obliged to act without waiting to resolve they laid her upon the cold stone flooring, and Robin, running to one of the stone basins, dipped his hands into some Holy Water, crossed himself, and then, taking some in the bottom of his hands, after crossing the fainting maiden with it, sprinkled it over her forehead. She was not long recovering, and when able to walk, they proceeded on their way, leaving the body to take care of itself, and to tell what tale it pleased. They passed through the panel, and instead of pursuing the same passage which Maude had led them along previously, they turned abruptly off. The darkness was intense. "Now I can light the lamp with safety," said Hal; "there are no eyes to watch this path but those whom a particular purpose brings hither, and that's ourselves."

"That_torch would be of service which yonder scoundrel brought into the chapel," said Robin. "So it would. Stay here, and I'll run back and fetch it," cried Hal, and darted off; in a short time he returned with it.

"I was just in time," said he, "for I heard the tramp of the guard coming to relieve; as I closed the panel I heard the challenge, but I'll be bound Caspar will be in no hurry to return it."

Hush, Hal," said Maude, "make the distance as short as you can. You are sure you know it ?"

"To be sure I do," returned Hal; besides, haven't I taken you along it several times, and-andalso-"

“Grace May," suggested Robin. "Yes!" quickly uttered he.

"Then for heaven's sake," said Christabel, white with excitement, "pray take us to the end as swiftly as you can!"

"Where does this passage lead to ?" inquired

Robin.

"These passages," answered Maude, "lead beneath the hill to the border of the forest."

"Maude, I have a request to make which, perhaps, you will be kind enough, as soon as you see its necessity, to comply with. I have agreed to meet Allan Clare at a certain place; as it is some distance from this, and out of the route to Mansfeldwoodhaus, you will accompany your brother to my home at once, and I will with the Lady Christabel to the meeting place agreed on. By doing this you will be enabled to reach my fathers cottage with less fatigue, and prepare him for our coming; we can with additional speed proceed on our way, and with less likelihood of being discovered, being two only instead of four."

"I do not know any way except the highway," said Hal.

Ah, but you must not take that, for if any of the baron's people are out they will inevitably discover you. No, follow my directions exactly, and you will reach my foster-father's cottage in a far less time, without, in all probability, being discovered. You see this path: follow it, and always keep a single beech tree on your left hand; swerve not in the least, and you cannot make a mistake. You will ultimately come into an open glade, in the centre of which stands an enormous oak; there is an alley to its left, pursue it, and you will find at its termination Gilbert Hood's cottage standing before you. Say to my father that I have sent you, and you will meet with a hearty welcome. Will you do this ?"

"Whatever you think best, certainly," returned Maude; "but I would rather accompany you. Still, as you seem to think it most advisable to separate here for a time, it shall be as you wish, and Hal and I will on alone."

"Thanks, Maude, thanks! it is for the best, or I would not have proposed it," answered Robin; "besides, hope, ere the morning sun has passed its meridian, it will see us again united. We must haste: this spot bears dangerous proximity to the castle, and the sooner we quit its precincts the better."

Warm and earnest farewells were exchanged be

"Ha!" he exclaimed, "is it so? that is well. But I prithee bestir thyself, for we shall soon have day-tween them, and then Maude and her foster-brother light, and 'twere as well to be in the forest before the sun."

took the path pointed out by Robin, while he and the Lady Christabel pursued the way to Robin's dell. "It shall be done," said Hal decisively, assuming a Their route lay along the skirts of the forest, in the manly tone and air. He ran on first with a torch, direction of Nottingham; the castle still being disand they followed as swiftly as the rugged path would agreeably in sight. Robin, however, hoped to gain permit; occasionally they descended rough steps, then that part of the forest where he should strike into its a long passage on an inclined plane. The whole of depths ere there was a chance of their being seen or the cutting, for it was cut out of solid rock, was chill overtaken in case of a pursuit. A considerable proporand damp; the passages, which for years had scarce tion was accomplished; his heart began to grow lighter, ever been trodden by human foot, were encrusted with and his step freer, for the most dangerous distance damp mould and mosses; here almost a pool of stag-was nearly passed over. He turned to the lady with nant water; there a wet slimy bed of moss and short dank grass. For three quarters of an hour they wended their way along this dreary place, the whole time descending rapidly; at length Hal said

"Here we are at the bottom; now for it-we shall see if it is our fate to get off undetected."

"Pray heaven we may!" said the Lady Christabel. "Does Hal come with us also ?" asked Robin. "For a short time, yes," replied Maude; "have you any objection ?"

"Oh no, I am glad of it. I will tell you why presently," he replied.

Here is the door," said Hal; "on the other side it is enshrouded with low hawthorns and stunted trees. Three steps, and we are in the forest."

cheerfulness, and said

"If the Chevalier Clare but keeps his appointment as truly as there is every prospect that I shall keep mine, we have no need to fear not meeting. If your courage and strength but serve you, dear lady, an hour and a half hence you shall seat yourself with him beneath a broad oak tree, growing on the banks of the sweetest little stream in Christendom."

"I pray heaven I may!" ejaculated Christabel. "The desire to escape from such a misery as there was in store for me, had I have remained, will, I am assured, give me strength to accomplish this, to me, very bold effort: of strength of mind or body I cannot boast; yet, I trust, the emergency of my situation will enable me to surmount my natural weakness. The door was gained, opened, and extinguishing the You shall not, at least, my good friend, have to comtorch they entered the fresh air; day was just break-plain of a deficiency of will on my part-the Holy ing, and they stopped therefore not a moment in the open way, but sought the friendly shelter of the forest trees. Directly Robin ascertained the quarter of the forest he was in, he turned to Maude and said

Virgin make my strength equal to it!"

"Amen!" said Robin. "The will is the herald of the way, and I have little doubt that we shall be successful. I consider myself highly fortunate in pos

sessing my bow and arrows, for, in case of danger, they will prove my trustiest friends. I can hit a small object at a hundred yards, and it will be vastly odd if I cannot line a fellow's doublet with an arrow, if he comes too close to be agreeable."

"I hope there will be no necessity," said Christabel. "I hope not," rejoined he, “for then our journey will have no let or hindrance."

rible rapidity; she gazed at the tree screening Robin from her sight, but nothing met her gaze to indicate the presence of aught human. This suspense was horrible; she could not bear it; her senses seemed failing her; she strove against the weakness vainly ; even the idea of swooning in that solitary place, dreadful as it appeared, could not check the sickening sensation of faintness; her sight grew dizzy; there They had now reached the highway from Notting-was a thronging of sounds in her ears; the place ham to Mansfield, and, as they proceeded to cross it, Robin threw a hasty glance along the road, in the direction of the town, with the hope of seeing a clear space; but in this hope he was disappointed. He uttered an exclamation, and drew an arrow from his quiver; he fitted it to the bow-string, and half bent the bow on the impulse of the moment; but Christabel laid her hand upon his arm, and said, "For Heaven's sake! good youth, what is it you see and fear?"

rible."

seemed to fly round with her, when suddenly her eye caught something moving by Robin's tree. She pressed her hands to her throat, struggled violently, and, by the greatest exertion, endeavoured to keep herself from swooning; she succeeded, inasmuch as she was restored to a consciousness of Robin's presence, and the excitement of endeavouring to ascertain his intention gave her a species of mastery over this bodily weakness; she watched eagerly and anxiously. All at once the horseman swept past. A second elapsed, to her almost an hour; then she saw the figure of Robin glide from his hiding place, extend his left hand, which held the bow, and draw the bow-string until the nock of the bow almost touched his ear-twang went the string, and the arrow sped like lightning to its destination. A strange shriek, an unearthly cry, rose on the air, and then all was still. Robin re

"Why, lady, my eye detected a horseman in the costume of your good father's honest retainers, coming in this direction at full gallop. He is hidden now from your sight, by yonder clump of elms. In less than a minute you will have a full view of him, and he of us, if we stay here. If his errand is one which I suspect, I must stop him, even at cost of his life—” "No; no! oh, no!" hurriedly exclaimed she; "one has already fallen-no more bloodshed, it is too hor-mained in the position in which he had discharged the arrow, and bent his gaze earnestly in the direction "Indeed, lady, I am loth even to think of it," re- it had flown; while Christabel, sick and fainting, and turned he, "and am even sick of the thought of send-unable to bear the excitement, tottered from the ing Caspar Steinkopf to his account, rascal as he was; but if this man is allowed to proceed, he will reach my home before Maude and her brother can arrive, and, capturing them, return with them, and be back with a whole swarm of his fellows-probably intercept us. The consequence of which will be, that you will be returned to your father, and Allan, Maude, her brother, and I, sent a party of four into the other world together."

"But is there no way besides spilling blood?" demanded Christabel, anxiously.

"He must not proceed. Ha! here he comes. Behind that tree; for your life, stir not-move not, or you are lost! I must trust to Providence to guide me, and whatever I do, you may be assured I shall do it for the best."

shadow of the tree towards him; she reached him, placed her hand upon his shoulder. Light as was the touch, he sprang round as he felt it, and then she said

Boy, boy, have you stained your soul with blood? Is he killed ?"

"If you mean the horseman, lady, no. But I scarce think his steed will bear another rider; my sight must have failed me if I have missed a vital part; but I fear it not, I saw the poor beast rear like a stricken deer, and heard his death-wail; I would his rider were as harmless as he is now. I must ascertain what he is about; we must have none on our track, no, not even an eye to mark our path, which may find an echo in a babbling tongue to set others on, where its owner might singly fear to follow. He whom I have Christabel did as he desired, and stood trembling just unhorsed, if used to forest skirmishes, will not with fear and apprehension behind the trunk of a large sit to weep over his horse's body; he will crawl beech tree growing near. Robin took up his post through covert and brake in order to discover from beside another, and in silence they awaited the horse-whose hand the arrow sped, and should he succeed in man's coming. He drew nearer. The wind brought his object, we must be the sufferers in all ways. I am the clatter of his horse's hoofs with, to Christabel, satisfied that he is not the only one sent in pursuit, horrible distinctness: she drew her mantle close and an alarm from him to any of his companions who round her, covered her head with her hood, and may be near, will effectually prevent our escape. watched with an agony of excitement and expectation There are also several other ways in which his disthe tree behind which Robin disappeared. No part of covery of us would prove distressing; I must, therehim was visible. She could not have believed he fore, for our own welfare, use every means for precould so completely have hidden himself. On came venting him. I have no doubt I shall succeed; do the horseman, the sound of his horse's approaching you, therefore, dear lady, cheer up your spirits, keep footsteps growing still louder: still there was no quiet beneath the shade of yon tree; stir not, let not movement from Robin. The minutes seemed as hours. the flutter of your white garments in the wind betray The noise of the stranger's approach increased with you-the accomplishment of your escape depends frightful indications of proximity; she felt choking; upon it; draw your mantle quite round you, keep her heart palpitated violently; she thought she must closee, to the trunk of the tree, and you will be safe. dart from her place of concealment, and shriek as she For myself, I will find out where this fellow hath beThe rattle of the hoofs seemingly denoted the stowed himself, and try if my single arm cannot make horseman to be on a level with the spot on which she a silent tongue. Cheer up, lady, I will soon return, stood, yet she saw him not, nor did he pass: she bit and all will be well." her lip and held her breath convulsively. Where was Robin ?-was he still behind the tree? or was he there at all? He had not deserted her? Oh, heaven! surely not; if he had it would be death to her. These thoughts crowded through her mind with ter

ran.

"I tremble to be left alone in this desolate place," timidly uttered Christabel, glancing round apprehensively.

"Fear nothing, sweet lady," returned he, "if you follow my directions, you have no cause for alarm;

CHAPTER XIII.

"His eyes did hurl forth sparkles fiery red,
And stared stern on all that him beheld,
As ashes pale of hue, and seeming dead:
And on his dagger still his hand he held,

teer as one of a forlorn hope, fearing nothing human,
will yet stand, tremble, and grow pale at the idea
of ghosts, haunted places, or aught supernatural.
Thus was it with these two men. In the broad
daylight, exposed to foes of their own stamp, they

Trembling, through hasty rage, when choler in him swell'd. would have fought to the last gasp, nor budged an

MARTING with pain, foaming with rage, in an agony of half blindness, from the effects of the blazing torch dashed in his eyes, Lambie followed his men, as they, not very con versant with the path, pursued Robin. When he fled from them many were the blows they received by running foul of projections, and many were the oaths and execrations which they uttered in consequence; they kept very well on the track for some time, but at last the two who led the way were at fault, and they halted for Lambie to come up.

Nottingham Castle, at the period of which we are writing, possessed an immense number of subterraneous passages, cut through the rocky hill upon which the castle stood for purposes of escape, should the castle, in any attack, be carried from the town, or for the obtainment of supplies in case of siege. These passages were very numerous, intersecting each other in all points, some leading to dungeons, others cut like the paths of a labyrinth, only for the purpose of bewilderment; a perfect knowledge of their intricacies was possessed but by few, and even those few required the aid of a torch to thread them with accuracy. As the two retainers who pursued our hero were unacquainted with these paths, it may be easily imagined that, having quitted the only one who could have guided them, and having passed at tolerable speed a turning which they should have taken, that, when they stopped, they found they had lost themselves.

We have said they halted for the approach of Lambie, but it was not until some time after they had passed the right path, and threaded half a dozen wrong ones, that they did so; they awaited his coming at first a little patiently, making allowances for the painful situation in which Robin's act had placed him, and then, as he did not come, not a little impatiently. One tried a stentorian halloo; he was answered by the reverberating echo of his voice from the dismal vaulted passages; he tried again with a like effect; his companion seconded him with a most vigorous yell; still they met no reply from Lambie. They yelled together with all the power their lungs enabled them, and they had a suitable echo from the vaults, but none from human voice.

It should be understood that there were horrible and dismal stories afloat among the retainers and servitors of the castle respecting these same passages. The bravest men are occasionally the greatest victims to superstition; men who will fearlessly face the cannon's mouth, be the first to leap in a breach, or be exposed to the hottest fire of the enemy, without winking an eyelid, who readily and cheerfully volun

inch; yet here, from having heard of ghosts, hobgoblins, and wicked sprites in abundance, they were Imiserably alarmed, and shouted in concert as loudly and fiercely as was possible; they were startled at the echo of their own voices, and each moment expected a frightful phantom to start up at their feet, and scare them to death by its hideous distortions. Although they individually felt this excessive alarm, yet they endeavoured to keep each other ignorant of it; and one of them, in a voice decidedly tremulous, proposed to retrace their steps in search of Lambie. The other assented, and they set about putting it into effect; but, instead of accomplishing their object, they wan dered about the passages, enduring a succession of cold shudders, as the echo of their footsteps led them ever and anon to believe they were followed by some horrible and fantastic object. Leaving them in this unpleasant predicament, we return to Lambie. His weak eyes, which still rained water, as he proceeded, aided by the darkness, became less painful; and being better acquainted with his road than those who preceded him, he took the right path, fondly believing that his men had been equally fortunate, and hoping that, by the time he overtook them, they would have Robin safely in their clutches.

The reader will perceive that it was a fond but a vain hope. But Lambie was naturally sanguine; and, by the time he had reached the spot where Robin had encountered Hal, he had already, in his mind's eye, seen the youthful captive struggling in the air, suspended from a very high gallows.

Instead of following the path which Hal led Robin, he diverged to the left, and, being partly recovered, increased his speed. The hopes he had formed began to diminish as he neared the body of the castle, for there was no sound or sight meeting his eye or ear betokening the recapture of the fugitive. He went on; he descended the grand staircase; he encountered Caspar Steinkopf; here he ascertained that no one had, for near an hour preceding, passed that way. He immediately conjectured that his men had taken Robin before the baron, for it never presented itself to his imagination that they had not captured him. Inwardly cursing their stupidity for so unnecessary an exposure of the near escape of the prisoner, he marched to the baron's apartment. He stopped at the door, and listened, in hopes to hear if the men were with his lord, and at the same time ascertain what sort of a reception they were meeting with. He clapped his ear to a crevice, and heard the baron, in rather a hoarse and gloomy tone, utter,

"The purport of this missive is, then, that Sir Tristram is suddenly called to London, and he wishes me to join him there immediately?"

"Even on the morrow, my lord," replied a mild voice.

"Um! Why 'tis well, nay better, than I had determined. It shall be so !"

A silence ensued for a minute, and Lambie was satisfied that the captured and captors were not there. He heartily hoped that they had not yet sought the baron's presence; and, with the desire of preventing them if they intended it, he quitted the spot, and retraced his steps in the direction of the subterranean passages. He had no light, neither cared he to endeavour to obtain one, as it might beget a spirit of inquiry, which he had no desire to raise. In the