They rode so fiercely that, their horses being good, they came to the
gates of Yarmouth in little more than an hour and a half, and that is
fast riding. But the bird was flown. They tracked him to the quay and
found that he had shipped a while before in a boat which was in waiting
for him, and passed to his vessel that lay in the Roads at anchor but
with the most of her canvas set. Instantly she sailed, and now was lost
in the night. Then my father caused notice to be given that he would pay
reward of two hundred pieces in gold to any ship that should capture the
Spaniard, and two started on the quest, but they did not find her that
before morning was far on her way across the sea.
So soon as they had galloped away I called together the grooms and other
serving men and told them what had chanced. Then we went with lanterns,
for by now it was dark, and came to the thick brushwood where lay the
body of my mother. I drew near the first, for the men were afraid, and
so indeed was I, though why I should fear her lying dead who living had
loved me tenderly, I do not know. Yet I know this, that when I came to
the spot and saw two eyes glowering at me and heard the crash of bushes
as something broke them, I could almost have fallen with fear, although
I knew well that it was but a fox or wandering hound haunting the place
of death.
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