their ubiquitous lord, the tired followers beat every copse and glade,
and it was not until the afternoon was well advanced that the Knight
of Ashby relinquished the search and thought of turning back.

"Hark!" said Simon to his master, as the latter gave the order to
return, "I hear the tread of horse."

"We will advance, then," was the reply, and the unwilling company once
more turned their backs upon their homes, and marched further into the
forest.

The two parties had for some time unconsciously been approaching each
other, and when the quick ears of the chamberlain had detected the
proximity of Sir George Vernon and his followers, they were only
separated from each other by a narrow strip of thickly-grown wood, and
a minute or two sufficed to bring them into collision.

"Ha, ha!" shouted Sir George, as he sighted the faithless knight.
"Ha, ha, torn clothes, we have you now. Here the villain is," and he
spurred his horse forward to cope with his enemies single-handed.

De la Zouch was amazed and staggered at the sight, and without waiting
to meet the baron he rode back to his party, hotly pursued by the King
of the Peak and his men of Derbyshire.

"Stay," cried Manners, "we will settle this between ourselves"; and
without waiting for assistance he dashed forward at De la Zouch, and
made a furious onslaught upon him.

It was no tournament now; it was a struggle for life itself! And