.

SQUIRE SIMON COMES BACK TO OAKENHAM.

THE EARL MARSHAL TAKEN.
TO KING IN OAKENREALM.
Now as to Squire Simon, whether the devil helped him, or his luck, or were it his own cunning and his, horse's stoutness, we wot not; but in any case he fell not in with Ralph Longshanks and Anthony Green, but rode as far and as fast as his horse would go, and then lay down in the wild-wood; and on the morrow arose and went his ways, and came in the even to the Castle of the Uttermost March, and went on thence the morrow after on a fresh horse to Oakenham.

There he made no delay but went straight to the High House, and had privy speech of the Earl Marshal; and him he told how he had smitten Christopher, and, as he deemed, slain him.

The Earl Marshal looked on him grimly and said: "Where is the ring then ?" "I have it not," said Simon.