Bunting at J&altoooD=Hfc**p* 167 



of these, waving branches gently rustled in the morning 

 breeze, and the cheerful songs of early birds resounded 

 from the thickets. William began to prepare for the 

 chase, and while he was thus employed, an artizan 

 brought him six new arrows. He praised their work- 

 manship, and putting aside four for himself, he gave the 

 other two to Sir Walter Tyrrel, or, as he was often called, 

 Sir Walter de Poix, from his estates in France, saying, 

 as he presented them, " Good weapons are due to him, 

 who knows how to make a right use of them." The 

 breakfast-tables were plentifully supplied, and those who 

 sat around them, talked of the expected pleasures of the 

 chase, while the red king ate and drank even more than 

 he was wont. Perhaps the fearful vision of the night still 

 troubled him, and he sought to put aside the recollection ; 

 for it was observed that his spirits rose at length to the 

 highest pitch. Malwood-Keep resounded with merriment 

 as it had done the night before, and the horses were seen 

 standing ready saddled, with hounds in leashes, and 

 grooms and huntsmen preparing for the chase. Many 

 of the younger barons were already mounted, and their 

 horses were curvetting on the grass, as though they partook 

 of the impatience of their riders, while every now and then 

 the blast of the hunter's horn, in the hand of some young 

 squire, gave notice to those within, that the sun was 

 already high. All was gaiety and animation, and bois- 

 terous mirth within and around Malwood-Keep, when a 

 stranger was seen approaching through the forest, grave, 



