"Am I to be set at liberty?" asked the prisoner, joyfully, as his hands were unfastened.
"That depends," replied Careless. "The bandage will not be removed from thine eyes, so it will behove thee to be careful in descending."
Meantime, the king had gone down to explain matters, taking the basket and the cushion with him. As he expected, he found William Penderel, with Trusty Dick and John. All three were amazed to hear that a prisoner had been made. Though the task was by no means agreeable to them, Dick and John did not for a moment dispute his majesty's commands, but agreed to convey the trooper to a distance.
"We will conduct him to the roughest part of the wood and leave him there, to find his way out as he best can," said Dick.
"If he gets drowned in a pool, or stifled in a bog, it won't much matter," added John.
Madmannah reached the lowest branch in safety, but he then slipped down and fell to the ground. When he arose he was seized on either side by a vigorous grasp, while a stern voice—it was that of Dick—bade him come along, and keep silence.
"We have got thy pistols," added John, "and we will shoot thee through the head shouldst thou attempt to fly, or give the alarm. So take heed what thou art about."
They then marched off with the prisoner between them.
As soon as they were out of sight and hearing, William Penderel cautiously conducted the king and his companion to Boscobel House.