'Please, which way is the 'ouse?' asked John. 'I do nay mind walking there.'
The woman that hadn't spoken to that point put her nose in the air and spurred her horse on as she said, 'There is plent'y of food with the pigs. You are welcome to it.' At that, the group laughed and followed her into the fog.
'Please, I beg you,' called John, but the group rode away laughing.
John felt the same anger and embarrassment rise up within him as he had felt the previous day at the public house. He looked up and yelled, 'God, why are you doing this to me?' and then he sat down and placed his head in his hands. He remained that way for sometime before he stood and resumed walking.
Fog hung thickly in the air, causing trees to take on ghostly appearances. John walked for what seemed several miles, looking up from the road only occasionally. He was at first startled when he became aware of creatures silently watching him through the fog, but then he realized that there were deer all around him. There must have been a hundred of them. He knew that he must have wandered onto an estate. He considered trying to kill a deer with a stone, but knew that would likely be fruitless and tampering with the animals on an estate would be punishable with a harsh jail sentence.
He took courage, hoping that at this great house he would fine relief and care. In the blanket of fog, it was not clear that he would be able to find the house, but as he walked on, a large estate house seemed to rise out of the fog like a mountain.
John approached the house with anticipation and pounded on the large doors at the entry. After several moments a servant answered the door.
'Please, may I 'ave sume food.'
'We do nay serve beggars at this 'ouse,' came the reply.
'I am nay a beggar, I am John Darby of Stamford, Lincolnshire county. I must see your master.'
'Wait 'ere,' said the servant.
Several minutes later the owner of the estate came to the door. 'Whot is it then?' he asked gruffly.
'I John Darby of Stamford, Lincolnshire county. I lost me 'orse and was robbed. I am withoot food or lodging. Will you 'elp me?'
The Lord of the house looked out into the fog as though he were looking for someone. ''ow do I know that whot you tell me is true and that you are nay a common beggar? You luk like a common beggar. Luk at your filthy clothes and 'oles in your boots.'
'I am a merchant of the Staple of Calais and was on me way back from France when I was robbed. Please gud sir, I am 'ungry and tired.'
Again the man looked out into the fog. ''ow do I know that you and your friends will nay rob me?'
'I 'ave no friends,' replied John urgently. 'I 'ave nuthing.'
'Aye, you are a beggar,' shouted the lord of the estate. 'Off with you, before I release the dogs.' He then yelled for his servant to get the dogs.
John turned and ran as best he could with his blistered feet and ragged boots. He hadn't gone far when he could hear the barking of dogs. He considered climbing a tree, but decided instead to run through the herd of deer to cause them commotion, hoping that it would throw the dogs off his scent. He could hear the dogs stop barking momentarily as they searched for his trail. Soon they started barking again and he knew that they were coming. He ran down a sloping hill of grass and at the bottom was a creek. The dogs wouldn't be able to follow his scent in the water so, despite the coldness, he ran in the creek as far as he dared. He had entered a thickly wooded area that would keep the dogs from running along the bank of the creek and thus slow them down. He nearly ran headlong into a low hanging branch of an oak tree that appeared suddenly out of the fog. The tree stood near the bank of the creek. Lifting himself out of the water and into the tree, he climbed as high as he could and sat on a limb.
Soon the dogs passed by the base of the tree searching the ground for his scent without success. He waited for a long time after they were gone before he dared climb out of