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