"'Leave that to me,' replied Urswick. 'There is more fear that thou wilt
lose thy post as chief keeper, which the king has promised to Herne,
than that I shall fail.'
"'Would the deer had killed him outright!' growled Osmond.
"And the savage wish was echoed by the other keepers. "'I see you all
hate him bitterly,' said Urswick. 'What will you give me for revenge?'
"'We have little to give, save a fat buck on occasions,'replied Osmond;
'and, in all likelihood, thou canst help thyself to venison.'
"'Will you swear to grant the first request I may make of you--provided it
shall be in your power?' demanded Urswick.
"'Readily' they replied.
"'Enough' said Urswick. 'I must keep faith with the king. Herne will
recover, but he will lose all his skill as an archer, all his craft as a
hunter.'
"'If thou canst accomplish this thou art the fiend himself' cried Osmond,
trembling.
"'Fiend or not,' replied Urswick, with a triumphant laugh, 'ye have made
a compact with me, and must fulfil it. Now begone. I must attend to the
wounded man.'
"And the keepers, full of secret misgiving, departed.
"At the precise time promised, Herne, attended by Urswick, presented
himself to the king.
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