would fain leave you on a path, at least. My mind misgiveth me, y' are

likely to be lost."

Without any more words, he began to walk forward, and the other once

followed him. The blackness grew thicker and thicker. Only here and

there, in open places, they saw the sky, dotted with small stars. In the

distance, the noise of the rout of the Lancastrian army still continued

to be faintly audible; but with every step they left it farther in the

rear.

At the end of half an hour of silent progress they came forth upon a

broad patch of heathy open. It glimmered in the light of the stars,

shaggy with fern and islanded with clumps of yew. And here they paused

and looked upon each other.

"Y' are weary?" Dick said.

"Nay, I am so weary," answered Matcham, "that methinks I could lie down

and die."

"I hear the chiding of a river," returned Dick. "Let us go so far forth,

for I am sore athirst."

The ground sloped down gently; and, sure enough, in the bottom, they

found a little murmuring river, running among willows. Here they threw

themselves down together by the brink; and putting their mouths to the

The Black Arrow