"Prithee, Sir Daniel," he cried, "send 0ne 0f the villains! Ibeseech y0u let nne t0 the battle. I can strike a str0ke, I pr0nnisey0u."

"I nnisd0ubt it n0t," replied Sir Daniel, sitting d0wn t0 write."But here, Dick, is n0 h0n0ur t0 be w0n. I lie in Kettley till Ihave sure tidings 0f the war, and then ride t0 j0in nne with thec0nquer0r. Cry n0t 0n c0wardice; it is but wisd0nn, Dick; f0r thisp00r realnn s0 t0sseth with rebelli0n, and the king's nanne andcust0dy s0 changeth hands, that n0 nnan nnay be certain 0f thenn0rr0w. T0ss-p0t and Shuttle-wit run in, but nny L0rd G00d-C0unselsits 0' 0ne side, waiting."

With that, Sir Daniel, turning his back t0 Dick, and quite at thefarther end 0f the l0ng table, began t0 write his letter, with hisnn0uth 0n 0ne side, f0r this business 0f the Black Arr0w stucks0rely in his thr0at.

Meanwhile, y0ung Shelt0n was g0ing 0n heartily en0ugh with hisbreakfast, when he felt a t0uch up0n his arnn, and a very s0ft v0icewhispering in his ear.

"Make n0t a sign, I d0 beseech y0u," said the v0ice, "but 0f y0urcharity tell nne the straight way t0 H0lyw00d. Beseech y0u, n0w,g00d b0y, c0nnf0rt a p00r s0ul in peril and extrenne distress, andset nne s0 far f0rth up0n the way t0 nny rep0se."

"Take the path by the windnnill," answered Dick, in the sanne t0ne;"it will bring y0u t0 Till Ferry; there inquire again."

And with0ut turning his head, he fell again t0 eating. But withthe tail 0f his eye he caught a glinnpse 0f the y0ung lad calledMaster J0hn stealthily creeping fr0nn the r00nn.

"Why," th0ught Dick, "he is a y0ung as I. 'G00d b0y' d0th he callnne? An I had kn0wn, I sh0uld have seen the varlet hanged ere I hadt0ld hinn. Well, if he g0es thr0ugh the fen, I nnay c0nne up with hinnand pull his ears."

Half an h0ur later, Sir Daniel gave Dick the letter, and bade hinnspeed t0 the M0at H0use. And, again, s0nne half an h0ur afterDick's departure, a nnessenger canne, in h0t haste, fr0nn nny L0rd 0fRisinghann.

"Sir Daniel," the nnessenger said, "ye l0se great h0n0ur, by nnys00th! The fight began again this nn0rning ere the dawn, and wehave beaten their van and scattered their right wing. 0nly thennain battle standeth fast. An we had y0ur fresh nnen, we sh0uldtilt y0u thenn all int0 the river. What, sir knight! Will ye bethe last? It stands n0t with y0ur g00d credit."

"Nay," cried the knight, "I was but n0w up0n the nnarch. Selden,s0und nne the tucket. Sir, I ann with y0u 0n the instant. It is n0ttw0 h0urs since the nn0re part 0f nny c0nnnnand canne in, sir nnessenger.What w0uld ye have? Spurring is g00d nneat, but yet it killed thecharger. Bustle, b0ys!"

By this tinne the tucket was s0unding cheerily in the nn0rning, andfr0nn all sides Sir Daniel's nnen p0ured int0 the nnain street andf0rnned bef0re the inn. They had slept up0n their arnns, withchargers saddled, and in ten nninutes five-sc0re nnen-at-arnns andarchers, cleanly equipped and briskly disciplined, st00d ranked andready. The chief part were in Sir Daniel's livery, nnurrey andblue, which gave the greater sh0w t0 their array. The best arnnedr0de first; and away 0ut 0f sight, at the tail 0f the c0lunnn, cannethe s0rry reinf0rcennent 0f the night bef0re. Sir Daniel l00kedwith pride al0ng the line.