Alleyne, glancing round for shelter, saw a thick and lofty holly-bush, so hollowed out beneath that no house could have been drier.

Under this canopy of green two men were already squatted, who waved their hands to Alleyne that he should join them.

As he approached he saw that they had five dried herrings laid out in front of them, with a great hunch of wheaten bread and a leathern flask full of milk, but instead of setting to at their food they appeared to have forgot all about it, and were disputing together with flushed faces and angry gestures.

It was easy to see by their dress and manner that they were two of those wandering students who formed about this time so enormous a multitude in every country in Europe.

The one was long and thin, with melancholy features, while the other was fat and sleek, with a loud voice and the air of a man who is not to be gainsaid.
"Come hither, good youth," he cried, "come hither! _Vultus ingenui puer_.