Both the boys had stopped short, and now they looked into each other’s faces with dismay.

Their light footfalls had not been heard, nor even the sound of their voices; for a strong breeze had sprung up, and was rustling the leaves overhead, and several birds were singing lustily.  The brothers had time to take in the situation without being seen themselves, and they then drew hack into a leafy covert and spoke in whispers.

“Edred, do thou go back to the house instantly and openly, and warn Brother Emmanuel that he go not forth.  Belike he might come out in search of us, since the hour is long past when we should have been with him.  That must not be.  Go and tell him all we have seen; whilst I will creep like a wildcat round the house, and see if there be other spies keeping watch like those we have seen.”

“Ay, do so,” replied Edred earnestly.  “I fear me we shall find that every door is watched.  But if thou art seen, go forward boldly.  Let none guess that you suspect aught.  Doubtless each watcher is well primed with some excellent reason for being found there.  Speak them friendly, and do not show distrust.”

“I will be as wise as a serpent,” answered the boy, with one of his keen looks which bespoke him older in mind than in years.

Edred felt that his junior was better fitted to cope with a spy than he himself; and gladly taking the other office upon himself, he walked gaily forward, whistling a roundelay as he moved, and affecting not to see the dark figure by the oak, which pressed closer and closer out of sight as the lad strode by.

“Verily he means to remain unseen,” thought Edred to himself.  “If he had not been a spy he would have greeted me as I passed.  He is after no good.  Thank Heaven we have seen and heard what we have!  We can so manage now that Brother Emmanuel set not foot beyond the courtyard for long enough to come—­not till he may sally forth to make his way to the coast.”

And then a sudden fear smote the boy that per chance this night journey to the coast might not be so easy to accomplish as had been hoped.  If the cunning prior had set a watch upon Chad with the very object of preventing the escape of his intended victim, might it not well be that his father’s forethought would be of no avail?

But it would not do to lose heart—­time might show a way of escape; and Edred hurried within, and found Brother Emmanuel awaiting his tardy pupils, the great Bible open before him, the sunset light illuminating his face till, to the boy’s ardent imagination, it seemed to be encircled by a nimbus.

His story was soon excitedly told, and as Brother Emmanuel heard of Sir Oliver’s sudden journey, a look almost as of pain crossed his face.

“I have told thy father that I cannot and will not suffer harm to befall him and his through his kindness to me.  Boy, boy, these be evil days in which to offend the powers that be; and it were better, far better, I should give myself up to death than that hurt should fall upon those I love and those who have befriended me with such generosity and love.”