Finding nothing, Bouchier called for a hunting-spear,
and thrust it as far as he could into the holes above. The point
encountered no obstruction except such as was offered by the wood
itself. He stamped upon the ground, and sounded it on all sides with
the spear, but with no better success.
Issuing forth he next directed his attention to the upper part of the tree,
which, while he was occupied inside, had been very carefully watched
by his followers, and not content with viewing it from below, he
clambered into the branches. But they had nothing to show except
their own leafy covering.
The careful examination of the ground about the tree at length led to
the discovery of a small hole among its roots, about half a dozen yards
from the trunk, and though this hole seemed scarcely large enough to
serve for an entrance to the burrow of a fox, Bouchier deemed it
expedient to keep a careful watch over it.
His investigation completed, he dispatched a sergeant of the guard to
the castle to acquaint the king with what had occurred.
Disturbed by the events of the night, Henry obtained little sleep, and at
an early hour summoned an attendant, and demanded whether there
were any tidings from the forest The attendant replied that a sergeant
of the guard was without, sent by Captain Bouchier with a message for
his majesty.
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