Chapter 26 - Page 2

joining in
the conflict, had, on the first sign of intervention, leaped aback
and blown again, and yet more urgently and loudly, on that same
shrill-voiced trumpet that began the alarm. Next moment, indeed,
his foes were on him, and he was once more charging and fleeing,
leaping, stabbing, dropping to his knee, and using indifferently
sword and dagger, foot and hand, with the same unshaken courage and
feverish energy and speed.

But that ear-piercing summons had been heard at last. There was a
muffled rushing in the snow; and in a good hour for Dick, who saw
the sword-points glitter already at his throat, there poured forth
out of the wood upon both sides a disorderly torrent of mounted
men-at-arms, each cased in iron, and with visor lowered, each
bearing his lance in rest, or his sword bared and raised, and each
carrying, so to speak, a passenger, in the shape of an archer or
page, who leaped one after another from their perches, and had
presently doubled the array.

The original assailants; seeing themselves outnumbered and
surrounded, threw down their arms without a word.

"Seize me these fellows!" said the hero of the trumpet; and when
his order had been obeyed, he drew near to Dick and looked him in
the face.

Dick, returning this scrutiny, was surprised to find in one who had
displayed such strength, skill and energy, a lad no older than
himself - slightly deformed, with one shoulder higher than the
other, and of a pale, painful, and distorted countenance. (2) The
eyes, however, were very clear and bold.

"Sir," said this lad, "ye came in good time for me, and none too
early."

"My lord," returned Dick, with a faint sense that he was in the
presence of a great personage, "ye are yourself so marvellous a
good swordsman that I believe ye had managed them single-handed.
Howbeit, it was certainly well for me that your men delayed no
longer than they did."

"How knew ye who I was?" demanded the stranger.

"Even now, my lord," Dick answered, "I am ignorant of whom I speak
with."

"Is it so?" asked the other. "And yet ye threw yourself head first
into this unequal battle."

"I saw one man valiantly contending against many," replied Dick,
"and I had thought myself dishonoured not to bear him aid."

A singular sneer played about the young nobleman's mouth as he made
answer:

"These are very brave words. But to the more essential - are ye
Lancaster or York?"

"My lord, I make no secret; I am clear for York," Dick answered.

"By the mass!" replied the other, "it is well for you."

And so saying, he turned towards one of his followers.

"Let me see," he continued, in the same sneering and cruel tones -