"No," he said, at length; "I have not told him yet. I thought that I would first speak with a certain person, who has sometimes odd thoughts of his own, and who, though a rough man at times, has often been kind to me, in days of trouble. When I meddle, I like to know what I am meddling with; and though I be a poor wretch, who rarely knows from one day to another where I shall get meat, or, what is more important still, where I shall get drink; yet, to say truth, I would rather lose a gill stoup full of gold pieces than make mischief which I cannot mend. I therefore determined to speak first of all with this person, who knows a good deal of the matter, and who, having hidden, can find. Am I not wise?" "Thou art better than wise," said the woodman, laying his strong hand upon his shoulder. "Thou art good, as this world goes." The woodman paused thoughtfully for a few moments, and then said-- "Not yet. You must not tell him yet. There is a task for her to perform, a scene for her to pass through, before there can be daylight. Said'st thou the earl of Richmond was on the sea?" "'Tis so confidently reported," replied the other; "notices of great preparation at Harfleur, and of troops collecting at Rouen, have reached the court, and are noised about the city; and the rumour is, that the good earl has sailed, intending to land in Dorsetshire or Devon." "Then he must fight or fail at once?" said the woodman; "and he must be advised. Yet, doubtless, the tale is false; and at all events, it is too late to stop him. Let me think. To-day is the twenty-eighth of July, is it not?" "Ay," answered the piper; "'tis so by my calendar." But the woodman seemed not to hear him, and went on in the same meditating tone, saying-- "It is a memorable day--ay, it is a memorable day. Once more in arms Hark you, my friend, will you be my messenger?" "What, to the earl of Richmond?" cried Sam, with a start. "Who said the earl of Richmond, fool?" asked Boyd, sternly. "No, to a lady." "Ay, right willing," answered the piper; "if I judge who the lady is; for she was always kind and good to me." "Let not your wit run before your knowledge," said the woodman, "or it will leave truth behind. I send you to a lady, whom you have seen, but with whom you never spoke--" He suddenly broke off, and seemed to let his mind ramble to other things. "If Richmond has spread the sail," he said, "he may have touched land ere now. But Richard is unprepared. He has no force in the field, no muster called, that I can hear of. There must be an error, and there may yet be time enough. Do you remember a lady who, with a train of maidens and grooms, passed through the forest several weeks ago?"