t Holywood. Shall we attend their coming, or fall on?"

"My lord," said Dick, "when ye hanged these five poor rogues ye did
decide the question. Churls although they were, in these uneasy, times
they will be lacked and looked for, and the alarm be given. Therefore,
my lord, if ye do count upon the advantage of a surprise, ye have not, in
my poor opinion, one whole hour in front of you."

"I do think so indeed," returned Crookback. "Well, before an hour, ye
shall be in the thick on't, winning spurs. A swift man to Holywood,
carrying Lord Foxham's signet; another along the road to speed my
laggards! Nay, Shelton, by the rood, it may be done!"

Therewith he once more set his trumpet to his lips and blew.

This time he was not long kept waiting. In a moment the open space about
the cross was filled with horse and foot. Richard of Gloucester took his
place upon the steps, and despatched messenger after messenger to hasten
the concentration of the seven hundred men that lay hidden in the
immediate neighbourhood among the woods; and before a quarter of an hour
had passed, all his dispositions being taken, he put himself at their
head, and began to move down the hill towards Shoreby.

His plan was simple. He was to seize a quarter of the town of Shoreby
lying on the right hand of the high road, and make his position good
there in the narrow lanes until his reinforcements followed.

If Lord Risingham chose to retreat, Richard would follow upon his rear,
and take him between two fires; or, if he preferred to hold the town, he
would be shut in a trap, there to be gradually overwhelmed by force of
numbers.

There was but one danger, but that was imminent and great--Gloucester's
seven hundred might be rolled up and cut to pieces in the first
encounter, and, to avoid this, it was needful to make the surprise of
their arrival as complete as possible.

The footmen, therefore, were all once more taken up behind the riders,
and Dick had the signal honour meted out to him of mounting behind
Gloucester himself. For as far as there was any cover the troops moved
slowly, and when they came near the end of the trees that lined the
highway, stopped to breathe and reconnoitre.

The sun was now well up, shining with a frosty brightness out of a yellow
halo, and right over against the luminary, Shoreby, a field of snowy
roofs and ruddy gables, was rolling up its columns of morning smoke.
Gloucester turned round to Dick.

"In