trong
post of some half a score of archers lay close by the bridge on either
side of the road, and, as soon as they perceived Lawless with his
burthen, began to bestir themselves and set arrow to string like vigilant
sentries.

"Who goes?" cried the man in command.

"Will Lawless, by the rood--ye know me as well as your own hand,"
returned the outlaw, contemptuously.

"Give the word, Lawless," returned the other.

"Now, Heaven lighten thee, thou great fool," replied Lawless. "Did I not
tell it thee myself? But ye are all mad for this playing at soldiers.
When I am in the greenwood, give me greenwood ways; and my word for this
tide is: 'A fig for all mock soldiery!'"

"Lawless, ye but show an ill example; give us the word, fool jester,"
said the commander of the post.

"And if I had forgotten it?" asked the other.

"An ye had forgotten it--as I know y' 'ave not--by the mass, I would clap
an arrow into your big body," returned the first.

"Nay, an y' are so ill a jester," said Lawless, "ye shall have your word
for me. 'Duckworth and Shelton' is the word; and here, to the
illustration, is Shelton on my shoulders, and to Duckworth do I carry
him."

"Pass, Lawless," said the sentry.

"And where is John?" asked the Grey Friar.

"He holdeth a court, by the mass, and taketh rents as to the manner
born!" cried another of the company.

So it proved. When Lawless got as far up the village as the little inn,
he found Ellis Duckworth surrounded by Sir Daniel's tenants, and, by the
right of his good company of archers, coolly taking rents, and giving
written receipts in return for them. By the faces of the tenants, it was
plain how little this proceeding pleased them; for they argued very
rightly that they would simply have to pay them twice.

As soon as he knew what had brought Lawless, Ellis dismissed the
remainder of the tenants, and, with every mark of interest and
apprehension, conducted Dick into an inner chamber of the inn. There the
lad's hurts were looked to; and he was recalled, by simple remedies, to
consciousness.

"Dear lad," said Ellis, pressing his hand, "y' are in a friend's hands
that loved your father, and loves you for his sake. Rest ye a little
quietly, for ye are somewhat out of case. Then shall ye tell me your
story, and betwixt the two of us we shall find a remedy for all."

A little later in the day, and after Dick had awakened from a comfortable
slumber to find himself still very w