“THE EARL OF WARWICK,” whispered Hubert, awe struck.
The earl looked astonished as he saw the dog.
“Who has done this?” he said, in a voice of thunder.
But Martin did not tremble as he replied:
“I, my lord.”
“And why? did the hound attack thee?”
“It was to save the poor doe and her fawn; the mother would not leave her little one, and both would have been killed together.”
The indignation of the two woodsmen was almost indecorous, but they did not speak before their dread master.
“And didst thou have aught to do with it?” said the earl, addressing Hubert.
“Nay, my lord, I did it all with this spear; he tried to stop me,” said Martin.