"Nick Appleyard," said Hatch, "Sir Oliver commends him to you, and

bids that ye shall come within this hour to the Moat House, there

to take command."

The old fellow looked up.

"Save you, my masters!" he said, grinning. "And where goeth Master

Hatch?"

"Master Hatch is off to Kettley, with every man that we can horse,"

returned Bennet. "There is a fight toward, it seems, and my lord

stays a reinforcement."

"Ay, verily," returned Appleyard. "And what will ye leave me to

garrison withal?"

"I leave you six good men, and Sir Oliver to boot," answered Hatch.

"It'll not hold the place," said Appleyard; "the number sufficeth

not. It would take two score to make it good."

"Why, it's for that we came to you, old shrew!" replied the other.

"Who else is there but you that could do aught in such a house with

such a garrison?"

"Ay! when the pinch comes, ye remember the old shoe," returned

Nick. "There is not a man of you can back a horse or hold a bill;

and as for archery--St. Michael! if old Harry the Fift were back

again, he would stand and let ye shoot at him for a farthen a

shoot!"

"Nay, Nick, there's some can draw a good bow yet," said Bennet.

"Draw a good bow!" cried Appleyard. "Yes! But who'll shoot me a

good shoot? It's there the eye comes in, and the head between your

shoulders. Now, what might you call a long shoot, Bennet Hatch?"

"Well," said Bennet, looking about him, "it would be a long shoot

from here into the forest."

"Ay, it would be a longish shoot," said the old fellow, turning to

look over his shoulder; and then he put up his hand over his eyes,

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