The spot was admirably chosen for the object in view. Here the track narrowed to a breadth of sixteen or seventeen feet, and the branches of a giant oak spread right over it.
On each side of the track grew a stout young sapling, as if nature was conspiring on behalf of the stalwarts. Ralph drew a whistle from his doublet and blew a shrill note.
In a minute a rustling noise arose in the dense wood, and there emerged from it nine of his men.
Ralph dismounted, and putting his bridle rein into the hands of one of the men, said—
"Take him to the hut and tie him up carefully; see that you shut the door after you."
"Aye, aye, sir," said the man.
Then Ralph began to unwind from his body the stout cord he had brought with him, with the assistance of his men. One end of it was securely fastened to the sapling on the right of the road, at a height of one foot from the grassy soil.
The other end was made sure at the foot of a tree on the left-hand side, and the rope was drawn taut. The rough grass which grew luxuriantly on the trackway obscured it sufficiently from view.
Every man of the band carried a short cord round his waist, and Ralph carefully inspected these cords to see that they were ready for immediate use.
"Now listen, all of you, to my final instructions," said Ralph, as the men gathered round him.