Cords
were produced, and in less than half-an-hour twenty breathless bodies
were swinging from the branches of the two trees indicated by the king.
"This will serve to deter others from like offences," observed Henry,
who had watched the whole proceedings with savage satisfaction.
"And now, Bouchier, how came you to let the leader of these villains
escape?"
"I did not know he had escaped, my liege," replied Bouchier, in
astonishment.
"Yea, marry, but he has escaped," rejoined Henry; "and he has had the
audacity to show himself in the castle within this hour, and the cunning,
moreover, to set the prisoner free."
And he proceeded to relate what had occurred.
"This is strange indeed, my liege," replied Bouchier, at the close of the
king's recital, "and to my thinking, is proof convincing that we have to
do with a supernatural being."
"Supernatura!--pshaw!- banish the idle notion," rejoined Henry sternly.
"We are all the dupes of some jugglery. The caitiff will doubtless return
to the forest. Continue your search, therefore, for him throughout the
night. If you catch him, I promise you a royal reward."
So saying, he rode back to the castle, somewhat appeased by the
wholesale vengeance he had taken upon the offenders.
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