It was, indeed, high time for them to run. On every side the company of
the Black Arrow was making for the hill. Some, being better runners, or
having open ground to run upon, had far outstripped the others, and were
already close upon the goal; some, following valleys, had spread out to
right and left, and outflanked the lads on either side.

Dick plunged into the nearest cover. It was a tall grove of oaks, firm
underfoot and clear of underbrush, and as it lay down-hill, they made
good speed. There followed next a piece of open, which Dick avoided,
holding to his left. Two minutes after, and the same obstacle arising,
the lads followed the same course. Thus it followed that, while the
lads, bending continually to the left, drew nearer and nearer to the
highroad and the river which they had crossed an hour or two before, the
great bulk of their pursuers were leaning to the other hand, and running
towards Tunstall.

The lads paused to breathe. There was no sound of pursuit. Dick put his
ear to the ground, and still there was nothing; but the wind, to be
sure, still made a turmoil in the trees, and it was hard to make
certain.

"On again," said Dick; and, tired as they were, and Matcham limping
with his injured foot, they pulled themselves together, and once more
pelted down the hill.

Three minutes later, they were breasting through a low thicket of
evergreen. High overhead, the tall trees made a continuous roof of
foliage. It was a pillared grove, as high as a cathedral, and except for
the hollies among which the lads were struggling, open and smoothly
swarded.

On the other side, pushing through the last fringe of evergreen, they
blundered forth again into the open twilight of the grove.

"Stand!" cried a voice.

And there, between the huge stems, not fifty feet before them, they
beheld a stout fellow in green, sore blown with running, who instantly
drew an arrow to the head and covered them. Matcham stopped with a cry;
but Dick, without a pause, ran straight upon the forester, drawing his
dagger as he went. The other, whether he was startled by the daring of
the onslaught, or whether he was hampered by his orders, did not shoot;
he stood wavering; and before he had time to come to himself, Dick
bounded at his throat, and sent him sprawling backward on the turf. The
arrow went one way and the bow another with a sounding twang. The
disarmed forester grappled his assailant; but the dagger shone and
descended tw