As he spoke Miles put his hands to his leathern pouch, which he thought was securely fastened under his doublet. But alas! the robbers had stripped him of that and every crown that was in it, so that he was penniless.
He sank down upon the ground and groaned aloud as he realised this, for what should he do now if his father refused to send him any more? And he felt sure that his father would refuse unless he should agree to sign the documents that would practically consign several other families to ruin.
"What is it, my master?" asked Reuben, fearing his master had been wounded.
"My money I my money Reuben. The rogues have robbed me of every penny."
"Yes, I saw them do it while you were struggling on the ground. I thought you saw it too."
"No, I thought only of getting away from them. This is ruin indeed."
"But we can all work, my master," said Reuben, cheerfully, but Rankin spoke no word, for he knew better than either of the others how helpless a man was in the world without money. But he resolved to stand by the young fellow who had dared so much for the sake of saving others from the ruin that had overtaken him; and so the three trudged on through the dawning light, hoping to gain the gates of the city by the time they opened, and so secure a refuge before their escape was discovered.
[CHAPTER V.]
A LUCKY ESCAPE.
OUR three friends presented a sorry spectacle in the streets of Oxford, but Miles was known at a small hostelry near his college, and to this he took Rankin and Reuben, bidding the landlord supply them with a good meal, and the means of making themselves decent.