``Weshallseethatpresently，’’saidtherobber；
and，speakingtohiscompanions，headded，``bringalongtheknave。Iseehewouldhavehisheadbroken，aswellashispursecut，andsobeletbloodintwoveinsatonce。’’
Gurthwashurriedalongagreeablytothismandate，andhavingbeendraggedsomewhatroughlyoverthebank，ontheleft-handsideofthelane，foundhimselfinastragglingthicket，whichlaybetwixtitandtheopencommon。Hewascompelledtofollowhisroughconductorsintotheverydepthofthiscover，wheretheystoptunexpectedlyinanirregularopenspace，freeinagreatmeasurefromtrees，andonwhich，therefore，thebeamsofthemoonfellwithoutmuchinterruptionfromboughsandleaves。Herehiscaptorswerejoinedbytwootherpersons，apparentlybelongingtothegang。
Theyhadshortswordsbytheirsides，andquarter-stavesintheirhands，andGurthcouldnowobservethatallsixworevisors，whichrenderedtheiroccupationamatterofnoquestion，evenhadtheirformerproceedingsleftitindoubt。
``Whatmoneyhastthou，churl?’’saidoneofthethieves。
``Thirtyzecchinsofmyownproperty，’’answeredGurth，doggedly。
``Aforfeit——aforfeit，’’shoutedtherobbers；``aSaxonhaththirtyzecchins，andreturnssoberfromavillage！Anundeniableandunredeemableforfeitofallhehathabouthim。’’
``Ihoardedittopurchasemyfreedom，’’saidGurth。
``Thouartanass，’’repliedoneofthethieves``threequartsofdoublealehadrenderedtheeasfreeasthymaster，ay，andfreertoo，ifhebeaSaxonlikethyself。’’
``Asadtruth，’’repliedGurth；``butifthesesamethirtyzecchinswillbuymyfreedomfromyou，unloosemyhands，andIwillpaythemtoyou。’’
``Hold，’’saidonewhoseemedtoexercisesomeauthorityovertheothers；``thisbagwhichthoubearest，asIcanfeelthroughthycloak，containsmorecointhanthouhasttoldusof。’’
``Itisthegoodknightmymaster’s，’’answeredGurth，``ofwhich，assuredly，Iwouldnothavespokenaword，hadyoubeensatisfiedwithworkingyourwilluponmineownproperty。’’
``Thouartanhonestfellow，’’repliedtherobber，``Iwarrantthee；andweworshipnotStNicholassodevoutlybutwhatthythirtyzecchinsmayyetescape，ifthoudealuprightlywithus。Meantimerenderupthytrustforatime。’’Sosaying，hetookfromGurth’sbreastthelargeleathernpouch，inwhichthepursegivenhimbyRebeccawasenclosed，aswellastherestofthezecchins，andthencontinuedhisinterrogation——``Whoisthymaster?’’
``TheDisinheritedKnight，’’saidGurth。
``Whosegoodlance，’’repliedtherobber，``wontheprizeinto-day’stourney?Whatishisnameandlineage?’’
``Itishispleasure，’’answeredGurth，``thattheybeconcealed；andfromme，assuredly，youwilllearnnoughtofthem。’’
``Whatisthineownnameandlineage?’’
``Totellthat，’’saidGurth，``mightrevealmymaster’s。’’
``Thouartasaucygroom，’’saidtherobber，``butofthatanon。Howcomesthymasterbythisgold?
isitofhisinheritance，orbywhatmeanshathitaccruedtohim?’’
``Byhisgoodlance，’’answeredGurth——``Thesebagscontaintheransomoffourgoodhorses，andfourgoodsuitsofarmour。’’
``Howmuchisthere?’’demandedtherobber。
``Twohundredzecchins。’’
``Onlytwohundredzecchins！’’saidthebandit；
``yourmasterhathdealtliberallybythevanquished，andputthemtoacheapransom。Namethosewhopaidthegold。’’
Gurthdidso。
``ThearmourandhorseoftheTemplarBriandeBois-Guilbert，atwhatransomweretheyheld?——
Thouseestthoucanstnotdeceiveme。’’
``Mymaster，’’repliedGurth，``willtakenoughtfromtheTemplarsavehislife’s-blood。Theyareontermsofmortaldefiance，andcannotholdcourteousintercoursetogether。’’
``Indeed！’’——repeatedtherobber，andpausedafterhehadsaidtheword。``AndwhatwertthounowdoingatAshbywithsuchachargeinthycustody?’’
``IwentthithertorendertoIsaactheJewofYork，’’repliedGurth，``thepriceofasuitofarmourwithwhichhefittedmymasterforthistournament。’’
``AndhowmuchdidstthoupaytoIsaac?——
Methinks，tojudgebyweight，thereisstilltwohundredzecchinsinthispouch。’’
``IpaidtoIsaac，’’saidtheSaxon，``eightyzecchins，andherestoredmeahundredinlieuthereof。’’
``How！what！’’exclaimedalltherobbersatonce；``darestthoutriflewithus，thatthoutellestsuchimprobablelies?’’
``WhatItellyou，’’saidGurth，``isastrueasthemoonisinheaven。Youwillfindthejustsuminasilkenpursewithintheleathernpouch，andseparatefromtherestofthegold。’’
``Bethinkthee，man，’’saidtheCaptain，``thouspeakestofaJew——ofanIsraelite，——asunapttorestoregold，asthedrysandofhisdesertstoreturnthecupofwaterwhichthepilgrimspillsuponthem。’’
``Thereisnomoremercyinthem，’’saidanotherofthebanditti，``thaninanunbribedsheriffsofficer。’’
``Itis，however，asIsay，’’saidGurth。
``Strikealightinstantly，’’saidtheCaptain；``I
willexaminethissaidpurse；andifitbeasthisfellowsays，theJew’sbountyislittlelessmiraculousthanthestreamwhichrelievedhisfathersinthewilderness。’’
Alightwasprocuredaccordingly，andtherobberproceededtoexaminethepurse。Theotherscrowdedaroundhim，andeventwowhohadholdofGurthrelaxedtheirgraspwhiletheystretchedtheirneckstoseetheissueofthesearch。Availinghimselfoftheirnegligence，byasuddenexertionofstrengthandactivity，Gurthshookhimselffreeoftheirhold，andmighthaveescaped，couldhehaveresolvedtoleavehismaster’spropertybehindhim。
Butsuchwasnopartofhisintention。Hewrenchedaquarter-stafffromoneofthefellows，struckdowntheCaptain，whowasaltogetherunawareofhispurpose，andhadwellnighrepossessedhimselfofthepouchandtreasure。Thethieves，however，weretoonimbleforhim，andagainsecuredboththebagandthetrustyGurth。
``Knave！’’saidtheCaptain，gettingup，``thouhastbrokenmyhead；andwithothermenofoursortthouwouldstfaretheworseforthyinsolence。
Butthoushaltknowthyfateinstantly。Firstletusspeakofthymaster；theknight’smattersmustgobeforethesquire’s，accordingtothedueorderofchivalry。Standthoufastinthemeantime——
ifthoustiragain，thoushalthavethatwillmaketheequietforthylife——Comrades！’’hethensaid，addressinghisgang，``thispurseisembroideredwithHebrewcharacters，andIwellbelievetheyeoman’staleistrue。Theerrantknight，hismaster，mustneedspassustoll-free。Heistoolikeourselvesforustomakebootyofhim，sincedogsshouldnotworrydogswherewolvesandfoxesaretobefoundinabundance。’’
``Likeus?’’answeredoneofthegang；``I
shouldliketohearhowthatismadegood。’’
``Why，thoufool，’’answeredtheCaptain，``ishenotpooranddisinheritedasweare?——Dothhenotwinhissubstanceatthesword’spointaswedo?——HathhenotbeatenFront-de-BufandMalvoisin，evenaswewouldbeatthemifwecould?
IshenottheenemytolifeanddeathofBriandeBois-Guilbert，whomwehavesomuchreasontofear?Andwereallthisotherwise，wouldstthouhaveusshowaworseconsciencethananunbeliever，aHebrewJew?’’
``Nay，thatwereashame，’’mutteredtheotherfellow；``andyet，whenIservedinthebandofstoutoldGandelyn，wehadnosuchscruplesofconscience。Andthisinsolentpeasant，——hetoo，I
warrantme，istobedismissedscatheless?’’
``Notif_thou_canstscathehim，’’repliedtheCaptain——
``Here，fellow，’’continuedhe，addressingGurth，``canstthouusethestaff，thatthoustartstoitsoreadily?’’
``Ithink，’’saidGurth，``thoushouldstbebestabletoreplytothatquestion。’’
``Nay，bymytroth，thougavestmearoundknock，’’repliedtheCaptain；``doasmuchforthisfellow，andthoushaltpassscot-free；andifthoudostnot——why，bymyfaith，asthouartsuchasturdyknave，IthinkImustpaythyransommyself——
Takethystaff，Miller，’’headded，``andkeepthyhead；anddoyouothersletthefellowgo，andgivehimastaff——thereislightenoughtolayonloadby。’’