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his confinement. He was a kind and noble master, and however long my

search may be, I will yet obtain news of him."

The knight warmly applauded the troubadour's resolution, and was turning

to lead him into his abode, when his eye fell upon Cuthbert.

"Methinks I know the face of your attendant as well as your own; though

where I can have seen him I know not. Was he with you in the Holy Land?"

"Yes," Blondel said, "the youth was also there; and doubtless you may

have noticed him, for he is indeed of distinguished and of good family."

"Then let him share our repast," the knight said, "if it seems good to

you. In these woods there is no rank, and I myself have long dropped my

knightly title, and shall not reassume it until I can pay off my score to

the Baron of Rotherheim, and take my place again in my castle."

The minstrel and Cuthbert were soon seated at the table with the knight

and one or two of his principal companions. A huge venison pasty formed

the staple of the repast, but hares and other small game were also upon

the table. Nor was the generous wine of the country wanting.

The knight had several times glanced at Cuthbert, and at last exclaimed,

"I have it now. This is no attendant, sir minstrel, but that valiant

young knight who so often rode near King Richard in battle. He is, as I

guess, your companion in this quest; is it not so?"

"It is," Cuthbert replied frankly. "I am like yourself, a disinherited

knight, and my history resembles yours. Upon my return to England I found

another in possession of the land and titles that belonged to the noble I

followed, and which King Richard bestowed upon me. The Earl of Evesham

was doubtless known to you, and before his death King Richard, at his

request, bestowed upon me as his adopted son--although but a distant

connexion--his title and lands and the hand of his daughter. Prince John,

who now rules in England, had however granted these things to one of his

favourites, and he having taken possession of the land and title, though

not, happily, of the lady, closed his door somewhat roughly in my face. I

found means, however, to make my mark upon him; but as our quarrel could

not be fought out to the end, and as the false knight had the aid of

Prince John, I am forced for a while to postpone our settlement, and

meeting my good friend the minstrel, agreed to join him in his enterprise

to discover our lord the king."

The knight warmly grasped Cuthbert's hand.

"I am glad," he said, "to meet so true and valiant a knight. I have often

wondered at the valour with which you, although so young, bore yourself;

and there were tales afloat of strange adventures which you had undergone

in captivity for a time among the infidels."

At Sir Adelbert's request, Cuthbert related the story of his adventures

among the Saracens; and then Blondel, tuning his lute, sang several

canzonets which he had composed in the Holy Land, of feats of arms and

adventure.

"How far are you," Cuthbert asked presently, when Blondel laid his lute

aside, "from the estates which were wrongfully wrested from you?"

"But twenty leagues," the knight said. "My castle was on the Rhine,

between Coblentz and Mannheim."

"Does the baron know that you are so near?" Cuthbert asked.

"Methinks that he does not," the knight replied, "but that he deems me to

have gone to the court of the emperor to seek for redress--which, he

guesses, I shall certainly fail to obtain."

"How many men have you with you?" Cuthbert asked.

"Fifty men, all good and true," the knight said.

"Has it never entered your thoughts to attempt a surprise upon his

castle?" Cuthbert said.

The knight was silent for a minute.

"At times," he said at length, "thoughts of so doing have occurred to

me; but the castle is strong, and a surprise would be difficult indeed."

"If the baron is lulled in security at present," Cuthbert said, "and

deems you afar off, the watch is likely to be relaxed, and with a sudden

onslaught you might surely obtain possession. Blondel and myself are not

pressed for time, and the delay of a few days can make but little

difference. If, therefore, you think we could be of assistance to you in

such an attempt, my sword, and I am sure that of my friend, would be at

your disposal."

The knight sat for some time in silence.

"Thanks, generous knight," he said at last, "I am sorely tempted to avail

myself of your offer; but I fear that the enterprise is hopeless. The

aid, however, of your arm and knowledge of war would greatly add to my

chances, and if it pleases you we will ride to-morrow to a point where we

can obtain a sight of the baron's castle. When you see it, you shall

judge yourself how far such an enterprise as you propose is possible."

"Is your own castle intact?" Cuthbert asked.

"The walls are standing," he said; "but a breach has been made in them,

and at present it is wholly deserted."

"Do you think," Cuthbert asked, "that if you succeeded in surprising and

defeating the garrison of the castle that you could then regain your own,

and hold it against your enemy?"

"I think that I could," Sir Adelbert said. "The baron's domains are but

little larger than my own. Many of my retainers still live upon the

estate, and would; I am sure, gladly join me, if I were to raise my flag.

The baron, too, is hated by his neighbours, and could I inflict a

crushing blow upon him, methinks it would be so long a time before he

could assemble a force, that I might regain my castle and put it in an

attitude of defence before he could take the field against me."

"If," Cuthbert said, "we could surprise the castle, it might well be that

the baron would fall into your hands, and in that case you might be able

to make your own terms with him. How strong a force is he likely to have

in his castle?"

"Some fifty or sixty men," the knight replied; "for with such a force he

could hold the castle against an attack of ten times their number, and he

could in twelve hours call in his retainers, and raise the garrison to

300 or 400 men."

Blondel warmly assented to Cuthbert's scheme, and it was settled that at

daybreak they should start to view the Castle of Rotherheim. At early

dawn they were in the saddle, and the three rode all day, until towards

sunset they stood on the crest of a hill looking down into the valley of

the Rhine.

The present aspect of that valley affords but a slight idea of its beauty

in those days. The slopes are now clad with vineyards, which, although

picturesque in idea, are really, to look at from a distance, no better

than so many turnip fields. The vines are planted in rows and trained to

short sticks, and as these rows follow the declivities of the hillside,

they are run in all directions, and the whole mountain side, from the

river far up, is cut up into little patches of green lines. In those days

the mountains were clad with forests, which descended nearly to the river

side. Here and there, upon craggy points, were situate the fortalices of

the barons. Little villages nestled in the woods, or stood by the river

bank, and a fairer scene could not be witnessed in Europe.

"That is Rotherheim," the knight said, pointing to a fortress standing on

a crag, which rose high above the woods around it; "and that," he said,

pointing to another some four miles away, similarly placed, "is my own."

Cuthbert examined closely the fortress of Rotherheim. It was a large

building, with towers at the angles, and seemed to rise almost abruptly

from the edge of the rock. Inside rose the gables and round turrets of

the dwelling-place of the baron; and the only access was by a steep

winding path on the river side.

"It is indeed a strong place," Cuthbert said, "and difficult to take by

surprise. A watch no doubt is always kept over the entrance, and there we

can hope for no success. The only plan will be to scale the wall by means

of a ladder; but how the ladder is to be got to so great a height, I own

at present passes my comprehension." After much thought, Cuthbert went

on, "It might, methinks, be practicable for an archer to approach the

walls, and to shoot an arrow over the angle of the castle so that it

would pass inside the turret there, and fall in the forest beyond. If to

this arrow were attached a light cord, it could be gained by one on the

other side, and a stronger cord hauled over. To this could be attached a

rope ladder, and so this could be raised to the top of the wall. If a

sentinel were anywhere near he might hear the rope pulled across the

battlements; but if as we may hope, a watch is kept only over the

entrance, the operation might be performed without attracting notice."

The knight was delighted with the project, which seemed perfectly

feasible, and it was agreed that the attempt should be made.

"It will need," Sir Adelbert said, "an archer with a strong arm indeed to

shoot an arrow with a cord attached to it, however light, over the corner

of the castle."

"Methinks," Cuthbert said, "that I can do that, for as a lad I was used

to the strong bows of my country. The first thing, however, will be to

obtain such a bow; but doubtless one can be purchased in one of the

towns, which, if not so strong as those to which I was accustomed, will

at any rate suffice for us."

The party bivouacked in the woods for the night, for the horses had

already done a very long journey, and needed rest before starting back

for the Black Forest. At daybreak, however, they started, and at

nightfall rejoined their band. These were delighted when they heard the

scheme that had been set on foot, and all avowed their eagerness to join

in the attempt to restore their lord to his rights.

Two days later they set out, having already procured from the nearest

town a strong bow, some arrows, a very light rope, and a stronger one

from a portion of which they manufactured a rope ladder capable of

reaching from the top of the wall to the rock below. The journey this

time occupied two days, as the men on foot were unable to march at the

pace at which the mounted party had traversed the ground. The evening

of the second day, however, saw them in sight of the castle. By

Cuthbert's advice, Sir Adelbert determined to give them twenty-four

hours of rest, in order that they might have their full strength for

undertaking the task before them. During the day, Cuthbert, guided by

the knight, made his way through the woods to the foot of the rocks on

which the castle stood. They were extremely steep, but could be mounted

by active men if unopposed from above. Cuthbert measured the height

with his eye from the top of the castle wall to the place which he

selected as most fitting from which to shoot the arrow, and announced

to the knight that he thought there would be no difficulty in

discharging an arrow over the angle.

At nightfall the whole party made their way silently through the woods.

Three men were sent round to the side of the castle opposite that from

which Cuthbert was to shoot. The length of light string was carefully

coiled on the ground, so as to unwind with the greatest facility, and so

offer as little resistance to the flight of the arrow as might be. Then,

all being in readiness, Cuthbert attached the end to an arrow, and

drawing the bow to its full compass, let fly the arrow. All held their

breath; but no sound followed the discharge. They were sure, therefore,

that the arrow had not struck the wall, but that it must have passed

clear over it. Half-an-hour elapsed before they felt that the cord was

pulled, and knew that the men upon the other side had succeeded in

finding the arrow and string attached. The stronger cord was now fastened

to that which the arrow had carried, and this gradually disappeared in

the darkness. A party now stole up the rock, and posted themselves at the

foot of the castle wall. They took with them the coil of rope-ladder and

the end of the rope. At length the rope tightened, and to the end they

attached the ladder. This again ascended until the end only remained upon

the ground, and they knew that it must have reached the top of the wall.

They now held fast, and knew that those on the other side, following the

instructions given them, would have fastened the rope to a tree upon the

opposite side. They were now joined by the rest of the party, and Sir

Adelbert leading the way, and followed by Cuthbert and Blondel, began

cautiously to ascend the rope ladder.

All this time no sound from the castle proclaimed that their intention

was suspected, or that any alarm had been given, and in silence they

gained the top of the wall. Here they remained quiet until the whole band

were gathered there, and then made their way along until they reached the

stairs leading to the courtyard. These they descended, and then, raising

his war cry, Sir Adelbert sprang upon the men who, round a fire, were

sitting by the gate. These were cut down before they could leap to their

feet, and the party then rushed at the entrance to the dwelling-house.

The retainers of the castle, aroused by the sudden din, rushed from their

sleeping places, but taken completely by surprise, were unable to offer

any resistance whatever to the strong force which had, as if by magic,

taken possession of the castle. The surprise was complete, and with

scarce a blow struck they found themselves in possession. The baron

himself was seized as he rose from his bed, and his rage at finding

himself in the power of his enemy was so great as for some time to render

him speechless. Sir Adelbert briefly dictated to him the conditions upon

which only he should desist from using his power to hang him over his own

gate. The baron was instantly to issue orders to all his own retainers