“Yes, that’s my name,” he said, when Jack addressed him as such; “I am known here and elsewhere as Ned Burdale, at your service.”
Jack at last became heartily tired of his companion’s society: at the same time he had to confess to himself that there was nothing particularly with which he could find fault about the man, except his sulky silence. With great satisfaction Deane at length caught sight of the well-remembered patches of woodland scenery by which he knew that he was once more within the ancient boundaries of Sherwood Forest. He now, for the first time, told Ned Burdale of his intention of visiting Harwood Grange.
“My directions were to conduct you to Master Pearson’s farm in the fens,” said his companion. “I cannot be answerable for your safety if you part company from me.”
“I have no desire to do so,” said Jack; “but if you will accompany me to the Grange, as soon as I have delivered my message to Mr Harwood, I shall be ready to set forward to the place you speak of.”
“Remember, then, it’s at your own risk,” said his companion. “I have my reasons for not wishing to go there myself, but I will wait for you at a farm which we shall reach in a couple of hours, and from thence you can ride over to the Grange. I would advise you to go there in the evening, to avoid being seen by the people in the neighbourhood. We can send a messenger on before to the Squire, that he may be on the watch for you. Take my advice: don’t allow a bright eye and a rosy cheek to detain you there longer than is necessary.”
Jack, being unable to suggest any better arrangement, was compelled to be contented with his companion’s proposal.
Putting spurs to their horses, they galloped on through the forest. Now they had to pass several miles of cleared country; then again they came to more forest-land. Now they passed over a wild piece of heath; then through dingle and dale, and thick copses, and along the banks of a stream, avoiding the high-road as much as possible, and making their way wherever they could across the country. At length they entered a thicker part of the forest than any they had hitherto passed through.
“We shall soon be at the farm,” observed Burdale. “We will take a day’s rest then for the sake of our steeds; for though at a push they would have gone twice as far without knocking up, it’s as well to give them a holiday where it can be done.”
At length a grey-stone tower, with a building attached to it, round which ran a broad balcony, appeared in sight. It had evidently been a hunting-lodge in olden times, and from the balcony ladies fair used to shoot with cross-bow, or, perhaps, in later times with fire-arms, at the deer as they were driven past. An old man and woman, apparently as old as the building itself, came forth at the sound of the horses’ hoofs. They looked somewhat askance at Jack, but welcomed Burdale as an acquaintance.
“You can give us shelter for the night, Master Rymer, I hope,” he said, jumping from his horse. “Here, I will help look after the steeds, while your dame shows my companion the way into your house.”