that they would never suspect me of being a boy! I was sorry enough to leave the kindly monks when their ways separated from mine, and my next day's journey was a sad one indeed. The day after, however, brought me luck again, for as I was passing a cottage I heard sounds of grief and lamentations within. Whereupon I went to the door, and found a young wood-cutter who had cut his leg instead of a tree, and was likely to to bleed to death for lack of a leech to bind up his artery. His father and mother were tearing their hair with mad grief, not knowing enough to stanch the bleeding. 'Wait, good folks,' I cried, 'for I am somewhat skilled in healing.' Then snatching the good wife's kerchief from her head, and a bit of stick from beside the fireplace, I tied a knot in the cloth, pressed it over the artery above the cut, tied it tight, and then showed goodman cutter how to twist it yet tighter with the stick, while his son lay fainting with loss of blood. The best of surgeons could hardly have done better, Lady Mortimer, and there is why your lessons served me well. The blood being stopped, there was time to send for a leech to complete the cure, and I went with the grateful father to town—thus gaining another stage in my journey. The poor father had naught to give me for saving his son's life, save his ax, but that he would fain have me
