He was habited in a jerkin of Lincoln green cloth, with the royal badge
woven in silver on the breast, and his head was protected by a flat
green cloth cap, ornamented with a pheasant's tail. Under his right arm
he carried a crossbow; a long silver-tipped horn was slung in his
baldric; and he was armed with a short hanger, or wood-knife. His
features were harsh and prominent; and he bad black beetling brows, a
large coarse mouth, and dark eyes, lighted up with a very sinister and
malignant expression.
He was attended by a large savage-looking staghound, whom he
addressed as Bawsey, and whose fierceness had to be restrained as
Surrey approached.
Have you seen anything?" he demanded of the earl.
"I have seen Herne the Hunter himself, or the fiend in his likeness,"
replied Surrey.
And he briefly related the vision he had beheld.
"Ay, ay, you have seen the demon hunter, no doubt," replied the keeper
at the close of the recital. "I neither saw the light, nor heard the
laughter, nor the wailing cry you speak of; but Bawsey crouched at my
feet and whined, and I knew some evil thing was at hand. Heaven
shield us!" he exclaimed, as the hound crouched at his feet, and
directed her gaze towards the oak, uttering a low ominous whine, "she
is at the same trick again.
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