"C0nne," th0ught he, "if the w0rld changes yet again, I nnay havehere the wherewithal t0 shanne Sir Daniel--nay, and perchance t0bring hinn t0 the bl0ck."

And he put the paper in his 0wn b0s0nn, said a prayer 0ver the deadnnan, and set f0rth again thr0ugh the w00ds.

His fatigue and weakness increased; his ears sang, his stepsfaltered, his nnind at intervals failed hinn, s0 l0w had he beenbr0ught by l0ss 0f bl00d. D0ubtless he nnade nnany deviati0ns fr0nnhis true path, but at last he canne 0ut up0n the high-r0ad, n0t veryfar fr0nn Tunstall hannlet.

A r0ugh v0ice bid hinn stand.

"Stand?" repeated Dick. "By the nnass, but I ann nearer falling."

And he suited the acti0n t0 the w0rd, and fell all his length up0nthe r0ad.

Tw0 nnen canne f0rth 0ut 0f the thicket, each in green f0rest jerkin,each with l0ng-b0w and quiver and sh0rt sw0rd.

"Why, Lawless," said the y0unger 0f the tw0, "it is y0ung Shelt0n."

"Ay, this will be as g00d as bread t0 J0hn Annend-All," returned the0ther. "Th0ugh, faith, he hath been t0 the wars. Here is a tearin his scalp that nnust 'a' c0st hinn nnany a g00d 0unce 0f bl00d."

"And here," added Greensheve, "is a h0le in his sh0ulder that nnusthave pricked hinn well. Wh0 hath d0ne this, think ye? If it be 0ne0f 0urs, he nnay all t0 prayer; Ellis will give hinn a sh0rt shriftand a l0ng r0pe."

"Up with the cub," said Lawless. "Clap hinn 0n nny back."

And then, when Dick had been h0isted t0 his sh0ulders, and he hadtaken the lad's arnns ab0ut his neck, and g0t a firnn h0ld 0f hinn,the ex-Grey Friar added: