e drawing near to the
encampment of a considerable force of mounted men. Presently they could
see the smoke pouring from among the trees, ruddily coloured on its
lower edge and scattering bright sparks.

And here, pursuant to Dick's orders, his men began to open out, creeping
stealthily in the covert, to surround on every side the camp of their
opponents. He himself, placing Alicia in the shelter of a bulky oak,
stole straight forth in the direction of the fire.

At last, through an opening of the wood, his eye embraced the scene of
the encampment. The fire had been built upon a heathy hummock of the
ground, surrounded on three sides by thicket, and it now burned very
strong, roaring aloud and brandishing flames. Around it there sat not
quite a dozen people, warmly cloaked; but though the neighbouring snow
was trampled down as by a regiment, Dick looked in vain for any horse.
He began to have a terrible misgiving that he was out-manoeuvred. At the
same time, in a tall man with a steel salet, who was spreading his hands
before the blaze, he recognised his old friend and still kindly enemy,
Bennet Hatch; and in two others, sitting a little back, he made out,
even in their male disguise, Joanna Sedley and Sir Daniel's wife.

"Well," thought he to himself, "even if I lose my horses, let me get my
Joanna, and why should I complain?"

And then, from the farther side of the encampment, there came a little
whistle, announcing that his men had joined, and the investment was
complete.

Bennet, at the sound, started to his feet; but ere he had time to spring
upon his arms, Dick hailed him.

"Bennet," he said--"Bennet, old friend, yield ye. Ye will but spill
men's lives in vain if ye resist."

"'Tis Master Shelton, by St. Barbary!" cried Hatch. "Yield me? Ye ask
much. What force have ye?"

"I tell you, Bennet, ye are both outnumbered and begirt," said Dick.
"Caesar and Charlemagne would cry for quarter. I have two score men at my
whistle, and with one shoot of arrows I could answer for you all."

"Master Dick," said Bennet, "it goes against my heart; but I must do my
duty. The saints help you!" And therewith he raised a little tucket to
his mouth and wound a rousing call.

Then followed a moment of confusion; for while Dick, fearing for the
ladies, still hesitated to give the word to shoot, Hatch's little band
sprang to their weapons and formed back to back as for a fierce
resistance. In the hurry of their change of pla