"
Meanwhile, the others had come up, and Hugh Dacre, flinging himself
from his horse, and pushing Surrey somewhat rudely aside, advanced
towards Mabel, and, taking her hand, said, in a voice of some emotion,
"Alas! poor girl! I did not expect to meet thee again in this state."
"You knew her, then?" said Surrey.
Dacre muttered an affirmative.
"Who is this man? "asked Wyat of the earl.
"I know him not," answered Surrey. "He joined us on the road hither."
"I am well known to Sir Thomas Wyat," replied Dacre, in a significant
tone, "as he will avouch when I recall certain matters to his mind. But
do not let us lose time here. This damsel claims our first attention. She
must be conveyed to a place of safety, and where she can be well
tended. We can then return to search for Herne."
Upon this, a litter of branches were speedily made, and Mabel being laid
upon it, the simple conveyance was sustained by four of the archers.
The little cavalcade then quitted the thicket, and began to retrace its
course towards the castle. Wyat had been accommodated with a horse
by one of the archers, and rode in a melancholy manner by the side of
the litter.
They had got back nearly as far as the brow of Spring Hill, when a
horseman, in a wild garb, and mounted on a coal black steed, lashed
suddenly and at a furious pace, out of the trees on the right.
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