“The forest is no place for thee now,” she said; “get thee hence as fast as thou canst.”

“And wherefore so?” asked Cuthbert, surprised.  “Methought the peril ceased with the death of—­”

“Hush!” said the gipsy, almost sternly; “bethink thee that there may be listeners even now about us in these thick bushes, and guard thy words with caution.  Remember the strange links that bind together those of the wild gipsy blood; and remember that Long Robin lies in his bloody grave not far from here.”

She lowered her voice as she spoke, and Cuthbert instinctively followed her example.

“But no man knows that.”

“How canst thou tell?”

“None saw the deed.  It was done in the dead of night.  Ere morning came he was laid below the earth.  Thou thyself knew not what had befallen him till I spoke the word.”

He looked at her as if in momentary distrust; but the calm gaze and the noble countenance of the gipsy seemed to reassure him.  Joanna, who had read his thought, smiled slightly.

“Nay, boy, thou needst not fear treachery from Joanna, and the gipsy queen will give thee all protection in her power.  Have I not told thee that upon me, when I received that title, was laid the charge of seeing the stolen treasure restored to the house of Trevlyn?  To thy courage and resolve and perseverance and skill belongs it that this charge is now fulfilled.  Thou needst not fear that any ill will or lack of caution on Joanna’s part will cause evil to light upon thy head.  But there are others with whom thou mayest have to reckon.  There is Miriam, to whom Long Robin was as the apple of the eye.”

“Yet he was not her husband (he is no aged man), and he can scarce have been her son.”

“No matter.  As I have told thee ere this, there be strange bonds betwixt us of the gipsy blood, binding closer and firmer than ever ties of kinship do.  Miriam loved yon man with a love passing all others.  She has missed him these many weeks.  She is frantic with anxious grief.  She is convinced that some ill has befallen him.  She is rousing to anger and vengeance the whole tribe.  They have vowed that they will find Robin, whether he be dead or alive, and that if dead they will avenge them on his murderer.  Already suspicion has fallen upon thee.  Dost think thy many journeys through the forest have passed unnoted by us?”

“I have never seen a soul; I had not known myself watched.”

“Luckily for thee thou hast not been watched, else would little of the treasure have been placed in safe keeping.  Thou hast reaped the benefit Robin hoped to reap himself alone when he surrounded this dell as with a barrier that no man might pass.  Even the most daring spirits of our tribe dare not come here; and Miriam, who bids them scour the forest in all other directions, fears to tell them to come hither, albeit I well know she will shortly search the spot herself if Robin come not soon.  Then