At a signal from Ralph, his two captors dismounted him from his saddle, and he came helplessly to the ground. "Search him," said Ralph, disdaining to make any reply to the luckless officer. His orders were instantly obeyed, and in a few moments the Pursuivant was relieved of a big official-looking document, which Ralph forthwith proceeded to open. "Listen, my men," he said; "this is a warrant for the apprehension of the Vicar of Chiddingly. What shall we do with it?" "Tear it in pieces and scatter it to the winds!" shouted the angry rustics. "At the peril of your lives!" shouted again the enraged officer. Ralph laughed scornfully in reply, and in another moment he had torn the formidable document to shreds, tossing them in the air as his followers had suggested. "You will suffer for this, sir," growled the astonished officer. "You are a bold man, Mr. Pursuivant," said Ralph. "You came hither on a message of death, and now your plans are frustrated and your life is in our hands! Have you thought of that, sir?" "You would not dare!" replied the officer. Ralph laughed aloud, and replied— "You little know the daring of the people of Sussex when they know that God is on their side; yet your experience to-day might give you an inkling of the extent of their hardihood. "But have no fear," he continued, "your life is safe, and you and your men can go back to Lewes to tell them how you have been outwitted by Sussex rustics. "Yet it does not suit our purposes that your return should be too quickly made, so we shall tie you to these trees by the roadside and relieve you of your horses. Before nightfall there will, doubtless, be passers-by who will release you from your bondage, and then you may trudge homeward." Then, ere the enraged Pursuivant could find words for a reply, Ralph turned to his men and said— "Quick, men, with the ropes; tie our prisoners securely to the trees by the roadside, beginning with the officer." In a few minutes his orders were carried out. Then Ralph bowed with mock ceremony to the Pursuivant. "Good-day, sir," he said; "I wish you a speedy release and a pleasant walk to Lewes!" And at a signal from their leader the whole gang dived into the forest, driving the horses in front of them. Ralph made his way to the hut where his horse had been stabled, and was soon trotting quietly homewards, his stalwarts following his example on foot by the well-known bypath of the forest. No sooner had the gang disappeared than the bound men began to struggle desperately in a vain endeavour to escape from their bonds, soon to find all their efforts useless. Then the Pursuivant spoke. "You Lewes men ought to be able to recognize some of these ruffians—do you know their leader?" "Yes, I know him," replied one of his men; "I have often seen him in Lewes—'tis Mr. William Jefferay." "Are you sure?" said the Pursuivant, rejoiced at the news. "Yes," replied the man, "I know him by his grey cap!"