Part 12 (2/2)
Suddenly, with a cry, the leper sprang into the open close by, and ran straight upon the lads They, shrieking aloud, separated and began to run different ways But their horrible enemy fastened upon Matcham, ran him swiftly down, and had hiave one screah and far over the forest, he had one spas, and then all his limbs relaxed, and he fell limp into his captor's arms
dick heard the cry and turned He saw Matchath revived; With a cry of pity and anger, he unslung and bent his arblast But ere he had time to shoot, the leper held up his hand
”Hold your shot, dickon!” cried a fa! Know ye not a friend?”
And then laying down Matcham on the turf, he undid the hood from off his face, and disclosed the features of Sir Daniel Brackley
”Sir Daniel!” cried dick
”Ay, by the ht ”Would ye shoot upon your guardian, rogue? But here is this”--And there he broke off, and pointing to Matcham, asked: ”How call ye him, dick?”
”Nay,” said dick, ”I call him Master Matcham Know ye him not? He said ye knew him!”
”Ay,” replied Sir Daniel, ”I know the lad;” and he chuckled ”But he has fainted; and, by ht have had less to faint for! Hey, dick? Did I put the fear of death upon you?”
”Indeed, Sir Daniel, ye did that,” said dick, and sighed again at theyour respect, I had as lief 'a' met the devil in person; and to speak truth, I auise?”
Sir Daniel's bro suddenly black with anger
”What made I?” he said ”Ye do well to mind me of it! What? I skulked for my poor life in my oood of Tunstall, dick We were ill sped at the battle; we but got there to be swept aood men-at-arms? dick, by the mass, I know not! We were swept down; the shot fell thick a us; I have not seen one man in my own colours since I saw three fall Forown and bell, and cauise to be cole of this bell would scare me the stoutest outlaw in the forest; they would all turn pale to hear it At length I cah this sa chiefly, and for ether Moreover, in the open, where I had to go slowly and tap with my staff, I feared to disclose ins a little to revive A little good canary will coht, froan to rub the teradually to consciousness, and began to roll dim eyes from one to another
”What cheer, Jack!” said dick ”It was no leper, after all; it was Sir Daniel! See!”
”S ive you ive you both a meal, and we shall all three on to Tunstall For, dick,” he continued, laying forth bread and ood conscience, it irks me sorely to be safe between four walls Not since I backed a horse have I been pressed so hard; peril of life, jeopardy of land and livelihood, and to sum up, all these losels in the wood to hunt me down But I be not yet shent Some of my lads will pick me their way home Hatch hath ten fellows; Selden, he had six Nay, we shall soon be strong again; and if I can but buyLord of York, why, dick, we'll be a ht filled hied his ward in dumb show
”Selden,” dick faltered--”Selden”--And he paused again
Sir Daniel put down the wine untasted
”How!” he cried, in a changed voice ”Selden? Speak! What of Selden?”
dick stammered forth the tale of the aht heard in silence; but as he listened, his countenance becarief
”Now here,” he cried, ”on e it! If that I fail, if that I spill not ten men's souls for each, may this hand wither froared him to his door; I burned the thatch above his head; I drove him from this country; and now, cometh he back to beard o bitter hard!”
He was silent for so
”Eat!” he cried, suddenly ”And you here,” he added to Matchaht to the Moat House”
”I will pledge mine honour,” replied Matchaht ”Swear ave the required oath; and Sir Daniel re-adjusted the hood over his face, and prepared his bell and staff To see hi travesty somewhat revived the horror of his two coht was soon upon his feet
”Eat with despatch,” he said, ”and follow me yarely to mine house”