A few minutes later, when there debouched out of the nearest lanes of
Shoreby some two score horsemen, hastily arrayed and moving at the
gallop of their steeds, the neighbourhood of the house beside the sea
was entirely silent and deserted.

Meanwhile Dick and his men had returned to the alehouse of the "Goat
and Bagpipes" to snatch some hours of sleep before the morning tryst.

CHAPTER III

ST. BRIDE'S CROSS

St. Bride's Cross stood a little way back from Shoreby, on the skirts of
Tunstall Forest. Two roads met: one, from Holywood across the forest;
one, that road from Risingham down which we saw the wrecks of a
Lancastrian army fleeing in disorder. Here the two joined issue, and
went on together down the hill to Shoreby; and a little back from the
point of junction, the summit of a little knoll was crowned by the
ancient and weather-beaten cross.

Here, then, about seven in the morning, Dick arrived. It was as cold as
ever; the earth was all grey and silver with the hoar-frost, and the day
began to break in the east with many colours of purple and orange.

Dick set him down upon the lowest step of the cross, wrapped himself
well in his tabard, and looked vigilantly upon all sides. He had not
long to wait. Down the road from Holywood a gentleman in very rich and
bright armour, and wearing over that a surcoat of the rarest furs, came
pacing on a splendid charger. Twenty yards behind him followed a clump
of lancers; but these halted as soon as they came in view of the
trysting-place, while the gentleman in the fur surcoat continued to
advance alone.

His visor was raised, and showed a countenance of great command and
dignity, answerable to the richness of his attire and arms. And it was
with some confusion of manner that Dick arose from the cross and stepped
down the bank to meet his prisoner.

"I thank you, my lord, for your exactitude," he said, louting very low.
"Will it please your lordship to set foot to earth?"

"Are ye here alone, young man?" inquired the other.

"I was not so simple," answered Dick; "and, to be plain with your
lordship, the woods upon either hand of this cross lie full of mine
honest fellows lying on their weapons."

"Y' have done wisely," said the lord. "It pleaseth me the rather, since
last night ye fought foolhardily, and more like a salvage Saracen
lunatic than any Christian warrior. But it becomes not me to complain,
that had the undermost."

"Ye had the undermost ind