re to blame," added Dick, "in that the rogues pointed, not
directly at yourself, but at Sir Oliver."

As he spoke he turned towards the priest, and paused in the middle of
the last word. This tall, ruddy, corpulent, high-stepping man had
fallen, you might say, to pieces; his colour was gone, his limbs were
relaxed, his lips stammered prayers; and now, when Dick's eyes were
fixed upon him suddenly, he cried out aloud, like some wild animal, and
buried his face in his hands.

Sir Daniel was by him in two strides, and shook him fiercely by the
shoulder. At the same moment Dick's suspicions re-awakened.

"Nay," he said, "Sir Oliver may swear also. 'Twas him they accused."

"He shall swear," said the knight.

Sir Oliver speechlessly waved his arms.

"Ay, by the mass! but ye shall swear," cried Sir Daniel, beside himself
with fury. "Here, upon this book, ye shall swear," he continued, picking
up the breviary, which had fallen to the ground. "What! Ye make me doubt
you! Swear, I say; swear!"

But the priest was still incapable of speech. His terror of Sir Daniel,
his terror of perjury, risen to about an equal height, strangled him.

And just then, through the high stained-glass window of the hall, a
black arrow crashed, and struck, and stuck quivering in the midst of the
long table.

Sir Oliver, with a loud scream, fell fainting on the rushes; while the
knight, followed by Dick, dashed into the court and up the nearest
corkscrew stair to the battlements. The sentries were all on the alert.
The sun shone quietly on green lawns dotted with trees, and on the
wooded hills of the forest which enclosed the view. There was no sign of
a besieger.

"Whence came that shot?" asked the knight.

"From yonder clump, Sir Daniel," returned a sentinel.

The knight stood a little, musing. Then he turned to Dick. "Dick," he
said, "keep me an eye upon these men; I leave you in charge here. As for
the priest, he shall clear himself, or I will know the reason why. I do
almost begin to share in your suspicions. He shall swear, trust me, or
we shall prove him guilty."

Dick answered somewhat coldly, and the knight, giving him a piercing
glance, hurriedly returned to the hall. His first glance was for the
arrow. It was the first of these missiles he had seen, and as he turned
it to and fro, the dark hue of it touched him with some fear. Again
there was some writing: one word--"Earthed."

"Ay," he broke out, "they know I am home, then.