In the meanwhile Dick hastened to secure his post. The street he had to

guard was very narrow, and closely lined with houses, which projected and

overhung the roadway; but narrow and dark as it was, since it opened upon

the market-place of the town, the main issue of the battle would probably

fall to be decided on that spot.

The market-place was full of townspeople fleeing in disorder; but there

was as yet no sign of any foeman ready to attack, and Dick judged he had

some time before him to make ready his defence.

The two houses at the end stood deserted, with open doors, as the

inhabitants had left them in their flight, and from these he had the

furniture hastily tossed forth and piled into a barrier in the entry of

the lane. A hundred men were placed at his disposal, and of these he

threw the more part into the houses, where they might lie in shelter and

deliver their arrows from the windows. With the rest, under his own

immediate eye, he lined the barricade.

Meanwhile the utmost uproar and confusion had continued to prevail

throughout the town; and what with the hurried clashing of bells, the

sounding of trumpets, the swift movement of bodies of horse, the cries of

the commanders, and the shrieks of women, the noise was almost deafening

to the ear. Presently, little by little, the tumult began to subside;

and soon after, files of men in armour and bodies of archers began to

assemble and form in line of battle in the market-place.

A large portion of this body were in murrey and blue, and in the mounted

The Black Arrow