the remainder, Alicia Risingham walking stoutly by his side.

The men had freed themselves of heavy armour, and left behind their

lances; and they now marched with a very good spirit in the frozen snow,

and under the exhilarating lustre of the moon. The descent into the

dingle, where a stream strained sobbing through the snow and ice, was

effected with silence and order; and on the further side, being then

within a short half mile of where Dick had seen the glimmer of the fire,

the party halted to breathe before the attack.

In the vast silence of the wood, the lightest sounds were audible from

far; and Alicia, who was keen of hearing, held up her finger warningly

and stooped to listen. All followed her example; but besides the groans

of the choked brook in the dingle close behind, and the barking of a fox

at a distance of many miles among the forest, to Dick's acutest

hearkening, not a breath was audible.

But yet, for sure, I heard the clash of harness," whispered Alicia.

Madam," returned Dick, who was more afraid of that young lady than of

ten stout warriors, "I would not hint ye were mistaken; but it might well

have come from either of the camps."

It came not thence. It came from westward," she declared.

It may be what it will," returned Dick; "and it must be as heaven

please. Reck we not a jot, but push on the livelier, and put it to the

The Black Arrow