Q: CHAPTER XVII.

AN ATTEMPT AT ASSASSINATION.

When Wulf met the armourer next morning in the cathedral close he was accompanied by Beorn, who said, laughing, to the latter, "You have beaten me fairly, friend Ulred, and it is well that I had no wager with you on the race. But it was not by much, for I rode in here as the bells were chiming eleven. I was glad to hear from Wulf when I roused him up that he had learnt all the news from you, for indeed I was sore weary, and was right pleased to wrap myself in my cloak and go straight to sleep instead of having to sit up for an hour expounding my story."

"We have resolved in the first place, Ulred, to say nought of this matter to the king," began Wulf. "He will have enough to occupy all his thoughts in the affairs of the kingdom, and in the second place his nature is so open that he will refuse to believe in such villainy unless upon strong proof, and of actual proof we have none. Beorn's appearance here will excite no surprise. He will say that having nought in particular to occupy him he had ridden north to be at the wedding, and finding that he was too late, would at any rate ride back with the king. With him and me and Osgod ever on the watch, methinks there will be little fear of a surprise; and it is by surprise only that they can succeed, for Harold himself is a match for any four or five ordinary men if he has but time to draw his sword. I will, however, on some excuse have half a score of Harold's housecarls placed under my orders, and sleeping or waking the king shall never be a moment unguarded.

1. yes
2. Beorn
3. Wulf
4. the armourer
5. the next morning
6. in the cathedral
7. yes
8. Ulred
9. yes
10. no
11. eleven

Numbered questions:
1. Was he accompanied?
2. By who?
3. Who was?
4. Who did he meet?
5. when?
6. Where?
7. Was Beorn laughing?
8. Who beat him?
9. Did he beat him fairly?
10. Was the victory by a large margin
11. What were the bells chiming?

Q: CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.

MORE OF THE RESULTS OF WAR.

I need not trouble the reader with an account of the meeting with my faithful servant. While we were still engaged in questioning each other, I noticed that the countenance of our friend the scout wore an anxious and almost impatient expression.

"Anything wrong, Dobri?" I inquired.

"God knows!" he replied in a solemn tone, which impressed me much. "A rumour has come that the Circassians or the Bashi-Bazouks--I know not which, but both are fiends and cowards--have been to Venilik, and--"

He stopped abruptly.

"But that village was in the hands of the Russians," I said, at once understanding his anxiety.

"It may be so, but I go to see without delay," he replied, "and have only stopped thus long to know if you will go with me. These brutes kill and wound women and children as well as men. Perhaps your services may--Will you go?"

He spoke so earnestly, and his face looked so deadly pale, that I felt it impossible to refuse him. I was much exhausted by the prolonged labours of the day, but knew that I had reserve strength for an emergency.

"Give me a few minutes," said I,--"just to get leave, you know. I can't go without leave."

The scout nodded. In ten minutes I had returned. Meanwhile, Lancey had prepared my horse and his own. Swallowing a can of water, I vaulted into the saddle. It was very dark, but Petroff knew every foot of the country. For several hours we rode at a smart gallop, and then, as day was breaking, drew near to Venilik. As we approached, I observed that the bold countenance of the scout became almost pinched-looking from anxiety. Presently we observed smoke against the sky, and then saw that the village had undoubtedly been burned. I glanced at Petroff nervously. There was no longer a look of anxiety on his face, but a dark vindictive frown.

1. Dobri
2. Venilik.
3. the Circassians or the Bashi-Bazouks
4. the Russians
5. kill and wound women and childrenen
6. yes
7. my horse and his own
8. a can
9. yes
10. Petroff
11. at a gallop
12. the village had been burned
13. a dark vindictive frown.
14. the results of war
15. fiends and cowards
16. yes
17. yes
18. reserved strength
19. leave to go
20. ten minutes

Numbered questions:
1. Who asked the king to go with him?
2. Where were they going?
3. Who did Dobri hear had been to Venilik?
4. Who was supposed to be in control of the town?
5. What did Dobri say the brutes do?
6. And men?
7. Who horses did Lancey get ready?
8. How much water did he drink before they left?
9. Was it daylight?
10. Who was very familiar with the area?
11. How fast did they travel?
12. What did they see once they arrived?
13. What was on Petroff's face now?
14. What is this a story of, according to the author?
15. What did Dobri call the Circassians and Bashi-Bazouks?
16. Did his face look pale when he was asking for his friend to go with him to Venilik?
17. Was the man already tired from working all day?
18. What did he have for an emergency, though?
19. What did he have to get before they could go?
20. How long did it take him to get that?