“Look’ee, ’tis fair, good rope this, and well-tried, and shall bear even thy great carcase sweetly—­aye, sweetly—­”

“How—­would’st hang me also?” said Beltane faintly, and the heavy quarter-staff sagged in his loosened grip.

“Hang thee—­aye.  Thou didst withstand us with this fool, thou hast dared miscall our lord—­we be all witnesses to it.  So now will we—­”

But swift as lightning-flash, Beltane’s long quarter-staff whirled and fell, and, for all his hood of mail, Black Roger threw wide his arms and, staggering, fell upon his face and so lay; then, fierce and grim, he had leapt upon the other two, and the air was full of the rattle and thud of vicious blows.  But these foresters were right lusty fellows and they, together, beset my Beltane so furiously, right and left, that he perforce gave back ’neath their swift and grievous blows and, being overmatched, turned and betook him to his heels, whereat they, incontinent, pursued with loud gibes and fierce laughter.  But on ran Beltane up the glade very fleetly yet watchful of eye, until, seeing one had outstripped his fellow, he checked his going somewhat, stumbling as one that is spent, whereat the forester shouted the louder and came on amain.  Then did my cunning Beltane leap aside and, leaping, turned and smote the fellow clean and true upon the crown, and, laughing to see him fall, ran in upon the other forester with whirling quarter-staff.  Now this fellow seeing himself stand alone, stayed not to abide the onset, but turning about, made off into the green.  Then Beltane leaned him, panting, upon his staff, what time the fallen man got him unsteadily to his legs and limped after his comrade; as for the jester, he was gone long since; only Black Roger lay upon his face and groaned faintly, ever and anon.  Wherefore came Beltane and stood above him as one in thought and, seeing him begin to stir, took from him his sword and coil of rope and loosing off his swordbelt, therewith bound his hands fast together and so, dragged him ’neath a tree that stood hard by.  Thus when at last Black Roger opened his eyes, he beheld Beltane standing above him and in his hand the deadly rope.  Now, looking from this to the desolation about him, Black Roger shivered, and gazing up into’ the stern face above, his florid cheek grew pale.

“Master,” said he hoarsely, “what would ye?”

“I would do to thee as thou hast done to others.”

“Hang me?”

“Aye!” quoth Beltane, and setting the noose about his neck, cast the rope across a branch.

“Master, how shall my death profit thee?”

“The world shall be the better, and thy soul know less of sin, mayhap.”

“Master,” said Black Roger, stooping to wipe sweat from his face with fettered hands, “I have store of money set by—­”

But Beltane laughed with pallid lips, and, pulling upon the rope, dragged Black Roger, choking, to his feet.

“Master,” he gasped, “show a little mercy—­”