Matcham lay where he had fallen, with his face in the grass, not thinking of resistance. Then Dick leaped and though Matcham turned instantly and fled, in two bounds he was overtaken, the windac was twisted from his grasp, he was thrown roughly to the ground, and Dick stood across him, flushed and menacing, with doubled fist. They stood, looking in each other's eyes, each ready for a spring. 'An ye leave me, y' are forsworn, and so I shall declare it.' For the lives' sake of many men that hurt you not, and for mine honour, ye shall set me free.'

And for mine oath, good Jack, ye shall absolve me of it here. 'Nay, he would have me go! If Sir Daniel slew him, when the hour comes this hand shall slay Sir Daniel but neither him nor his will I desert in peril. 'Your father? and your oath to me? Ye took the saints to witness.' 'But your father, Dick?' said Matcham, somewhat wavering. It may be what know I? But, see here: This man hath bred me up and fostered me, and his men I have hunted with and played among and to leave them in the hour of peril-O, man, if I did that, I were stark dead to honour! Nay, Jack, ye would not ask it ye would not wish me to be base.' Heaven wearies for the avenging on't and you-the man's son-ye go about to comfort and defend the murderer!' He slew him under oath in his own house he shed the innocent blood. 'The fame goeth currently, it was Sir Daniel slew him. 'Nay, I have heard it before now,' returned Matcham. 'Richard Shelton,' said Matcham, looking him squarely in the face, 'would ye, then, join party with Sir Daniel? Have ye not ears? Heard ye not this Ellis, what he said? or have ye no heart for your own kindly blood and the father that men slew? 'Harry Shelton,' he said and Sir Harry Shelton was your father, as the sun shines in heaven.' 'Think of it! What a murrain do ye keep me hereįor? Give me the windac.

What would ye? Ye run no great peril, man and these are in the way of death. 'These men ye go to succour are the same that hunt me to my ruin.' Let me but warn these men, and, if needs must, stand shot with them then shall all be clear, and I will on again to Holywood and purge mine oath.' 'I meant it too but now! But look ye, Jack, turn again with me. 'Nay, I sware for the best,' returned Dick. Would ye be forsworn? Would you desert me-a perjurer?' 'Dick,' he said, 'ye sware before the saints that ye would see me safe to Holywood.

The black arrow book