ter reached the first house
of Shoreby, he was met in the mouth of the street by a mere handful of
lances, whom he swept before his onset as the storm chases the bark.

A hundred paces into the town, Dick Shelton touched the duke's arm; the
duke, in answer, gathered his reins, put the shrill trumpet to his mouth,
and blowing a concerted point, turned to the right hand out of the direct
advance. Swerving like a single rider, his whole command turned after
him, and, still at the full gallop of the chargers, swept up the narrow
bye-street. Only the last score of riders drew rein and faced about in
the entrance; the footmen, whom they carried behind them, leapt at the
same instant to the earth, and began, some to bend their bows, and others
to break into and secure the houses upon either hand.

Surprised at this sudden change of direction, and daunted by the firm
front of the rear-guard, the few Lancastrians, after a momentary
consultation, turned and rode farther into town to seek for
reinforcements.

The quarter of the town upon which, by the advice of Dick, Richard of
Gloucester had now seized, consisted of five small streets of poor and
ill-inhabited houses, occupying a very gentle eminence, and lying open
towards the back.

The five streets being each secured by a good guard, the reserve would
thus occupy the centre, out of shot, and yet ready to carry aid wherever
it was needed.

Such was the poorness of the neighbourhood that none of the Lancastrian
lords, and but few of their retainers, had been lodged therein; and the
inhabitants, with one accord, deserted their houses and fled, squalling,
along the streets or over garden walls.

In the centre, where the five ways all met, a somewhat ill-favoured
alehouse displayed the sign of the Chequers; and here the Duke of
Gloucester chose his headquarters for the day.

To Dick he assigned the guard of one of the five streets.

"Go," he said, "win your spurs. Win glory for me: one Richard for
another. I tell you, if I rise, ye shall rise by the same ladder. Go,"
he added, shaking him by the hand.

But, as soon as Dick was gone, he turned to a little shabby archer at his
elbow.

"Go, Dutton, and that right speedily," he added. "Follow that lad. If
ye find him faithful, ye answer for his safety, a head for a head. Woe
unto you, if ye return without him! But if he be faithless--or, for one
instant, ye misdoubt him--stab him from behind."

In the meanwhile D