l; and here,
after making sure that they were pursued no longer, the two bodies
separated. Lord Foxham's followers departed, carrying their wounded
master towards the comfort and security of the great abbey; and Dick, as
he saw them wind away and disappear in the thick curtain of the falling
snow, was left alone with near upon a dozen outlaws, the last remainder
of his troop of volunteers.

Some were wounded; one and all were furious at their ill-success and long
exposure; and though they were now too cold and hungry to do more, they
grumbled and cast sullen looks upon their leaders. Dick emptied his
purse among them, leaving himself nothing; thanked them for the courage
they had displayed, though he could have found it more readily in his
heart to rate them for poltroonery; and having thus somewhat softened the
effect of his prolonged misfortune, despatched them to find their way,
either severally or in pairs, to Shoreby and the Goat and Bagpipes.

For his own part, influenced by what he had seen on board of the Good
Hope, he chose Lawless to be his companion on the walk. The snow was
falling, without pause or variation, in one even, blinding cloud; the
wind had been strangled, and now blew no longer; and the whole world was
blotted out and sheeted down below that silent inundation. There was
great danger of wandering by the way and perishing in drifts; and
Lawless, keeping half a step in front of his companion, and holding his
head forward like a hunting dog upon the scent, inquired his way of every
tree, and studied out their path as though he were conning a ship among
dangers.

About a mile into the forest they came to a place where several ways met,
under a grove of lofty and contorted oaks. Even in the narrow horizon of
the falling snow, it was a spot that could not fail to be recognised; and
Lawless evidently recognised it with particular delight.

"Now, Master Richard," said he, "an y' are not too proud to be the guest
of a man who is neither a gentleman by birth nor so much as a good
Christian, I can offer you a cup of wine and a good fire to melt the
marrow in your frozen bones."

"Lead on, Will," answered Dick. "A cup of wine and a good fire! Nay, I
would go a far way round to see them."

Lawless turned aside under the bare branches of the grove, and, walking
resolutely forward for some time, came to a steepish hollow or den, that
had now drifted a quarter full of snow. On the verge, a great bee