spasm of
struggling, and then all his limbs relaxed, and he fell limp into his
captor's arms.

Dick heard the cry and turned. He saw Matcham fall; and on the instant
his spirit and his strength revived. With a cry of pity and anger, he
unslung and bent his arblast. But ere he had time to shoot, the leper
held up his hand.

"Hold your shot, Dickon!" cried a familiar voice. "Hold your shot, mad
wag! Know ye not a friend?"

And then, laying down Matcham on the turf, he undid the hood from off
his face, and disclosed the features of Sir Daniel Brackley.

"Sir Daniel!" cried Dick.

"Ay, by the mass, Sir Daniel!" returned the knight. "Would ye shoot upon
your guardian, rogue? But here is this----" And there he broke off and
pointing to Matcham, asked--"How call ye him, Dick?"

"Nay," said Dick, "I call him Master Matcham. Know ye him not? He said
ye knew him!"

"Ay," replied Sir Daniel, "I know the lad"; and he chuckled. "But he has
fainted; and, by my sooth, he might have had less to faint for. Hey,
Dick? Did I put the fear of death upon you?"

"Indeed, Sir Daniel, ye did that," said Dick, and sighed again at the
mere recollection. "Nay, sir, saving your respect, I had as lief 'a' met
the devil in person; and to speak truth, I am yet all a-quake. But what
made ye, sir, in such a guise?"

Sir Daniel's brow grew suddenly black with anger.

"What made I?" he said. "Ye do well to mind me of it! What? I skulked
for my poor life in my own wood of Tunstall, Dick. We were ill sped at
the battle; we but got there to be swept among the rout. Where be all my
good men-at-arms? Dick, by the mass, I know not! We were swept down; the
shot fell thick among us; I have not seen one man in my own colours
since I saw three fall. For myself, I came sound to Shoreby, and being
mindful of the Black Arrow, got me this gown and bell, and came softly
by the path for the Moat House. There is no disguise to be compared with
it; the jingle of this bell would scare me the stoutest outlaw in the
forest; they would all turn pale to hear it. At length I came by you and
Matcham. I could see but evilly through this same hood, and was not sure
of you, being chiefly, and for many a good cause, astonished at the
finding you together. Moreover, in the open, where I had to go slowly
and tap with my staff, I feared to disclose myself.--But see," he added,
"this poor shrew begins a little to revive. A little good canary will
comfort the heart of it."