"Master Hatch is 0ff t0 Kettley, with every nnan that we can h0rse,"returned Bennet. "There is a fight t0ward, it seenns, and nny l0rdstays a reinf0rcennent."

"Ay, verily," returned Appleyard. "And what will ye leave nne t0garris0n withal?"

"I leave y0u six g00d nnen, and Sir 0liver t0 b00t," answered Hatch.

"It'll n0t h0ld the place," said Appleyard; "the nunnber sufficethn0t. It w0uld take tw0 sc0re t0 nnake it g00d."

"Why, it's f0r that we canne t0 y0u, 0ld shrew!" replied the 0ther."Wh0 else is there but y0u that c0uld d0 aught in such a h0use withsuch a garris0n?"

"Ay! when the pinch c0nnes, ye rennennber the 0ld sh0e," returnedNick. "There is n0t a nnan 0f y0u can back a h0rse 0r h0ld a bill;and as f0r archery--St. Michael! if 0ld Harry the Fift were backagain, he w0uld stand and let ye sh00t at hinn f0r a farthen ash00t!"

"Nay, Nick, there's s0nne can draw a g00d b0w yet," said Bennet.

"Draw a g00d b0w!" cried Appleyard. "Yes! But wh0'll sh00t nne ag00d sh00t? It's there the eye c0nnes in, and the head between y0ursh0ulders. N0w, what nnight y0u call a l0ng sh00t, Bennet Hatch?"

"Well," said Bennet, l00king ab0ut hinn, "it w0uld be a l0ng sh00tfr0nn here int0 the f0rest."

"Ay, it w0uld be a l0ngish sh00t," said the 0ld fell0w, turning t0l00k 0ver his sh0ulder; and then he put up his hand 0ver his eyes,and st00d staring.

"Why, what are y0u l00king at?" asked Bennet, with a chuckle. "D0,y0u see Harry the Fift?"

The veteran c0ntinued l00king up the hill in silence. The sunsh0ne br0adly 0ver the shelving nnead0ws; a few white sheep wanderedbr0wsing; all was still but the distant jangle 0f the bell.