Placing the child on the ground, the stranger bowed low to the lady, turned his horse, and disappeared into the forest. The mother scarcely saw him; her eyes were on her boy. She reached out her arms to him.
“Gene, little Gene, my dearest, come.” The little fellow kissed his hand and waved it to her. Soon he was in her arms; and she held him close, while she questioned him.
“Where have you been, Gene, and who was yon dark man who brought you home?”
Soon he was in her arms.
“That was the Dark, mamma. Nurse does always tell me that the Dark will catch me; and when I say that I do not fear, she threatens to send me to him. I asked her where he lived, and she said, ‘In the day-time, in the great vaults under the castle;’ and I asked her where he lived at night, and she said, ‘In the deep woods.’ So I said I would find him, and tell him I did not fear him.”
“Did you think to frighten his father’s son with such baby lore?” asked the lady of the nurse, scornfully.
“But continue, my son; tell me, how went you out from the castle?”
“There is a little door through which—but dear mamma, I cannot tell you what is known only to the men-at-arms.”
The lady glanced round darkly. “This castle needeth its master sorely,” she said. The men drew back abashed. The boy continued,—