1 84 AN ANGLER'S HOURS xi 



A man of his age, he saw in the situation 

 something that called for vengeance first 

 and explanation after, and springing upon 

 the pair he seized the youth in his mighty 

 arms, and without more ado tossed him over 

 the parapet into the river. This done, I 

 suppose he questioned Lady Maud as to 

 the identity of the man drowning below, or 

 it may be that he heard his son's last cry 

 and recognised the voice. At all events, 

 horror-struck by what he had done, he 

 rushed from the terrace, sprang upon his 

 horse, and rode madly out into the night. 

 And as he rode his horse cast a shoe, which 

 now hangs on the church door in confirma- 

 tion of the tale. Should further proof be 

 needed the sceptic has only to repair to the 

 terrace at midnight, and if he is properly 

 constituted he can see Lady Maud herself 

 pacing to and fro wringing her hands. 



I am not sure that I tell the legend 

 aright. Some say that it was Lady Maud 

 herself who was hurled over the wall, and 

 that her angry lord had some justification, 

 inasmuch as the gallant was not even dis- 

 tantly related to her. But it does not matter 

 which story is the true one. The important 



