Come, tell me frankly," he
added, after a pause," are you not in search of Herne the Hunter?"
"Why do you ask, friend?" rejoined the earl somewhat angrily.
"Because if so," replied the other, "I shall be right glad to join you, and
so will my friend, Tony Cryspyn, who is close behind me. I have an old
grudge to settle with this Herne, who has more than once attacked me,
and I shall be glad to pay it."
"If you will take my advice, Hugh Dacre, you will ride on, and leave the
achievement of the adventure to these young galliards," interposed
Cryspyn.
"Nay, by the mass! that shall never be," rejoined Dacre, "if they have no
objection to our joining them. If they have, they have only to say so, and
we will go on."
"I will be plain with you, my masters," said Surrey. "We are determined
this night, as you have rightly conjectured, to seek out Herne the
Hunter; and we hope to obtain such clue to him as will ensure his
capture. If, therefore, you are anxious to join us, we shall be glad of
your aid. But you must be content to follow, and not lead--and to act as
you are directed - or you will only be in the way, and we would rather
dispense with your company.
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