“My Lord of Warwick, I am very sorry that I was forced to kill your good hound, and hope you will forgive me.”
“Forced to kill!”
“If I had not, he would have killed the poor doe and her fawn together, and I could not have seen that, if I had to hang for it, as the noble earl threatened I should.”
“Tell me the whole story,” said the Earl of Leicester.
“Pardon me, my good brother, I want to hear how he defends himself.”
And Martin began:
“We were in the woods, when we heard a great rustling, and saw a doe crossing the path, very frightened, but for all that she kept stopping and looking back, and we saw a little fawn by her side, who couldn’t keep up; then we heard the hound baying behind, and the poor mother trembled and started, but wouldn’t leave her little one, but bleated piteously to the wee thing to make haste. I never saw an animal in such distress before, and I could not bear it, so I stood in the track to stop the dog, and he rushed upon my spear. I was very sorry for the good hound, but I was more sorry for the doe and her fawn.”
“And thou wouldst do the same thing again, I suppose?” said the Earl of Leicester.
“I couldn’t help it.”
“And what didst thou do, Hubert?”