'This must be bound on the head of the
wounded man,' he said.
"The keepers stared in astonishment. But the king commanded that
the strange order should be obeyed. Upon which the bleeding skull
was fastened upon the head of the keeper with leathern thongs.
"'I will now answer for his perfect cure in a month's time,' said Urswick
to the king; 'but I shall require to watch over him myself till all danger is
at an end. I pray your highness to command these keepers to transport
him to my hut.'
"'You hear what he says, knaves?' cried the king; 'do his bidding, and
carefully, or ye shall answer to me with your lives.'
"Accordingly a litter was formed with branches of trees, and on this the
body of Herne, with the hart's head still bound to it, was conveyed by
the keepers to Urswick's hut, a small dwelling, situated in the wildest
part of Bagshot Heath. After placing the body upon a bed of dried fern,
the keepers were about to depart, when Osmond Crooke observed to
the forester, 'I am now certain thou art Arnold Sheafe.'
"'It matters not who I am, since I have the king's pardon,' replied the
other, laughing disdainfully.
"'Thou hast yet to earn it,' said Osmond.
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