rds, whose slumbers had been thus unusually broken.

The night was already well spent before Dick ventured from his
hiding-place and came, safe and sound, but aching with cold and bruises,
to the door of the Goat and Bagpipes. As the law required, there was
neither fire nor candle in the house; but he groped his way into a corner
of the icy guest-room, found an end of a blanket, which he hitched around
his shoulders, and creeping close to the nearest sleeper, was soon lost
in slumber.

BOOK V--CROOKBACK

CHAPTER I--THE SHRILL TRUMPET

Very early the next morning, before the first peep of the day, Dick
arose, changed his garments, armed himself once more like a gentleman,
and set forth for Lawless's den in the forest. There, it will be
remembered, he had left Lord Foxham's papers; and to get these and be
back in time for the tryst with the young Duke of Gloucester could only
be managed by an early start and the most vigorous walking.

The frost was more rigorous than ever; the air windless and dry, and
stinging to the nostril. The moon had gone down, but the stars were
still bright and numerous, and the reflection from the snow was clear and
cheerful. There was no need for a lamp to walk by; nor, in that still
but ringing air, the least temptation to delay.

Dick had crossed the greater part of the open ground between Shoreby and
the forest, and had reached the bottom of the little hill, some hundred
yards below the Cross of St. Bride, when, through the stillness of the
black morn, there rang forth the note of a trumpet, so shrill, clear, and
piercing, that he thought he had never heard the match of it for
audibility. It was blown once, and then hurriedly a second time; and
then the clash of steel succeeded.

At this young Shelton pricked his ears, and drawing his sword, ran
forward up the hill.

Presently he came in sight of the cross, and was aware of a most fierce
encounter raging on the road before it. There were seven or eight
assailants, and but one to keep head against them; but so active and
dexterous was this one, so desperately did he charge and scatter his
opponents, so deftly keep his footing on the ice, that already, before
Dick could intervene, he had slain one, wounded another, and kept the
whole in check.

Still, it was by a miracle that he continued his defence, and at any
moment, any accident, the least slip of foot or error of hand, his life
would be a forfeit.

"Hold ye we