"And thus ends the adventure of Herne the Hunter!" laughed the duke,
as they emerged from the brake. "By my halidom, Surrey, I am
grievously disappointed. You must have mistaken some large stag,
caught by its antlers in the branches of the oak-tree, for the demon."
"I have told you precisely what occurred," replied Surrey angrily. "Ha!
there he is--look! look!"
And he pointed to a weird figure, mounted on a steed as weird-looking
as itself, galloping through the trees with extraordinary swiftness, at a
little distance from them. This ghostly rider wore the antlered helmet
described by Surrey, and seemed to be habited in a garb of deer-skins.
Before him flew a large owl, and a couple of great black dogs ran
beside him. Staring in speechless wonder at the sight, the two youths
watched the mysterious being scour a glade brightly illumined by the
moon, until, reaching the pales marking the confines of the Home Park,
he leaped them and disappeared.
"What think you of that?" cried Surrey, as soon as he had recovered
from his surprise, glancing triumphantly at the duke. "Was that the
offspring of my fancy?"
"It was a marvellous sight, truly!" exclaimed Richmond.
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