"Ay," returned the knight, "I have sworn an oath, indeed, thou

chucklehead; but thyself shalt swear a greater. It shall be on the

blessed cross of Holywood. Look to it; get the words ready. It shall be

sworn to-night."

"Now, may Heaven lighten you!" replied the priest; "may Heaven incline

your heart from this iniquity!"

"Look you, my good father," said Sir Daniel, "if y' are for piety, I say

no more; ye begin late, that is all. But if y' are in any sense bent

upon wisdom, hear me. This lad beginneth to irk me like a wasp. I have

a need for him, for I would sell his marriage. But I tell you, in all

plainness, if that he continue to weary me, he shall go join his father.

I give orders now to change him to the chamber above the chapel. If that

ye can swear your innocency with a good, solid oath and an assured

countenance, it is well; the lad will be at peace a little, and I will

spare him. If that ye stammer or blench, or anyways boggle at the

swearing, he will not believe you; and by the mass, he shall die. There

is for your thinking on."

The chamber above the chapel!" gasped the priest.

That same," replied the knight. "So if ye desire to save him, save him;

and if ye desire not, prithee, go to, and let me be at peace! For an I

had been a hasty man, I would already have put my sword through you, for

your intolerable cowardice and folly. Have ye chosen? Say!"

The Black Arrow