The men stood as if paralysed.

“Will you not obey?” shouted the weak Ethelred, and stamped in impotent anger on the floor.

But they would not—­they could not touch Edmund.

Edric whispered in the king’s ear.

“I was wrong,” said the king; “retire, guards.

“Edmund, come with me; tell me what you have seen.  I will hear you, and judge between you and my Edric—­judge fairly.”

“Wait till my return, Alfgar.”

Alfgar waited.  No one spoke to him; all the company seemed utterly bewildered, as well they might be until, after the expiration of an hour, during which time Ednoth had left the hall, and the company broke up by degrees, an officer of the court came and whispered in his ear that Edmund awaited him without the gates.

He left the table at once, and proceeded beyond the precincts of the palace, following his guide.

“Where is the prince?”

“He has had a stormy interview with his father, and has just left him, refusing to lodge in the palace, to sleep without the precincts.  I am to conduct you thither.”

Leaving the palace, they were passing through some thick shrubbery, when all at once two strong men sprang upon Alfgar.  At the same moment his attendant turned round and assisted his foes.  He struggled, but he was easily overpowered, when his captors led him away, until, passing a postern gate in the western wall of the town, they crossed an embankment, and came upon the river.  There they placed him on board a small boat, and rowed rapidly down the stream.

In the space of a few minutes they ran the boat ashore in the midst of dense woods which fringed the farther bank, and there they forced him to land, and led him upwards until, deep in the woods, they came upon an old timbered house.  They knocked at the door, which was speedily opened by a man of gigantic stature and ruffianly countenance, by whose side snarled a mastiff as repulsive as he.

“Here, Higbald, we have brought thee a prisoner from our lord.”

The wretch looked upon Alfgar with the eyes of an ogre bent on devouring a captive, and then said: 

“The chamber where blind Cuthred was slaughtered looks out on the woods behind where no one passes, and it is strong; it will be better for you to take him there.”

And he drew aside to let them pass.

“Here, Wolf” said the uncouth gaoler, “smell him, and see you have to guard him.”

The dog seemed to comprehend.  He smelt around the prisoner, then displayed his huge fangs, and growled, as if to tell Alfgar what his fate would be if he tried to escape.

The poor lad turned to his captors who had brought him there, for they seemed more humane than his new gaoler.

“For pity’s sake, tell me why I am brought here—­what crime I have committed.”

No reply.

“At least bear a message to one who will think I have deserted him in his need.”