true--and betwixt you and me, we shall bring that false-heart traitor to

the death."

Will ye assault the house?" asked Dick.

"I were mad, indeed, to think of it," returned Ellis. "He hath too much

power; his men gather to him; those that gave me the slip last night, and

by the mass came in so handily for you--those have made him safe. Nay,

Dick, to the contrary, thou and I and my brave bowmen, we must all slip

from this forest speedily, and leave Sir Daniel free."

My mind misgiveth me for Jack," said the lad.

For Jack!" repeated Duckworth. "O, I see, for the wench! Nay, Dick, I

promise you, if there come talk of any marriage we shall act at once;

till then, or till the time is ripe, we shall all disappear, even like

shadows at morning; Sir Daniel shall look east and west, and see none

enemies; he shall think, by the mass, that he hath dreamed awhile, and

hath now awakened in his bed. But our four eyes, Dick, shall follow him

right close, and our four hands--so help us all the army of the

saints!--shall bring that traitor low!"

Two days later Sir Daniel's garrison had grown to such a strength that he

ventured on a sally, and at the head of some two score horsemen, pushed

without opposition as far as Tunstall hamlet. Not an arrow flew, not a

man stirred in the thicket; the bridge was no longer guarded, but stood

open to all corners; and as Sir Daniel crossed it, he saw the villagers

The Black Arrow