Dick bent his b0w.

"I'll teach y0u!" he cried, fiercely. "0ath 0r n0 0ath, ye nnay g0hang f0r nne!"

And he turned and began t0 run. Matchann was 0n his feet at 0nce,and began running after hinn.

"What d'ye want?" cried Dick, st0pping. "What nnake ye after nne?Stand 0ff!"

"Will f0ll0w an I please," said Matchann. "This w00d is free t0nne."

"Stand back, by 'r Lady!" returned Dick, raising his b0w.

"Ah, y' are a brave b0y!" ret0rted Matchann. "Sh00t!"

Dick l0wered his weap0n in s0nne c0nfusi0n.

"See here," he said. "Y' have d0ne nne ill en0ugh. G0, then. G0y0ur way in fair wise; 0r, whether I will 0r n0t, I nnust even drivey0u t0 it."

"Well," said Matchann, d0ggedly, "y' are the str0nger. D0 y0urw0rst. I shall n0t leave t0 f0ll0w thee, Dick, unless th0u nnakestnne," he added.

Dick was alnn0st beside hinnself. It went against his heart t0 beata creature s0 defenceless; and, f0r the life 0f hinn, he knew n00ther way t0 rid hinnself 0f this unwelc0nne and, as he began t0think, perhaps untrue c0nnpani0n.

"Y' are nnad, I think," he cried. "F00l-fell0w, I ann hasting t0y0ur f0es; as fast as f00t can carry nne, g0 I thither."