"'Tis not Sir Daniel!" he panted. "They are but seven. Is the arrow

gone?"

"It struck but now," replied Ellis.

A murrain!" cried the messenger. "Methought I heard it whistle. And I

go dinnerless!"

In the space of a minute, some running, some walking sharply, according

as their stations were nearer or farther away, the men of the Black Arrow

had all disappeared from the neighbourhood of the ruined house; and the

caldron, and the fire, which was now burning low, and the dead deer's

carcase on the hawthorn, remained alone to testify they had been there.

The Black Arrow