gorse, and crowned with a black tuft of firs.

I shall see from there," he thought, and struck for it across a heathy

clearing.

He had gone but a few yards, when Matcham touched him on the arm, and

pointed. To the eastward of the summit there was a dip, and, as it were,

a valley passing to the other side; the heath was not yet out; all the

ground was rusty, like an unscoured buckler, and dotted sparingly with

yews; and there, one following another, Dick saw half a score green

jerkins mounting the ascent, and marching at their head, conspicuous by

his boar-spear, Ellis Duckworth in person. One after another gained the

top, showed for a moment against the sky, and then dipped upon the

further side, until the last was gone.

Dick looked at Matcham with a kindlier eye.

"So y' are to be true to me, Jack?" he asked. "I thought ye were of the

other party."

Matcham began to sob.

What cheer!" cried Dick. "Now the saints behold us! would ye snivel for

a word?"

"Ye hurt me," sobbed Matcham. "Ye hurt me when ye threw me down. Y'

are

The Black Arrow