Part 19 (1/2)

But all this had not been done without a considerable splashi+ng, which had so far indicated his position to thethe battlements

Arrows and quarrels fell thick around hi hail; and suddenly a torch was thron--flared through the air in its swift passage--stuck for a h and lit up its whole surroundings like a bonfire--and then, in a good hour for dick, slipped off, pluuished

It had served its purpose The marksmen had had tihs; and though the lad instantly sprang higher up the bank, and ran for his life, he was yet not quick enough to escape a shot An arrow struck hirazed his head

The pain of his wounds lent hiot upon the level than he took to his heels and ran straight before hiht

For a few steps th he caood way fro to and fro along its battle with blood and water, bruised, wounded, alone, and unarmed For all that, he had saved his life for that bout; and though Joanna remained behind in the power of Sir Daniel, he neither blamed himself for an accident that it had been beyond his power to prevent, nor did he augur any fatal consequences to the girl herself Sir Daniel was cruel, but he was not likely to be cruel to a young gentlewo him to account It was more probable he would make haste to ht dick, ”between then and noill findthat traitor under; for I think, by the ation; and ar is open, there is a fair chance for all”

In the ht

For soh the forest; but ith the pain of his wounds, the darkness of the night, and the extreme uneasiness and confusion of his uide hirowth, and he was fain at length to sit down and lean his back against a tree

When he awoke frorey of the ht A little chilly breeze was bustling a before hi dark that swung to and fro a the branches, so of the day and the return of his own senses at last enabled hih of a tall oak His head had fallen forward on his breast; but at every stronger puff of wind his body span round and round, and his legs and ar

dick cla on the tree-trunks as he went, drew near to this griround, and the poor fellow had been drawn up so high by his executioners that his boots swung clear above dick's reach; and as his hood had been drawn over his face, it was inise the ht and left; and at last he perceived that the other end of the cord had been rew, thick with blossoer, which alone re Shelton severed the rope, and instantly, with a dead thuround

dick raised the hood; it was Throgone far upon his errand A paper, which had apparently escaped the notice of the men of the Black Arrow, stuck fro it forth, found it was Sir Daniel's letter to Lord Wensleydale

”Coain, I may have here the ithal to sha him to the block”

And he put the paper in his own bosoh the woods

His fatigue and weakness increased; his ears sang, his steps faltered, his ht by loss of blood Doubtless he made many deviations froh-road, not very far froh voice bid him stand

”Stand?” repeated dick ”By the ”

And he suited the action to the word, and fell all his length upon the road

Two reen forest jerkin, each with long-bow and quiver and short sword

”Why, Lawless,” said the younger of the two, ”it is young Shelton”

”Ay, this will be as good as bread to John Ah, faith, he hath been to the wars Here is a tear in his scalp that ood ounce of blood”

”And here,” added Greensheve, ”is a hole in his shoulder that must have pricked him well Who hath done this, think ye? If it be one of ours, he ive hi rope”

”Up with the cub,” said Lawless ”Clap him on my back”

And then, when dick had been hoisted to his shoulders, and he had taken the lad's arot a firm hold of him, the ex-Grey Friar added:

”Keep ye the post, brother Greensheve I will on with him by myself”