"A wounded man. I never saw him before to-day."
"How came he thus and how did you come into his company?"
"An attack in the forest, and I helped him to escape. It was a small affair; but if you have skill in such matters, pray bind up his wounds without delay. He is weak from loss of blood."
The youth returned, hurrying forward an old woman with bent form, and chin and nose which nearly met, as they seemed to peck at each other continually.
"Mother, look into this man's face," said the man who seemed chief of this forest band.
"Ay, sore hurt he is," said the old hag, bending over him, "but I have salves—I have salves."
"But his face, mother; who is he?"
"A wounded man
In a forest lay,
Who the fates decree
Shall be Duke one day,"
chanted the old woman in a piping key. "I saw it all as the flame died out of my fire last night. I have salves; let me fetch them. There is money, much money in this."