knock was heard at the door of the hut of the chief forester of
Haddon.

A lonely traveller stood outside, shivering in his rough and scanty
garments as he stood in the still evening breeze, and as he waited
expectantly at the unopened door he heard a gruff voice inside the
cottage trolling forth a simple ballad of the chase.

He waited patiently until the song was finished, and then, taking
courage, he tapped again much louder than before, and was rewarded by
hearing footsteps advance towards the threshold, and a moment later
the crazy portal was standing open, and the unkempt head of the
forester peered inquiringly out.

"What now, what now," he inquired, as his eye lighted upon the strange
figure before him; "who and what art thou?"

"Art thou Roger the forester?" asked the wanderer in reply.

"Roger Morton, at your service, yes."

"Then, by the love of heaven, I beseech thee let me in."

"Well, there are few ask that favour off me, but none shall ever say
I turned an empty mouth away at night, e'en though it were a beggar's.
Come in."

Thankful indeed to receive so ready an invitation, the traveller
entered the hospitable cottage.