Others were roasting portions of the carcass of another deer.

A few sat apart, some talking, others busy in making arrows, while a few lay asleep on the greensward.
As Cuthbert entered the clearing several of the party rose to their feet.
"Ah, Cuthbert," shouted a man of almost gigantic stature, who appeared to be one of the leaders of the party, "what brings you here, lad, so early?
You are not wont to visit us till even, when you can lay your crossbow at a stag by moonlight." "No, no, Cousin Cnut," Cuthbert said, "thou canst not say that I have ever broken the forest laws, though I have looked on often and often, while you have done so." "The abettor is as bad as the thief," laughed Cnut, "and if the foresters caught us in the act, I wot they would make but little difference whether it was the shaft of my longbow or the quarrel from thy crossbow which brought down the quarry.

But again, lad, why comest thou here?
for I see by the sweat on your face and by the heaving of your sides that you have run fast and far." "I have, Cnut; I have not once stopped for breathing since I left Erstwood.

I have come to warn you of danger.

The earl is preparing for a raid." Cnut laughed somewhat disdainfully.
"He has raided here before, and I trow has carried off no game.