el
slew him, when the hour comes this hand shall slay Sir Daniel; but
neither him nor his will I desert in peril. And for mine oath, good
Jack, ye shall absolve me of it here. For the lives' sake of many men
that hurt you not, and for mine honour, ye shall set me free."

"I, Dick? Never!" returned Matcham. "An ye leave me, y'are forsworn, and
so I shall declare it."

"My blood heats," said Dick. "Give me the windac! Give it me!"

"I'll not," said Matcham. "I'll save you in your teeth."

"Not?" cried Dick. "I'll make you!"

"Try it," said the other.

They stood, looking in each other's eyes, each ready for a spring. Then
Dick leaped; and though Matcham turned instantly and fled, in two bounds
he was overtaken, the windac was twisted from his grasp, he was thrown
roughly to the ground, and Dick stood across him, flushed and menacing,
with doubled fist. Matcham lay where he had fallen, with his face in the
grass, not thinking of resistance.

Dick bent his bow.

"I'll teach you!" he cried, fiercely. "Oath or no oath, ye may go hang
for me!"

And he turned and began to run. Matcham was on his feet at once, and
began running after him.

"What d'ye want?" cried Dick, stopping. "What make ye after me? Stand
off!"

"I will follow an I please," said Matcham. "This wood is free to me."

"Stand back, by 'r Lady!" returned Dick, raising his bow.

"Ah, y'are a brave boy!" retorted Matcham. "Shoot!"

Dick lowered his weapon in some confusion.

"See here," he said. "Y' have done me ill enough. Go, then. Go your way
in fair wise; or, whether I will or not, I must even drive you to it."

"Well," said Matcham, doggedly, "y'are the stronger. Do your worst. I
shall not leave to follow thee, Dick, unless thou makest me," he added.

Dick was almost beside himself. It went against his heart to beat a
creature so defenceless; and, for the life of him, he knew no other way
to rid himself of this unwelcome and, as he began to think, perhaps
untrue companion.

"Y'are mad, I think," he cried. "Fool-fellow, I am hasting to your foes;
as fast as foot can carry me, go I thither."

"I care not, Dick," replied the lad. "If y'are bound to die, Dick, I'll
die too. I would liever go with you to prison than to go free without
you."

"Well," returned the other, "I may stand no longer prating. Follow me,
if ye must; but if ye play me false, it shall but little advance you,
mark ye that. Shalt have a quarrel in thine inwards, boy."