s of defense. To him distance lent enchantment to the view, so
turning his horse sharply round he galloped away, bidding Manners do
his worst.

It would have fared ill with the knight of Ashby had his foe but once
reached within arm's length of him; but Fortune, after wavering about
as if uncertain which way to make up its mind, declared itself at
last upon the side of villainy, and Manners was stretched low upon the
ground by a stone hurled at him by one of his assailants.

With his fall Dorothy's last chance of escape was taken from her.

De la Zouch heard the groan of his injured foe, and turning his face
round to ascertain its meaning, he was just in time to see his rival
drop from his saddle upon the road, where he was quickly surrounded
amid a considerable show of bravery by the minions of De la Zouch to
whom he had just given such a terrible exhibition of his skill.

"You cowardly knaves," cried that worthy, "secure him ere he escapes
again."

Not a man stirred, for Manners had inspired them with so wholesome a
dread of the power of his arm that, although he was sorely wounded, no
one was willing to venture within his reach.

"Secure him, I say," imperiously repeated Sir Henry, who, from his
safe position on horseback, could well afford to ridicule their fears
and give his commands with confidence.

Manners with difficulty managed to raise himself upon his elbow,
and he looked so fierce and desperate that the solitary man who had
advanced towards him retreated with dismay.

"By St. George, seize him, sirrah," exclaimed the knight, springing
off his saddle in high dudgeon. "You are all cowards together."

"Seize him, do you say," returned the man, insolently; "seize him,
do you say? Seize him yourself, then, for I vow I have had more than
enough of it already. He fights like a dragon; see here," and the
man bared his arm and showed a number of bruises upon it. "Now then,
master," he continued, "seize him yourself, say I, for I will have
no more to do with the affair;" and to this his companions sullenly
murmured assent.

"A woman would have less fear than thee," returned the knight
contemptuously, as he glanced at the arm held out before him. "Why, I
have fought for hours after being grievously wounded in the fray."

It had been more to Sir Henry's mind to have struck the man down to
the ground for his insolence, and this he felt strongly impelled
to do, but seeing the threatening aspect of the man's