each cased in iron, and with visor lowered, each bearing his lance in
rest, or his sword bared and raised, and each carrying, so to speak, a
passenger, in the shape of an archer or page, who leaped one after
another from their perches, and had presently doubled the array.

The original assailants, seeing themselves outnumbered and surrounded,
threw down their arms without a word.

"Seize me these fellows!" said the hero of the trumpet; and when his
order had been obeyed, he drew near to Dick and looked him in the face.

Dick, returning this scrutiny, was surprised to find in one who had
displayed such strength, skill, and energy, a lad no older than
himself--slightly deformed, with one shoulder higher than the other, and
of a pale, painful, and distorted countenance.[2] The eyes, however,
were very clear and bold.

[2] Richard Crookback would have been really far younger at this
date.

"Sir," said this lad, "ye came in good time for me, and none too early."

"My lord," returned Dick, with a faint sense that he was in the presence
of a great personage, "ye are yourself so marvellous a good swordsman
that I believe ye had managed them single-handed. Howbeit, it was
certainly well for me that your men delayed no longer than they did."

"How knew ye who I was?" demanded the stranger.

"Even now, my lord," Dick answered, "I am ignorant of whom I speak
with."

"Is it so?" asked the other. "And yet ye threw yourself head-first into
this unequal battle."

"I saw one man valiantly contending against many," replied Dick, "and I
had thought myself dishonoured not to bear him aid."

A singular sneer played about the young nobleman's mouth as he made
answer:

"These are very brave words. But to the more essential--are ye Lancaster
or York?"

"My lord, I make no secret; I am clear for York," Dick answered.

"By the mass!" replied the other, "it is well for you."

And so saying, he turned towards one of his followers.

"Let me see," he continued, in the same sneering and cruel tones--"let
me see a clean end of these brave gentlemen. Truss me them up."

There were but five survivors of the attacking party. Archers seized
them by the arms; they were hurried to the borders of the wood, and each
placed below a tree of suitable dimension; the rope was adjusted; an
archer, carrying the end of it, hastily clambered overhead; and before a
minute was over, and without a word passing upon either hand, the five
men