Merrily rode the party forth through the great gateway and across the fine park in the direction of the forest.  The Prince and his five chosen comrades rode together, sometimes speaking in low tones, sometimes joining in the gay converse on the subject of hunting which went on around them.  But the Prince’s thoughts were far less with sport than with the wrongs of his father’s subjects, and the cruel outrages which they had suffered unredressed and almost unpitied.  His heart burned within him to think that in merry England, as he liked to call it, and in the days of chivalry, such things were possible; and to put down cruelty and rapacity with a strong hand seemed of infinitely more importance to him than the pursuit of a fine sport.

Thus musing, and thus talking in low tones to the thoughtful John, the Prince dropped a little behind the muster of huntsmen.  His chosen comrades followed his example, and straggled rather aimlessly after the main body, till at last a turn in the forest shut these completely from their view.

“Now,” said the Prince, turning to his five selected comrades, “this, if I mistake not, is our road.  We will soon see if we cannot get upon the track of the miscreants whom I am burning to punish and destroy!”

CHAPTER VI.  THE PRINCE’S EXPLOIT.

The woodman’s cottage was quickly reached.  It was a little rush-thatched cabin of mud, lying in the very heart of the dim wood.  The party had to dismount and tie up their horses at some short distance from the place; but they had the good fortune to find the occupant at home, or rather just outside his cabin, gathering a few dried sticks to light his fire.

He was a grizzled, uncouth-looking old man, but a certain dignity was imparted to him by a look of deep and unspeakable melancholy upon his face, which gave it pathos and character of its own.  The rustic face is apt to become vacant, bovine, or coarse.  Solitude often reduces man almost to the level of the beasts.  This old man, who for many years had lived hidden away in this vast forest, might well have lost all but the semblance of humanity; but such was not the case.  His eyes had light in them; his very melancholy showed that the soul was not dead.  As he saw the bright-faced boys approaching him, he first gave a great start of surprise, eagerly scanning one face after another; then, as he did so the light of hope died out from his eyes, and the old despairing look came back.

Something of this was observed by the Prince and his followers, but they were at present too much bent upon their own mission to have thought to spare for any other concerns.  They formed a circle round him, and asked him of the robbers —­ if he ever saw them; if he knew their haunts; if they had been near these parts during the past days?

For a moment it seemed as though the old man was disappointed by the questions asked him.  He muttered something they did not rightly comprehend about robbers worse than these, and a quick fierce look passed across his face, and then died out again.  The young Prince was courteous and patient:  he allowed the old man’s slow wits time to get to work; and when he did begin to speak he spoke to some purpose, and the boys listened and questioned with the most eager attention.