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Updated: June 1, 2025
"To Holywood!" cried Dick, "when good fellows stand shot? Not I! I would see you hanged first, Jack!" "Ye would leave me, would ye?" Matcham asked. "Ay, by my sooth!" returned Dick. "An I be not in time to warn these lads, I will go die with them. What! would ye have me leave my own men that I have lived among. I trow not! Give me my windac." But there was nothing further from Matcham's mind.
The lads lay quiet till the last footstep had melted on the wind. Then they arose, and with many an ache, for they were weary with constraint, clambered through the ruins, and recrossed the ditch upon the rafter. Matcham had picked up the windac and went first, Dick following stiffly, with his cross-bow on his arm. "And now," said Matcham, "forth to Holywood."
Then Dick leaped; and though Matcham turned instantly and fled, in two bounds he was over-taken, 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. Matcham lay where he had fallen, with his face in the grass, not thinking of resistance. Dick bent his bow. "I'll teach you!" he cried, fiercely.
"Ye but deride me," answered Matcham. "These men ye go to succour are the I same that hunt me to my ruin." Dick scratched his head. "I cannot help it, Jack," he said. "Here is no remedy. What would ye? Ye run no great peril, man; and these are in the way of death. Death!" he added. "Think of it! What a murrain do ye keep me here for? Give me the windac. Saint George! shall they all die?"
Never!" returned Matcham. "An ye leave me, y' are forsworn, and so I shall declare it." "My blood heats," said Dick. "Give me the windac! Give it me!" "I'll not," said Matcham. "I'll save you in your teeth." "Not?" cried Dick. "I'll make you!" "Try it," said the other. They stood, looking in each other's eyes, each ready for a spring.
Come winter again, with wind and rain Come winter, with snow and sleet, Get home to your places, with hoods on your faces, And sit by the fire and eat." All this while the two lads had listened and lain close; only Richard had unslung his cross-bow, and held ready in one hand the windac, or grappling-iron that he used to bend it.
"Ye hurt me when ye threw me down. Y' are a coward to abuse your strength." "Nay, that is fool's talk," said Dick, roughly. "Y' had no title to my windac, Master John. I would 'a' done right to have well basted you. If ye go with me, ye must obey me; and so, come."
Some one from the upper quarters of the wood, perhaps the very sentinel they saw posted in the fir, had shot an arrow at the chimney-top. Matcham could not restrain a little cry, which he instantly stifled, and even Dick started with surprise, and dropped the windac from his fingers. But to the fellows on the lawn, this shaft was an expected signal.
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