Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/263

Rh for the purpose of betraying his comrades, against whom he had no grudge, but that he might revenge himself against the Lady Amabel for bringing punishment upon him when he had not deserved it.

The crafty Luke affected to sympathize with him, and soon drew from him the story of Amabel's departure, a description of her disguise, and the deserter's belief that she had gone to summon aid in raising the siege. Once possessed of the man's story, Luke led him out upon the plateau and then advised him to take himself off, adding that the Count would be sure to string him up to the branch of a tree if he were caught. The deserter thankfully took to his heels, glad to escape so cheaply, and Luke went to the Count. He repeated what the man had told him, but the Count did not attach much importance to the matter.

"Let the light-heeled wench go," said he. "Before she can be back we shall be in possession, and anyone will think twice before attacking us."

"Very true, my lord," Luke replied. "Besides, you may well say, 'Let her go,' since she is already gone, and beyond our stopping. But what is to prevent our sending a scroll to the young Lord Mortimer saying that we have taken this Lady Amabel, and that he can redeem her from our hands only by surrendering the castle? The