six men, whom he knew he could trust to any evil deed, and told them to
go with the forester.

"And, if you find any man trespassing in Duke Fromont's wood, spare him
not," he added.

In the morning the ruffians came to the place where Duke Bego had spent
the night. They found him sitting not far from the great beast which
he had slain, while his horse stood before him and neighed with
impatience and struck his hoofs upon the ground. They asked him who
gave him leave to hunt in the wood of Puelle.

"I ask no man's leave to hunt where it pleases me," he answered.

They told him then that the lordship of the wood was with Fromont and
that he must go with them, as their prisoner, to Lens.

"Very well," said Bego. "I will go with you. If I have done aught of
wrong to Fromont the old, I am willing to make it right with him. My
brother Garin, the Lorrainer, and King Pepin, will go my surety."

Then, looking around upon the villainous faces of the men who had come
to make prisoner of him, he bethought himself for a moment.

"No, no!" he cried. "Never will I yield me to six such rascals.
Before I die, I will sell myself full dear. Yesterday six and thirty
knights were with me, and master huntsmen, skilled in all the lore of
the wood. Noble men were they all; for not one of them but held in
fief some town or castle or rich countryside. They will join me ere
long."