Sudden his steed the leader rein’d;
A signal to his squire he flung,
Who instant to his stirrup sprung:—
“Seest thou, De Vaux, yon woodsman gray,
Who townward holds the rocky way,
Of stature tall and poor array?
Mark’st thou the firm, yet active stride,
With which he scales the mountain side?
Know’st thou from whence he comes, or whom?”—
“No, by my word;—a burly groom