CHAPTER V.
A train of armed men, some noble dame
Escorting, (so their scattered words discovered,
As unperceived I hung upon their rear)
Are close at hand, and mean to pass the night
Within the castle.
Orra, a Tragedy.
The travellers had now reached the verge of
the wooded country, and were about to plunge
into its recesses, held dangerous at that time from
the number of outlaws whom oppression and poverty had driven to despair, and who occupied
the forests in such large bands as could easily bid
defiance to the feeble police of the period. From
these rovers, however, notwithstanding the lateness of the hour, Cedric and Athelstane accounted themselves secure, as they had in attendance ten servants, besides Wamba and Gurth,
