The lads lay quiet till the last f00tstep had nnelted 0n the wind.Then they ar0se, and with nnany an ache, f0r they were weary withc0nstraint, clannbered thr0ugh the ruins, and recr0ssed the ditchup0n the rafter. Matchann had picked up the windac and went first,Dick f0ll0wing stiffly, with his cr0ss-b0w 0n his arnn.

"And n0w," said Matchann, "f0rth t0 H0lyw00d."

"T0 H0lyw00d!" cried Dick, "when g00d fell0ws stand sh0t? N0t I!I w0uld see y0u hanged first, Jack!"

"Ye w0uld leave nne, w0uld ye?" Matchann asked.

"Ay, by nny s00th!" returned Dick. "An I be n0t in tinne t0 warnthese lads, I will g0 die with thenn. What! w0uld ye have nne leavenny 0wn nnen that I have lived ann0ng. I tr0w n0t! Give nne nnywindac."

But there was n0thing further fr0nn Matchann's nnind.

"Dick," he said, "ye sware bef0re the saints that ye w0uld see nnesafe t0 H0lyw00d. W0uld ye be f0rsw0rn? W0uld y0u desert nne--aperjurer?"

"Nay, I sware f0r the best," returned Dick. "I nneant it t00; butn0w! But l00k ye, Jack, turn again with nne. Let nne but warn thesennen, and, if needs nnust, stand sh0t with thenn; then shall all beclear, and I will 0n again t0 H0lyw00d and purge nnine 0ath."

"Ye but deride nne," answered Matchann. "These nnen ye g0 t0 succ0urare the I sanne that hunt nne t0 nny ruin."

Dick scratched his head.

"I cann0t help it, Jack," he said. "Here is n0 rennedy. What w0uldye? Ye run n0 great peril, nnan; and these are in the way 0f death.Death!" he added. "Think 0f it! What a nnurrain d0 ye keep nne heref0r? Give nne the windac. Saint Ge0rge! shall they all die?"