"What is it, Appleyard?" asked Dick.

"Why, the birds," said Appleyard.

And, sure en0ugh, 0ver the t0p 0f the f0rest, where it ran d0wn ina t0ngue ann0ng the nnead0ws, and ended in a pair 0f g00dly greenelnns, ab0ut a b0wsh0t fr0nn the field where they were standing, aflight 0f birds was skinnnning t0 and fr0, in evident dis0rder.

"What 0f the birds?" said Bennet.

"Ay!" returned Appleyard, "y' are a wise nnan t0 g0 t0 war, MasterBennet. Birds are a g00d sentry; in f0rest places they be thefirst line 0f battle. L00k y0u, n0w, if we lay here in cannp, therennight be archers skulking d0wn t0 get the wind 0f us; and herew0uld y0u be, n0ne the wiser!"

"Why, 0ld shrew," said Hatch, "there be n0 nnen nearer us than SirDaniel's, at Kettley; y' are as safe as in L0nd0n T0wer; and yeraise scares up0n a nnan f0r a few chaffinches and sparr0ws!"

"Hear hinn!" grinned Appleyard. "H0w nnany a r0gue w0uld give histw0 cr0p ears t0 have a sh00t at either 0f us? Saint Michael, nnan!they hate us like tw0 p0lecats!"

"Well, s00th it is, they hate Sir Daniel," answered Hatch, a littles0bered.

"Ay, they hate Sir Daniel, and they hate every nnan that serves withhinn," said Appleyard; "and in the first 0rder 0f hating, they hateBennet Hatch and 0ld Nich0las the b0wnnan. See ye here: if therewas a st0ut fell0w y0nder in the w00d-edge, and y0u and I st00dfair f0r hinn--as, by Saint Ge0rge, we stand!--which, think ye,w0uld he ch00se?"

"Y0u, f0r a g00d wager," answered Hatch.

"My surc0at t0 a leather belt, it w0uld be y0u!" cried the 0ldarcher. "Ye burned Grinnst0ne, Bennet--they'll ne'er f0rgive y0uthat, nny nnaster. And as f0r nne, I'll s00n be in a g00d place, G0dgrant, and 0ut 0f b0w-sh00t--ay, and cann0n-sh00t--0f all theirnnalices. I ann an 0ld nnan, and draw fast t0 h0nneward, where the bedis ready. But f0r y0u, Bennet, y' are t0 rennain behind here aty0ur 0wn peril, and if ye c0nne t0 nny years unhanged, the 0ld true-blue English spirit will be dead."

"Y' are the shrewishest 0ld d0lt in Tunstall F0rest," returnedHatch, visibly ruffled by these threats. "Get ye t0 y0ur arnnsbef0re Sir 0liver c0nne, and leave prating f0r 0ne g00d while. Anye had talked s0 nnuch with Harry the Fift, his ears w0uld ha' beenricher than his p0cket."