Had Cuthbert been running in a race of hare and hound, he would assuredly have borne away the prize from most boys of his age.  At headlong pace he made across the country, every foot of which, as far as the edge of Langholm Chase, he knew by heart.

The distance to the woods was some twelve miles, and in an hour and a half from the moment of his starting Cuthbert was deep within its shades.  Where he would be likely to find the outlaws he knew not; and, putting a whistle to his lips, he shrilly blew the signal, which would, he knew, be recognized by any of the band within hearing.

He thought that he heard an answer, but was not certain, and again dashed forward, almost as speedily as if he had but just started.

Five minutes later a man stood in the glade up which he was running.  He recognized him at once as one of Cnut’s party.

“Where are the band?” he gasped.

“Half a mile or so to the right,” replied the man.

Guided by the man, Cuthbert ran at full speed, till, panting and scarce able to speak, he arrived at the spot where Cnut’s band were gathered.

In a few words he told them what had happened, and although they had just been chased by the father of the captured child, there was not a moment of hesitation in promising their aid to rescue her from a man whom they regarded as a far more bitter enemy, both of themselves and their race.

“I fear we shall be too late to cut them off,” Cnut said, “they have so long a start; but at least we will waste no time in gossiping.”

Winding a horn to call together some of the members of the band who had scattered, and leaving one at the meeting-place to give instructions to the rest, Cnut, followed by those assembled there, went off at a swinging trot through the glades toward Wortham Castle.

After a rapid calculation of distances, and allowing for the fact that the baron’s men—­knowing that Sir Walter’s retainers and friends were all deep in the forest, and even if they heard of the outrage could not be on their traces for hours—­would take matters quietly, Cnut concluded that they had arrived in time.

Turning off, they made their way along the edge of the wood, to the point where the road from Evesham ran through the forest.

Scarcely had the party reached this point when they heard a faint clatter of steel.

“Here they come!” exclaimed Cuthbert.

Cnut gave rapid directions, and the band took up their posts behind the trees, on either side of the path.

“Remember,” Cnut said, “above all things be careful not to hit the child, but pierce the horse on which she is riding.  The instant he falls, rush forward.  We must trust to surprise to give us the victory.”

Three minutes later the head of a band of horsemen was seen through the trees.  They were some thirty in number, and, closely grouped as they were together, the watchers behind the trees could not see the form of the child carried in their midst.