of the direction, intent solely on their quarrel. But Dick had not gone
ten paces ere his name was called, and Matcham came running after.

"Dick," he said, "it were unmannerly to part so coldly. Here is my hand,
and my heart with it. For all that wherein you have so excellently
served and helped me--not for the form, but from the heart, I thank you.
Fare ye right well."

"Well, lad," returned Dick, taking the hand which was offered him, "good
speed to you, if speed you may. But I misdoubt it shrewdly. Y'are too
disputatious."

So then they separated for the second time; and presently it was Dick
who was running after Matcham.

"Here," he said, "take my cross-bow; shalt not go unarmed."

"A cross-bow!" said Matcham. "Nay, boy, I have neither the strength to
bend nor yet the skill to aim with it. It were no help to me, good boy.
But yet I thank you."

The night had now fallen, and under the trees they could no longer read
each other's face.

"I will go some little way with you," said Dick. "The night is dark. I
would fain leave you on a path, at least. My mind misgiveth me, y'are
likely to be lost."

Without any more words, he began to walk forward, and the other once
more followed him. The blackness grew thicker and thicker. Only here and
there, in open places, they saw the sky, dotted with small stars. In the
distance, the noise of the rout of the Lancastrian army still continued
to be faintly audible; but with every step they left it farther in the
rear.

At the end of half an hour of silent progress they came forth upon a
broad patch of heathy open. It glimmered in the light of the stars,
shaggy with fern and islanded with clumps of yew. And here they paused
and looked upon each other.

"Y'are weary?" Dick said.

"Nay, I am so weary," answered Matcham, "that methinks I could lie down
and die."

"I hear the chiding of a river," returned Dick. "Let us go so far forth,
for I am sore athirst."

The ground sloped down gently; and, sure enough, in the bottom, they
found a little murmuring river, running among willows. Here they threw
themselves down together by the brink; and putting their mouths to the
level of a starry pool, they drank their fill.

"Dick," said Matcham, "it may not be. I can no more."

"I saw a pit as we came down," said Dick. "Let us lie down therein and
sleep."

"Nay, but with all my heart!" cried Matcham.

The pit was sandy and dry; a shock of brambles hung upon one hedge, and