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a tongue among the meadows； and ended in a pair of goodly green
elms； about a bowshot from the field where they were standing； a
flight of birds was skimming to and fro； in evident disorder。
〃What of the birds？〃 said Bennet。
〃Ay！〃 returned Appleyard； 〃y' are a wise man to go to war； Master
Bennet。 Birds are a good sentry； in forest places they be the
first line of battle。 Look you； now； if we lay here in camp； there
might be archers skulking down to get the wind of us； and here
would you be； none the wiser！〃
〃Why； old shrew；〃 said Hatch； 〃there be no men nearer us than Sir
Daniel's； at Kettley； y' are as safe as in London Tower； and ye
raise scares upon a man for a few chaffinches and sparrows！〃
〃Hear him！〃 grinned Appleyard。 〃How many a rogue would give his
two crop ears to have a shoot at either of us？ Saint Michael； man！
they hate us like two polecats！〃
〃Well； sooth it is； they hate Sir Daniel；〃 answered Hatch； a little
sobered。
〃Ay； they hate Sir Daniel； and they hate every man that serves with
him；〃 said Appleyard； 〃and in the first order of hating； they hate
Bennet Hatch and old Nicholas the bowman。 See ye here： if there
was a stout fellow yonder in the wood…edge； and you and I stood
fair for him … as； by Saint George； we stand！ … which； think ye；
would he choose？〃
〃You； for a good wager；〃 answered Hatch。
〃My surcoat to a leather belt； it would be you！〃 cried the old
archer。 〃Ye burned Grimstone； Bennet … they'll ne'er forgive you
that； my master。 And as for me； I'll soon be in a good place； God
grant； and out of bow…shoot … ay； and cannon…shoot … of all their
malices。 I am an old man； and draw fast to homeward； where the bed
is ready。 But for you； Bennet； y' are to remain behind here at
your own peril； and if ye come to my years unhanged； the old true…
blue English spirit will be dead。〃
〃Y' are the shrewishest old dolt in Tunstall Forest；〃 returned
Hatch； visibly ruffled by these threats。 〃Get ye to your arms
before Sir Oliver come； and leave prating for one good while。 An
ye had talked so much with Harry the Fift； his ears would ha' been
richer than his pocket。〃
An arrow sang in the air； like a huge hornet； it struck old
Appleyard between the shoulder…blades； and pierced him clean
through； and he fell forward on his face among the cabbages。
Hatch； with a broken cry； leapt into the air； then； stooping
double； he ran for the cover of the house。 And in the meanwhile
Dick Shelton had dropped behind a lilac； and had his crossbow bent
and shouldered； covering the point of the forest。
Not a leaf stirred。 The sheep were patiently browsing； the birds
had settled。 But there lay the old man； with a cloth…yard arrow
standing in his back； and there were Hatch holding to the gable；
and Dick crouching and ready behind the lilac bush。
〃D'ye see aught？〃 cried Hatch。
〃Not a twig stirs；〃 said Dick。
〃I think shame to leave him lying；〃 said Bennet； coming forward
once more with hesitating steps and a very pale countenance。 〃Keep
a good eye on the wood； Master Shelton … keep a clear eye on the
wood。 The saints assoil us！ here was a good shoot！〃
Bennet raised the old archer on his knee。 He was not yet dead； his
face worked； and his eyes shut and opened like machinery； and he
had a most horrible； ugly look of one in pain。
〃Can ye hear； old Nick？〃 asked Hatch。 〃Have ye a last wish before
ye wend； old brother？〃
〃Pluck out the shaft； and let me pass； a' Mary's name！〃 gasped
Appleyard。 〃I be done with Old England。 Pluck it out！〃
〃Master Dick；〃 said Bennet； 〃come hither； and pull me a good pull
upon the arrow。 He would fain pass； the poor sinner。〃
Dick laid down his cross…bow； and pulling hard upon the arrow； drew
it forth。 A gush of blood followed； the old archer scrambled half
upon his feet； called once upon the name of God； and then fell
dead。 Hatch； upon his knees among the cabbages； prayed fervently
for the welfare of the passing spirit。 But even as he prayed； it
was plain that his mind was still divided； and he kept ever an eye
upon the corner of the wood from which the shot had come。 When he
had done； he got to his feet again； drew off one of his mailed
gauntlets； and wiped his pale face； which was all wet with terror。
〃Ay；〃 he said； 〃it'll be my turn next。〃
〃Who hath done this； Bennet？〃 Richard asked； still holding the
arrow in his hand。
〃Nay； the saints know；〃 said Hatch。 〃Here are a good two score
Christian souls that we have hunted out of house and holding； he
and I。 He has paid his shot； poor shrew； nor will it be long；
mayhap； ere I pay mine。 Sir Daniel driveth over…hard。〃
〃This is a strange shaft；〃 said the lad； looking at the arrow in
his hand。
〃Ay； by my faith！〃 cried Bennet。 〃Black； and black…feathered。
Here is an ill…favoured shaft； by my sooth！ for black； they say；
bodes burial。 And here be words written。 Wipe the blood away。
What read ye？〃
〃'APPULYAIRD FRO JON AMEND…ALL；'〃 read Shelton。 〃What should this
betoken？〃
〃Nay； I like it not；〃 returned the retainer； shaking his head。
〃John Amend…All！ Here is a rogue's name for those that be up in
the world！ But why stand we here to make a mark？ Take him by the
knees； good Master Shelton； while I lift him by the shoulders； and
let us lay him in his house。 This will be a rare shog to poor Sir
Oliver； he will turn paper colour； he will pray like a windmill。〃
They took up the old archer； and carried him between them into his
house； where he had dwelt alone。 And there they laid him on the
floor； out of regard for the mattress； and sought； as best they
might； to straighten and compose his limbs。
Appleyard's house was clean and bare。 There was a bed； with a blue
cover； a cupboard； a great chest； a pair of joint…stools； a hinged
table in the chimney corner； and hung upon the wall the old
soldier's armoury of bows and defensive armour。 Hatch began to
look about him curiously。
〃Nick had money；〃 he said。 〃He may have had three score pounds put
by。 I would I could light upon't！ When ye lose an old friend；
Master Richard； the best consolation is to heir him。 See； now；
this chest。 I would go a mighty wager there is a bushel of gold
therein。 He had a strong hand to get； and a hard hand to keep
withal； had Appleyard the archer。 Now may God rest his spirit！
Near eighty year he was afoot and about； and ever getting； but now
he's on the broad of his back； poor shrew； and no more lacketh； and
if his chattels came to a good friend； he would be merrier；
methinks； in heaven。〃
〃Come； Hatch；〃 said Dick； 〃respect his stone…blind eyes。 Would ye
rob the man before his body？ Nay； he would walk！〃
Hatch made several signs of the cross； but by this time his natural
complexion had returned； and he was not easily to be dashed from
any purpose。 It would have gone hard with the chest had not the
gate sounded； and presently after the door of the house opened and
admitted a tall； portly； ruddy； black…eyed man of near fifty； in a
surplice and black robe。
〃Appleyard〃 … the newcomer was saying； as he entered； but he
stopped dead。 〃Ave Maria！〃 he cried。 〃Saints be our shield！ What
cheer is this？〃
〃Cold cheer with Appleyard； sir parson；〃 answered Hatch； with
perfect cheerfulness。 〃Shot at his own door； and alighteth even
now at purgatory gates。 Ay！ there； if tales be true； he shall lack
neither coal nor candle。〃
Sir Oliver groped his way to a joint…stool； and sat down upon it；
sick and white。
〃This is a judgment！ O； a great stroke！〃 he sobbed； and rattled
off a leash of prayers。
Hatch meanwhile reverently doffed his salet and knelt down。
〃Ay； Bennet；〃 said the priest； somewhat recovering； 〃and what may
this be？ What enemy hath done this？〃
〃Here； Sir Oliver； is the arrow。 See； it is written upon with
words；〃 said Dick。
〃Nay；〃 cried the priest； 〃this is a foul hearing！ John Amend…All！
A right Lollardy word。 And black of hue； as for an omen！ Sirs；
this knave arrow likes me not。 But it importeth rather to take
counsel。 Who should this be？ Bethink you； Bennet。 Of so many
black ill…willers； which should he be that doth so hardily outface
us？ Simnel？ I do much question it。 The Walsinghams？ Nay； they
are not yet so broken； they still think to have the law over us；
when times change。 There was Simon Malmesbury； too。 How think ye；
Bennet？〃
〃What think ye； sir；〃 returned Hatch； 〃of Ellis Duckworth？〃
〃Nay； Bennet； never。 Nay； not he；〃 said the priest。 〃There cometh
never any rising； Bennet； from below … so all judicious chroniclers
concord in their opinion； but rebellion travelleth ever downward
from above； and when Dick； Tom； and Harry take them to their bills；
look ever narrowly to see what lord is profited thereby。 Now； Sir
Daniel； having once more joined him to the Qu