Dick; and led the way to a little hillock by
the roadside on which grew some wind-bent firs.

Here they dismounted and gave their horses into the keeping of one man,
while Grey Dick and the others drew their bows from the cases and strung
them. Scarcely had they done so when the mist, lifting in the morning
breeze, showed them their pursuers--seven of them, as Dick had
said--headed by one of the French knights, and riding scattered, between
two and three hundred yards away. At the same moment a shout told them
that they had been seen.

"Hark now all!" said Hugh. "I would shed no more blood if it may be so,
who have earned enough of penance. Therefore shoot at the horses, not
at the riders, who without them will be helpless. And let no man harm a
Clavering unless it be to save his own life."

"Poor sport!" grunted Grey Dick.

Nevertheless, when the Norman knight who led came within two hundred
yards, shouting to them in French to surrender, Dick lifted his great
bow, drew and loosed carelessly, as though he shot at hazard, the others
holding their bows till the Claverings were nearer. Yet there was little
of hazard when Grey Dick shot, save to that at which he aimed. Away
rushed the arrow, rising high and, as it seemed, bearing somewhat to the
left of the knight. Yet when it drew near to that knight the wind told
on it and bent it inward, as he knew it would. Fair and full it struck
upon the horse's chest, piercing through to the heart, so that down the
poor beast came, throwing its rider to the ground.

"A good shot enough," grumbled Grey Dick. "Still, it is a shame to slay
nags of such a breed and let the rogues who ride them go."

But his companions only stared at him almost in awe, while the other
Clavering men rode on. Before they had covered fifty paces, again the
great bow twanged, and again a horse was seen to rear itself up,
shaking the rider from its back, and then plunge away to die. Now Hugh's
serving-men also lifted their bows, but Grey Dick hissed:

"Leave them to me! This is fine work, and you'd muddle it!"

Ere the words had ceased to echo another horse was down.

Then, as those who remained still came on, urged by the knight who ran
shouting behind them, all loosed, and though some arrows went wide, the
end of it was that ere they reached the little mound every Clavering
horse was dead or sore wounded, while on the heath stood or lay seven
helpless men.

"Now," said Grey Dick, "let us go and