"Now, mark," Dick whispered. "They be already well advanced into the

wood; their safety lieth rather in continuing forward. But see ye where

this wide glade runneth down before us, and in the midst of it, these two

score trees make like an island? There were their safety. An they but

come sound as far as that, I will make shift to warn them. But my heart

misgiveth me; they are but seven against so many, and they but carry

cross-bows. The long-bow, Jack, will have the uppermost ever."

Meanwhile, Selden and his men still wound up the path, ignorant of their

danger, and momently drew nearer hand. Once, indeed, they paused, drew

into a group, and seemed to point and listen. But it was something from

far away across the plain that had arrested their attention--a hollow

growl of cannon that came, from time to time, upon the wind, and told of

the great battle. It was worth a thought, to be sure; for if the voice

of the big guns were thus become audible in Tunstall Forest, the fight

must have rolled ever eastward, and the day, by consequence, gone sore

against Sir Daniel and the lords of the dark rose.

But presently the little troop began again to move forward, and came next

to a very open, heathy portion of the way, where but a single tongue of

forest ran down to join the road. They were but just abreast of this,

when an arrow shone flying. One of the men threw up his arms, his horse

reared, and both fell and struggled together in a mass. Even from where

the boys lay they could hear the rumour of the men's voices crying out;

they could see the startled horses prancing, and, presently, as the troop

began to recover from their first surprise, one fellow beginning to

dismount. A second arrow from somewhat farther off glanced in a wide

The Black Arrow