"

The figure stepped forth and waved its hand like a dumb person. It was
arrayed like a pilgrim, the hood lowered over the face, but Dick, in an
instant, recognised Sir Daniel.

He strode up to him, drawing his sword; and the knight, putting his hand
in his bosom, as if to seize a hidden weapon, steadfastly awaited his
approach.

"Well, Dickon," said Sir Daniel, "how is it to be? Do ye make war upon
the fallen?"

"I made no war upon your life," replied the lad; "I was your true friend
until ye sought for mine; but ye have sought for it greedily."

"Nay--self-defence," replied the knight. "And now, boy, the news of this
battle, and the presence of yon crooked devil here in mine own wood,
have broken me beyond all help. I go to Holywood for sanctuary; thence
overseas, with what I can carry, and to begin life again in Burgundy or
France."

"Ye may not go to Holywood," said Dick.

"How! May not?" asked the knight.

"Look ye, Sir Daniel, this is my marriage morn," said Dick; "and yon sun
that is to rise will make the brightest day that ever shone for me. Your
life is forfeit--doubly forfeit, for my father's death and your own
practices to meward. But I myself have done amiss; I have brought about
men's deaths; and upon this glad day I will be neither judge nor
hangman. An ye were the devil, I would not lay a hand on you. An ye were
the devil, ye might go where ye will for me. Seek God's forgiveness;
mine ye have freely. But to go on to Holywood is different. I carry arms
for York, and I will suffer no spy within their lines. Hold it, then,
for certain, if ye set one foot before another, I will uplift my voice
and call the nearest post to seize you."

"Ye mock me," said Sir Daniel. "I have no safety out of Holywood."

"I care no more," returned Richard. "I let you go east, west, or south;
north I will not. Holywood is shut against you. Go, and seek not to
return. For, once ye are gone, I will warn every post about this army,
and there will be so shrewd a watch upon all pilgrims that, once again,
were ye the very devil, ye would find it ruin to make the essay."

"Ye doom me," said Sir Daniel, gloomily.

"I doom you not," returned Richard. "If it so please you to set your
valour against mine, come on; and though I fear it be disloyal to my
party, I will take the challenge openly and fully, fight you with mine
own single strength, and call for none to help me. So shall I avenge my
father, with a perfect conscienc