I was credited with being a
blockhead, when in fact they were the dupes.
We rode hurriedly back to the point of Mary's departure and wound our
horns lustily, but my object had been accomplished, and I knew that
within twenty minutes from the time I last saw her, she would be with
Brandon, on the road to Bristol, gaining on any pursuit we could make
at the rate of three miles for two. We scoured the forest far and
near, but of course found no trace. After a time rain set in and one
of the gentlemen escorted the ladies home, while three of us remained
to prowl about the woods and roads all night in a soaking drizzle. The
task was tiresome enough for me, as it lacked motive; and when we rode
into Berkeley Castle next day, a sorrier set of bedraggled,
rain-stained, mud-covered knights you never saw. You may know the
castle was wild with excitement. There were all sorts of conjectures,
but soon we unanimously concluded it had been the work of highwaymen,
of whom the country was full, and by whom the princess had certainly
been abducted.
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