knight who ordered their array Dick recognised Sir Daniel Brackley.

Then there befell a long pause, which was followed by the almost

simultaneous sounding of four trumpets from four different quarters of

the town. A fifth rang in answer from the market-place, and at the same

moment the files began to move, and a shower of arrows rattled about the

barricade, and sounded like blows upon the walls of the two flanking

houses.

The attack had begun, by a common signal, on all the five issues of the

quarter. Gloucester was beleaguered upon every side; and Dick judged, if

he would make good his post, he must rely entirely on the hundred men of

his command.

Seven volleys of arrows followed one upon the other, and in the very

thick of the discharges Dick was touched from behind upon the arm, and

found a page holding out to him a leathern jack, strengthened with bright

plates of mail.

"It is from my Lord of Gloucester," said the page. "He hath observed,

Sir Richard, that ye went unarmed."

Dick, with a glow at his heart at being so addressed, got to his feet

and, with the assistance of the page, donned the defensive coat. Even as

he did so, two arrows rattled harmlessly upon the plates, and a third

struck down the page, mortally wounded, at his feet.

The Black Arrow