farther end of the long table, began to write his letter, with his

mouth on one side, for this business of the Black Arrow stuck

sorely in his throat.

Meanwhile, young Shelton was going on heartily enough with his

breakfast, when he felt a touch upon his arm, and a very soft voice

whispering in his ear.

"Make not a sign, I do beseech you," said the voice, "but of your

charity tell me the straight way to Holywood. Beseech you, now,

good boy, comfort a poor soul in peril and extreme distress, and

set me so far forth upon the way to my repose."

"Take the path by the windmill," answered Dick, in the same tone;

"it will bring you to Till Ferry; there inquire again."

And without turning his head, he fell again to eating. But with

the tail of his eye he caught a glimpse of the young lad called

Master John stealthily creeping from the room.

"Why," thought Dick, "he is a young as I. 'Good boy' doth he call

me? An I had known, I should have seen the varlet hanged ere I had

told him. Well, if he goes through the fen, I may come up with him

and pull his ears."

Half an hour later, Sir Daniel gave Dick the letter, and bade him

speed to the Moat House. And, again, some half an hour after

Dick's departure, a messenger came, in hot haste, from my Lord of

Risingham.

"Sir Daniel," the messenger said, "ye lose great honour, by my

sooth! The fight began again this morning ere the dawn, and we

have beaten their van and scattered their right wing. Only the

main battle standeth fast. An we had your fresh men, we should

tilt you them all into the river. What, sir knight! Will ye be

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