"Now yield thee to Tanner, friend," quoth Will, knee-deep in the stream,
"for no mind have I to hurt thee. So away with thy dagger like gentle,
kindly Fool, and away with thee to Sir Robin."
Now hereupon, as Jocelyn frowned upon them, Yolande, standing a-tiptoe,
kissed his scarred cheek and clasped his dagger-hand in soft fingers.
"Come," she pleaded, "they be a-many, so yield me thy dagger and let us go
with them, beloved!" At the whispered word Jocelyn loosed the dagger
and, clasping her instead, kissed her full-lipped. Then turned he to his
captors.
"I'm with thee, Will, thou--tanner!" quoth he. "And now bring hither the
horse for my lady's going."
"Nay," answered Will, scratching red head, "Rob--Sir Robert spake nothing
of horse for thee, or lady."
"Nor will I ride, Joconde," she murmured happily, "rather will I trudge
beside thee, my hand in thine--thus!"
So, hand in hand, they went close-guarded by their captors yet heeding them
not at all, having eyes but for each other. And oft her cheek flushed rosy
beneath his look, and oft he thrilled to the warm, close pressure of her
fingers; and thus tramped they happy in their captivity.
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