f his trusted friends, that mind,
it was to be dreaded, would continue to bring forth the fruits of death.

CHAPTER III

THE BATTLE OF SHOREBY (_concluded_)

Dick, once more left to his own counsels, began to look about him. The
arrow-shot had somewhat slackened. On all sides the enemy were falling
back; and the greater part of the market-place was now left empty, the
snow here trampled into orange mud, there splashed with gore, scattered
all over with dead men and horses, and bristling thick with feathered
arrows.

On his own side the loss had been cruel. The jaws of the little street
and the ruins of the barricade were heaped with the dead and dying; and
out of the hundred men with whom he had begun the battle, there were not
seventy left who could still stand to arms.

At the same time the day was passing. The first reinforcements might be
looked for to arrive at any moment; and the Lancastrians, already shaken
by the result of their desperate but unsuccessful onslaught, were in an
ill temper to support a fresh invader.

There was a dial in the wall of one of the two flanking houses; and
this, in the frosty, winter sunshine, indicated ten of the forenoon.

Dick turned to the man who was at his elbow, a little insignificant
archer, binding a cut in his arm.

"It was well fought," he said, "and, by my sooth, they will not charge
us twice."

"Sir," said the little archer, "ye have fought right well for York, and
better for yourself. Never hath man in so brief space prevailed so
greatly on the duke's affections. That he should have entrusted such a
post to one he knew not is a marvel. But look to your head, Sir
Richard! If ye be vanquished--ay, if ye give way one foot's-breadth--axe
or cord shall punish it; and I am set, if ye do aught doubtful, I will
tell you honestly, here to stab you from behind."

Dick looked at the little man in amaze.

"You!" he cried. "And from behind!"

"It is right so," returned the archer; "and because I like not the
affair I tell it you. Ye must make the post good, Sir Richard, at your
peril. O, our Crookback is a bold blade and a good warrior; but whether
in cold blood or in hot, he will have all things done exact to his
commandment. If any fail or hinder, they shall die the death."

"Now, by the saints!" cried Richard, "is this so? And will men follow
such a leader?"

"Nay, they follow him gleefully," replied the other; "for if he be exact
to punish, he is most ope