At this moment the stately cavalier reached the hunting-party, returned their boisterous greetings, and halted close to them.
"David!" cried he to an old grey-bearded huntsman, who at once stepped forth, cap in hand.
"Put on your cap! Have the beaters taken their places?"
"Every one is in his place, my lord! I have also sent canoes into the swamp to scare back the game."
"Bravo, David! you know your business. And now set off with the dogs and the huntsmen, and strike into the path which we usually take. Our little company will be sufficient for my purpose. We mean to cut our way straight through the forest."
A murmur of surprise and incredulity began to spread among the huntsmen.
"Your pardon, gracious sir!" returned the old huntsman, who now took off his cap a second time, "but I know that way, and it is no good way for a god-fearing man. The impenetrable thicket, the bottomless waters, the sticky slime present a thousand dangers, and then there is the wide Devil's-dyke which goes right across the forest: no horse or horseman has ever leaped that dyke."
"We at any rate, my worthy old fellow, will go for it; we have done worse bits than that ere now. He who follows me will not come to grief; don't you know that I am Fortune's favourite?"
The old huntsman donned his plumed cap, and set out on his way with the others.
But now the bald-pate rode up to the hero's side.