.

"I shame to say it," answered Dick, "I can scarce clearly answer. But so
much I think is certain: since I serve with Ellis Duckworth, I serve the
house of York. Well, if that be so, I declare for York."

"It is well," returned the other; "it is exceeding well. For, truly, had
ye said Lancaster, I wot not for the world what I had done. But sith ye
are for York, follow me. I came hither but to watch these lords at
Shoreby, while mine excellent young lord, Richard of Gloucester, {1}
prepareth a sufficient force to fall upon and scatter them. I have made
me notes of their strength, what watch they keep, and how they lie; and
these I was to deliver to my young lord on Sunday, an hour before noon,
at St. Bride's Cross beside the forest. This tryst I am not like to
keep, but I pray you, of courtesy, to keep it in my stead; and see that
not pleasure, nor pain, tempest, wound, nor pestilence withhold you from
the hour and place, for the welfare of England lieth upon this cast."

"I do soberly take this up on me," said Dick. "In so far as in me lieth,
your purpose shall be done."

"It is good," said the wounded man. "My lord duke shall order you
farther, and if ye obey him with spirit and good will, then is your
fortune made. Give me the lamp a little nearer to mine eyes, till that I
write these words for you."

He wrote a note "to his worshipful kinsman, Sir John Hamley;" and then a
second, which he-left without external superscripture.

"This is for the duke," he said. "The word is 'England and Edward,' and
the counter, 'England and York.'"

"And Joanna, my lord?" asked Dick.

"Nay, ye must get Joanna how ye can," replied the baron. "I have named
you for my choice in both these letters; but ye must get her for
yourself, boy. I have tried, as ye see here before you, and have lost my
life. More could no man do."

By this time the wounded man began to be very weary; and Dick, putting
the precious papers in his bosom, bade him be of good cheer, and left him
to repose.

The day was beginning to break, cold and blue, with flying squalls of
snow. Close under the lee of the Good Hope, the coast lay in alternate
rocky headlands and sandy bays; and further inland the wooded hill-tops
of Tunstall showed along the sky. Both the wind and the sea had gone
down; but the vessel wallowed deep, and scarce rose upon the waves.

Lawless was still fixed at the rudder; and by this time nearly all the
men had crawled on