Part 9 (1/2)
dick scratched his head
”I cannot help it, Jack,” he said ”Here is no rereat peril, man; and these are in the way of death Death!”
he added ”Think of it! What a murrain do ye keep e! shall they all die?”
”Richard Shelton,” said Matcha him squarely in the face, ”would ye, then, join party with Sir Daniel? Have ye not ears? Heard ye not this Ellis, what he said? or have ye no heart for your own kindly blood and the father that men slew? 'Harry Shelton,' he said; and Sir Harry Shelton was your father, as the sun shi+nes in heaven”
”What would ye?” dick cried again ”Would ye have me credit thieves?”
”Nay, I have heard it before now,” returned Matchaoeth currently, it was Sir Daniel slew him He slew him under oath; in his own house he shed the innocent blood Heaven wearies for the avenging on't; and you--the o about to comfort and defend the murderer!”
”Jack,” cried the lad ”I know not It may be; what know I? But, see here: This man hath bred me up and fostered ; and to leave them in the hour of peril--O, man, if I did that, I were stark dead to honour! Nay, Jack, ye would not ask it; ye would not wish me to be base”
”But your father, dick?” said Matcha ”Your father?
and your oath to me? Ye took the saints to witness”
”My father?” cried Shelton ”Nay, he would have o! If Sir Daniel slew him, when the hour comes this hand shall slay Sir Daniel; but neither hiood Jack, ye shall absolve me of it here For the lives' sake of many men that hurt you not, and for mine honour, ye shall set me free”
”I, dick? Never!” returned Matcham ”An ye leave me, y' are forsworn, and so I shall declare it”
”My blood heats,” said dick ”Give me the windac! Give it me!”
”I'll not,” said Matcham ”I'll save you in your teeth”
”Not?” cried dick ”I'll make you!”
”Try it,” said the other
They stood, looking in each other's eyes, each ready for a spring Then dick leaped; and though Matcham turned instantly and fled, in two bounds he was over-taken, the windac isted froround, and dick stood across hi, with doubled fist Matcharass, not thinking of resistance
dick bent his bow
”I'll teach you!” he cried, fiercely ”Oath or no oath, ye an to run Matcha after hi ”What make ye after me? Stand off!”
”Will follow an I please,” said Matcham ”This wood is free tohis bow
”Ah, y' are a brave boy!” retorted Matcham ”Shoot!”
dick lowered his weapon in some confusion
”See here,” he said ”Y' have done h Go, then Go your way in fair wise; or, whether I will or not, I edly, ”y' are the stronger Do your worst I shall not leave to follow thee, dick, unless thou makest me,” he added
dick was alainst his heart to beat a creature so defenceless; and, for the life of him, he knew no other way to rid hian to think, perhaps untrue companion
”Y' areto your foes; as fast as foot can carry o I thither”