quarter of the field did so many Lancastrians still hold together; thus
they had left a wide, discoloured wake upon the snow, and Dick was able
to trace them step by step from where they had left the town.

While Dick stood watching them, they had gained, unopposed, the first
fringe of the leafless forest, and, turning a little from their
direction, the sun fell for a moment full on their array, as it was
relieved against the dusky wood.

"Murrey and blue!" cried Dick. "I swear it--murrey and blue!"

The next moment he was descending the stairway.

It was now his business to seek out the Duke of Gloucester, who alone,
in the disorder of the forces, might be able to supply him with a
sufficiency of men. The fighting in the main town was now practically at
an end; and as Dick ran hither and thither, seeking the commander, the
streets were thick with wandering soldiers, some laden with more booty
than they could well stagger under, others shouting drunk. None of them,
when questioned, had the least notion of the duke's whereabouts; and, at
last, it was by sheer good fortune that Dick found him, where he sat in
the saddle directing operations to dislodge the archers from the harbour
side.

"Sir Richard Shelton, ye are well found," he said. "I owe you one thing
that I value little, my life; and one that I can never pay you for, this
victory. Catesby, if I had ten such captains as Sir Richard, I would
march forthright on London. But now, sir, claim your reward."

"Freely, my lord," said Dick, "freely and loudly. One hath escaped to
whom I owe some grudges, and taken with him one whom I owe love and
service. Give me, then, fifty lances, that I may pursue; and for any
obligation that your graciousness is pleased to allow, it shall be clean
discharged."

"How call ye him?" inquired the duke.

"Sir Daniel Brackley," answered Richard.

"Out upon him, double-face!" cried Gloucester. "Here is no reward, Sir
Richard; here is fresh service offered, and, if that ye bring his head
to me, a fresh debt upon my conscience. Catesby, get him these lances;
and you, sir, bethink ye, in the meanwhile, what pleasure, honour, or
profit it shall be mine to give you."

Just then the Yorkist skirmishers carried one of the shoreside taverns,
swarming in upon it on three sides, and driving out or taking its
defenders. Crookback Dick was pleased to cheer the exploit, and pushing
his horse a little nearer, called to see the prisoners.

The