Hugo
thrust the bundle into the king's hands without halting, saying:
'Now speed ye after me with the rest, and cry "Stop thief!" but
mind ye lead them astray.'
The next moment Hugo turned a corner and darted down a crooked
alley- and in another moment or two he lounged into view again,
looking innocent and indifferent, and took up a position behind a post
to watch results.
The insulted king threw the bundle on the ground; and the
blanket fell away from it just as the woman arrived, with an
augmenting crowd at her heels; she seized the king's wrist with one
hand, snatched up her bundle with the other, and began to pour out a
tirade of abuse upon the boy while he struggled, without success, to
free himself from her grip.
Hugo had seen enough- his enemy was captured and the law would get
him now- so he slipped away, jubilant and chuckling and wended
campward, framing a judicious version of the matter to give to the
Ruffler's crew as he strode along.
The king continued to struggle in the woman's grasp, and now and
then cried out, in vexation:
'Unhand me, thou foolish creature; it was not I that bereaved thee
of thy paltry goods.'
The crowd closed around, threatening the king and calling him
names; a brawny blacksmith in leather apron, and sleeves rolled to his
elbows, made a reach for him, saying he would trounce him well, for
a lesson; but just then a long sword flashed in the air and fell
with convincing force upon the man's arm, flat-side down, the
fantastic owner of it remarking, pleasantly at the same time:
'Marry, good souls, let us proceed gently, not with ill blood
and uncharitable words.
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