``Weshallseethatpresently，’’saidtherobber；
　　and，speakingtohiscompanions，headded，``bringalongtheknave。Iseehewouldhavehisheadbroken，aswellashispursecut，andsobeletbloodintwoveinsatonce。’’
　　Gurthwashurriedalongagreeablytothismandate，andhavingbeendraggedsomewhatroughlyoverthebank，ontheleft-handsideofthelane，foundhimselfinastragglingthicket，whichlaybetwixtitandtheopencommon。Hewascompelledtofollowhisroughconductorsintotheverydepthofthiscover，wheretheystoptunexpectedlyinanirregularopenspace，freeinagreatmeasurefromtrees，andonwhich，therefore，thebeamsofthemoonfellwithoutmuchinterruptionfromboughsandleaves。Herehiscaptorswerejoinedbytwootherpersons，apparentlybelongingtothegang。
　　Theyhadshortswordsbytheirsides，andquarter-stavesintheirhands，andGurthcouldnowobservethatallsixworevisors，whichrenderedtheiroccupationamatterofnoquestion，evenhadtheirformerproceedingsleftitindoubt。
　　``Whatmoneyhastthou，churl?’’saidoneofthethieves。
　　``Thirtyzecchinsofmyownproperty，’’answeredGurth，doggedly。
　　``Aforfeit——aforfeit，’’shoutedtherobbers；``aSaxonhaththirtyzecchins，andreturnssoberfromavillage！Anundeniableandunredeemableforfeitofallhehathabouthim。’’
　　``Ihoardedittopurchasemyfreedom，’’saidGurth。
　　``Thouartanass，’’repliedoneofthethieves``threequartsofdoublealehadrenderedtheeasfreeasthymaster，ay，andfreertoo，ifhebeaSaxonlikethyself。’’
　　``Asadtruth，’’repliedGurth；``butifthesesamethirtyzecchinswillbuymyfreedomfromyou，unloosemyhands，andIwillpaythemtoyou。’’
　　``Hold，’’saidonewhoseemedtoexercisesomeauthorityovertheothers；``thisbagwhichthoubearest，asIcanfeelthroughthycloak，containsmorecointhanthouhasttoldusof。’’
　　``Itisthegoodknightmymaster’s，’’answeredGurth，``ofwhich，assuredly，Iwouldnothavespokenaword，hadyoubeensatisfiedwithworkingyourwilluponmineownproperty。’’
　　``Thouartanhonestfellow，’’repliedtherobber，``Iwarrantthee；andweworshipnotStNicholassodevoutlybutwhatthythirtyzecchinsmayyetescape，ifthoudealuprightlywithus。Meantimerenderupthytrustforatime。’’Sosaying，hetookfromGurth’sbreastthelargeleathernpouch，inwhichthepursegivenhimbyRebeccawasenclosed，aswellastherestofthezecchins，andthencontinuedhisinterrogation——``Whoisthymaster?’’
　　``TheDisinheritedKnight，’’saidGurth。
　　``Whosegoodlance，’’repliedtherobber，``wontheprizeinto-day’stourney?Whatishisnameandlineage?’’
　　``Itishispleasure，’’answeredGurth，``thattheybeconcealed；andfromme，assuredly，youwilllearnnoughtofthem。’’
　　``Whatisthineownnameandlineage?’’
　　``Totellthat，’’saidGurth，``mightrevealmymaster’s。’’
　　``Thouartasaucygroom，’’saidtherobber，``butofthatanon。Howcomesthymasterbythisgold?
　　isitofhisinheritance，orbywhatmeanshathitaccruedtohim?’’
　　``Byhisgoodlance，’’answeredGurth——``Thesebagscontaintheransomoffourgoodhorses，andfourgoodsuitsofarmour。’’
　　``Howmuchisthere?’’demandedtherobber。
　　``Twohundredzecchins。’’
　　``Onlytwohundredzecchins！’’saidthebandit；
　　``yourmasterhathdealtliberallybythevanquished，andputthemtoacheapransom。Namethosewhopaidthegold。’’
　　Gurthdidso。
　　``ThearmourandhorseoftheTemplarBriandeBois-Guilbert，atwhatransomweretheyheld?——
　　Thouseestthoucanstnotdeceiveme。’’
　　``Mymaster，’’repliedGurth，``willtakenoughtfromtheTemplarsavehislife’s-blood。Theyareontermsofmortaldefiance，andcannotholdcourteousintercoursetogether。’’
　　``Indeed！’’——repeatedtherobber，andpausedafterhehadsaidtheword。``AndwhatwertthounowdoingatAshbywithsuchachargeinthycustody?’’
　　``IwentthithertorendertoIsaactheJewofYork，’’repliedGurth，``thepriceofasuitofarmourwithwhichhefittedmymasterforthistournament。’’
　　``AndhowmuchdidstthoupaytoIsaac?——
　　Methinks，tojudgebyweight，thereisstilltwohundredzecchinsinthispouch。’’
　　``IpaidtoIsaac，’’saidtheSaxon，``eightyzecchins，andherestoredmeahundredinlieuthereof。’’
　　``How！what！’’exclaimedalltherobbersatonce；``darestthoutriflewithus，thatthoutellestsuchimprobablelies?’’
　　``WhatItellyou，’’saidGurth，``isastrueasthemoonisinheaven。Youwillfindthejustsuminasilkenpursewithintheleathernpouch，andseparatefromtherestofthegold。’’
　　``Bethinkthee，man，’’saidtheCaptain，``thouspeakestofaJew——ofanIsraelite，——asunapttorestoregold，asthedrysandofhisdesertstoreturnthecupofwaterwhichthepilgrimspillsuponthem。’’
　　``Thereisnomoremercyinthem，’’saidanotherofthebanditti，``thaninanunbribedsheriffsofficer。’’
　　``Itis，however，asIsay，’’saidGurth。
　　``Strikealightinstantly，’’saidtheCaptain；``I
　　willexaminethissaidpurse；andifitbeasthisfellowsays，theJew’sbountyislittlelessmiraculousthanthestreamwhichrelievedhisfathersinthewilderness。’’
　　Alightwasprocuredaccordingly，andtherobberproceededtoexaminethepurse。Theotherscrowdedaroundhim，andeventwowhohadholdofGurthrelaxedtheirgraspwhiletheystretchedtheirneckstoseetheissueofthesearch。Availinghimselfoftheirnegligence，byasuddenexertionofstrengthandactivity，Gurthshookhimselffreeoftheirhold，andmighthaveescaped，couldhehaveresolvedtoleavehismaster’spropertybehindhim。
　　Butsuchwasnopartofhisintention。Hewrenchedaquarter-stafffromoneofthefellows，struckdowntheCaptain，whowasaltogetherunawareofhispurpose，andhadwellnighrepossessedhimselfofthepouchandtreasure。Thethieves，however，weretoonimbleforhim，andagainsecuredboththebagandthetrustyGurth。
　　``Knave！’’saidtheCaptain，gettingup，``thouhastbrokenmyhead；andwithothermenofoursortthouwouldstfaretheworseforthyinsolence。
　　Butthoushaltknowthyfateinstantly。Firstletusspeakofthymaster；theknight’smattersmustgobeforethesquire’s，accordingtothedueorderofchivalry。Standthoufastinthemeantime——
　　ifthoustiragain，thoushalthavethatwillmaketheequietforthylife——Comrades！’’hethensaid，addressinghisgang，``thispurseisembroideredwithHebrewcharacters，andIwellbelievetheyeoman’staleistrue。Theerrantknight，hismaster，mustneedspassustoll-free。Heistoolikeourselvesforustomakebootyofhim，sincedogsshouldnotworrydogswherewolvesandfoxesaretobefoundinabundance。’’
　　``Likeus?’’answeredoneofthegang；``I
　　shouldliketohearhowthatismadegood。’’
　　``Why，thoufool，’’answeredtheCaptain，``ishenotpooranddisinheritedasweare?——Dothhenotwinhissubstanceatthesword’spointaswedo?——HathhenotbeatenFront-de-BufandMalvoisin，evenaswewouldbeatthemifwecould?
　　IshenottheenemytolifeanddeathofBriandeBois-Guilbert，whomwehavesomuchreasontofear?Andwereallthisotherwise，wouldstthouhaveusshowaworseconsciencethananunbeliever，aHebrewJew?’’
　　``Nay，thatwereashame，’’mutteredtheotherfellow；``andyet，whenIservedinthebandofstoutoldGandelyn，wehadnosuchscruplesofconscience。Andthisinsolentpeasant，——hetoo，I
　　warrantme，istobedismissedscatheless?’’
　　``Notif_thou_canstscathehim，’’repliedtheCaptain——
　　``Here，fellow，’’continuedhe，addressingGurth，``canstthouusethestaff，thatthoustartstoitsoreadily?’’
　　``Ithink，’’saidGurth，``thoushouldstbebestabletoreplytothatquestion。’’
　　``Nay，bymytroth，thougavestmearoundknock，’’repliedtheCaptain；``doasmuchforthisfellow，andthoushaltpassscot-free；andifthoudostnot——why，bymyfaith，asthouartsuchasturdyknave，IthinkImustpaythyransommyself——
　　Takethystaff，Miller，’’headded，``andkeepthyhead；anddoyouothersletthefellowgo，andgivehimastaff——thereislightenoughtolayonloadby。’’