As I passed the front of the Manor House I caught a glimpse of a frocked priest, and from the look on his face I fancied he suspected me of something. But I paid little heed to him. I went back to the inn to make my plans for rescuing Naomi. I did not know then that Naomi and I had been watched all the time we had been together by a wily priest. CHAPTER XX HOW I FELLED A HORSE WITH MY FIST, AND CARRIED NAOMI SOUTHWARD When I got back to the inn I found Eli anxiously awaiting me. "Jasper better?" he said, looking at me questioningly. "Yes, better, Eli." "Jasper 'eard 'bout the purty maid?" "Yes, Eli." He chuckled joyously, and then gave several expressive grunts. After this he asked me some questions, which showed me that he understood more than I had thought, and had formed correct reasons why my love had been taken away. "Neck Trezidder's awful deep; all the Trezidders be," he grunted. "Made et up with the priests--go shares. I zee, I zee!" "Eli," I said, "we must take her away to-night; take her to a place of safety." "Iss, iss," he chuckled. "Where?" "I must decide that after we have got her away from yon prison," I said. "Can Jasper trust little Eli?" he asked. "Yes, Eli, what do you want me to do?" "Will 'ee tell little Eli what the purty maid tould 'ee--'bout 'erzelf?" he added. So I told him all that I cared to tell him--everything I knew, in fact, save the story of our love. He sat very still for some time, save that he contorted his face more than usual, and rolled his cross eyes around like one demented. "And what be yer plans, Maaster Jasper?" "We must get horses, Eli," I said; "from where I do not know yet, but we must get them by to-night. One must have a lady's saddle--for her." "Is Maaster Jasper going to git 'em?" "Yes. I shall have plenty of time through the day, and nothing can be done while we are away." "No, Maaster Jasper, no," he grunted. "You mus' stay 'ere oal day and watch. You mus' eed out ov sight, but you mus' watch. Cos they be oal deep. They knaw, they knaw!" I understood his meaning, and saw that he was right; at the same time, I felt I would have to risk being away, else how could I get the horses without attracting attention? "Little Eli 'll git the hosses," he grunted; "little Eli that everybody do laugh at. But 'ee'll 'elp Maaster Jasper, 'ee will." "But if you are caught stealing horses you'll be hanged," I said. He laughed gleefully. "Who'll catch little Eli?" he chuckled, "priest or knave? No, no! Is little Eli a vool? Ef 'ee es, then mawther es too. But es she? es she?" "But where will you get the horses?" I asked, anxiously. "Anything will do for me or you; but she must have one easy to ride, for she is weak and ill." "I knaw, I knaw," he laughed. "Maaster Jasper 'appy again, Maaster Jasper git his own. But he must watch, watch.