they Emped
along as If it would be glad day when
they saw their homes once more. These
and few beggars OF ministries. who !
crouchcd among the heather on either |;
side Of the track in the hope of receiving |
an occasional farthing from the passer-by,
were the only folk they met until they
had reached the village Of Puttenham.
there was q hot sun and Just
breeze enough to send the dust flying
down the road, so they were glad to clear
their threats with glass Of teer at the
stake in the village. where the fair
alcwife gave Nigel a cold farewell be-
cause he had no attentions for her, and
Awkward box on the ear because he had
too many.
On the farther side Of Puttenham the
road runs through thick woods Of oak
and beech. with a tangled underRrowth
Of fern and bramble. Here they met a
patrol Of scrgcants- at arms. tan fellows.
well mounted. clad in studded-leather
raps and Tunes. with lanCes and swords.
They walked their horses slowly on the
shady side of the road. and stopped as
the travellers came up. to ask If they had
|een molested on the way.
Have a care" they added. ''foe the
Wild Man. and his wife are out. Only
they slew merchant from the
xest and took a hundred crowns.''
His wife. YOU say:"