the river; ye'll
not see him more, Dick, by mine honour!" He held his arms open, and the
lads embraced and kissed. "And, Dick," continued Matcham, "my spirit
bodeth ill. Y'are now to see a new Sir Daniel; for heretofore hath all
prospered in his hands exceedingly, and fortune followed him; but now,
methinks, when his fate hath come upon him, and he runs the adventure of
his life, he will prove but a foul lord to both of us. He may be brave
in battle, but he hath the liar's eye; there is fear in his eye, Dick,
and fear is as cruel as the wolf! We go down into that house, St. Mary
guide us forth again!"

And so they continued their descent in silence, and came out at last
before Sir Daniel's forest stronghold, where it stood, low and shady,
flanked with round towers and stained with moss and lichen, in the
lilied waters of the moat. Even as they appeared, the doors were opened,
the bridge lowered, and Sir Daniel himself, with Hatch and the parson at
his side, stood ready to receive them.

BOOK II

THE MOAT HOUSE

CHAPTER I

DICK ASKS QUESTIONS

The Moat House stood not far from the rough forest road. Externally, it
was a compact rectangle of red stone, flanked at each corner by a round
tower, pierced for archery and battlemented at the top. Within, it
enclosed a narrow court. The moat was perhaps twelve feet wide, crossed
by a single drawbridge. It was supplied with water by a trench, leading
to a forest pool and commanded, through its whole length, from the
battlements of the two southern towers. Except that one or two tall and
thick trees had been suffered to remain within half a bowshot of the
walls, the house was in a good posture for defence.

In the court, Dick found a part of the garrison, busy with preparations
for defence, and gloomily discussing the chances of a siege. Some were
making arrows, some sharpening swords that had long been disused; but
even as they worked, they shook their heads.

Twelve of Sir Daniel's party had escaped the battle, run the gauntlet
through the wood, and come alive to the Moat House. But out of this
dozen, three had been gravely wounded: two at Risingham in the disorder
of the rout, one by John Amend-All's marksmen as he crossed the forest.

This raised the force of the garrison, counting Hatch, Sir Daniel, and
young Shelton, to twenty-two effective men. And more might be
continually expected to arrive. The danger lay not therefore in the lack
of men.

It