o landing," cried Dick; but he still
struggled valiantly with the obstinate thicket and the startled animal.

A tall man appeared upon the shore of the island, a long-bow in his
hand. Dick saw him for an instant, with the corner of his eye, bending
the bow with a great effort, his face crimson with hurry.

"Who goes?" he shouted. "Hugh, who goes?"

"'Tis Master Shelton, John," replied the ferryman.

"Stand, Dick Shelton!" bawled the man upon the island. "Ye shall have no
hurt, upon the rood! Stand! Back out, Hugh Ferryman."

Dick cried a taunting answer.

"Nay, then, ye shall go afoot," returned the man; and he let drive an
arrow.

The horse, struck by the shaft, lashed out in agony and terror; the boat
capsized, and the next moment all were struggling in the eddies of the
river.

When Dick came up, he was within a yard of the bank; and before his eyes
were clear, his hand had closed on something firm and strong that
instantly began to drag him forward. It was the riding-rod, that
Matcham, crawling forth upon an overhanging willow, had opportunely
thrust into his grasp.

"By the mass!" cried Dick, as he was helped ashore, "that makes a life I
owe you. I swim like a cannon-ball." And he turned instantly towards the
island.

Midway over, Hugh Ferryman was swimming with his upturned boat, while
John-a-Fenne, furious at the ill-fortune of his shot, bawled to him to
hurry.

"Come, Jack," said Shelton, "run for it! Ere Hugh can hale his barge
across, or the pair of 'em can get it righted, we may be out of cry."

And adding example to his words, he began to run, dodging among the
willows, and in marshy places leaping from tussock to tussock. He had no
time to look for his direction; all he could do was to turn his back
upon the river, and put all his heart to running.

Presently, however, the ground began to rise, which showed him he was
still in the right way, and soon after they came forth upon a slope of
solid turf, where elms began to mingle with the willows.

But here Matcham, who had been dragging far into the rear, threw himself
fairly down.

"Leave me, Dick!" he cried, pantingly; "I can no more."

Dick turned, and came back to where his companion lay.

"Nay, Jack, leave thee!" he cried. "That were a knave's trick, to be
sure, when ye risked a shot and a ducking, ay, and a drowning too, to
save my life. Drowning, in sooth; for why I did not pull you in along
with me, the saints alone can tell!"