high wind, and every likelihood of snow before the
morning.

In an obscure alehouse in a by-street near the harbour, three or four
men sat drinking ale and eating a hasty mess of eggs. They were all
likely, lusty, weather-beaten fellows, hard of hand, bold of eye; and
though they wore plain tabards, like country ploughmen, even a drunken
soldier might have looked twice before he sought a quarrel in such
company.

A little apart before the huge fire sat a younger man, almost a boy,
dressed in much the same fashion, though it was easy to see by his looks
that he was better born, and might have worn a sword, had the time
suited.

"Nay," said one of the men at the table, "I like it not. Ill will come
of it. This is no place for jolly fellows. A jolly fellow loveth open
country, good cover, and scarce foes; but here we are shut in a town,
girt about with enemies; and, for the bull's-eye of misfortune, see if
it snow not ere the morning."

"'Tis for Master Shelton there," said another, nodding his head towards
the lad before the fire.

"I will do much for Master Shelton," returned the first; "but to come to
the gallows for any man--nay, brothers, not that!"

The door of the inn opened, and another man entered hastily and
approached the youth before the fire.

"Master Shelton," he said, "Sir Daniel goeth forth with a pair of links
and four archers."

Dick (for this was our young friend) rose instantly to his feet.

"Lawless," he said, "ye will take John Capper's watch. Greensheve,
follow with me. Capper, lead forward. We will follow him this time, an
he go to York."

The next moment they were outside in the dark street, and Capper, the
man who had just come, pointed to where two torches flared in the wind
at a little distance.

The town was already sound asleep; no one moved upon the streets, and
there was nothing easier than to follow the party without observation.
The two link-bearers went first; next followed a single man, whose long
cloak blew about him in the wind; and the rear was brought up by the
four archers, each with his bow upon his arm. They moved at a brisk
walk, threading the intricate lanes and drawing nearer to the shore.

"He hath gone each night in this direction?" asked Dick, in a whisper.

"This is the third night running, Master Shelton," returned Capper, "and
still at the same hour and with the same small following, as though his
end were secret."

Sir Daniel and his six men were now