Hung or shot, for he deserved either." "Hah!" ejaculated the lad, with a sigh of relief.

"Then you are not glad to see him, father ?" "Glad to see him?
Are you mad, boy ?" "No, father," said the lad, with a merry laugh.

"I hope not; but he said you would be, and that you were old brothers-in-arms, and that he longed to grip you by the hand; and he tried to hug me, and shed tears, and flattered me, and said all sorts of things." "Pah! the same as of old; but you said--and his men." "Yes, about a dozen like him; ruffianly-looking, rag-bags of fellows, all armed, and looking like a gang of bullies and robbers." Sir Morton frowned, rose from his seat, and walked to the side of the room, where his sword and belt lay in front of a bookcase.
"Well, I suppose I must see the fellow.

He served under me, years ago, Ralph, and I suppose he has come begging, unless he sees a chance to steal." "Then I was not unjust, father, in thinking ill of the man and disliking him." "Unjust?
Pah! The fellow was a disgrace to the name of soldier; and now, I suppose, that there is no war on the way, he has been discharged from the king's service, with a pack of his companions." "He said he had saved your life, father." Sir Morton laughed contemptuously.

"I have no recollection of the fact, Ralph, boy, and I don't think I should have forgotten so important a matter; but I do recollect saving his, by interceding when he was about to be shot for plundering some helpless people.