moment there
came through the market-place a storm of horsemen, fleeing and pursuing,
the Lancastrians turning back to strike with the sword, the Yorkists
riding them down at the point of the lance.

Conspicuous in the mellay, Dick beheld the Crookback. He was already
giving a foretaste of that furious valour and skill to cut his way across
the ranks of war, which, years afterwards upon the field of Bosworth, and
when he was stained with crimes, almost sufficed to change the fortunes
of the day and the destiny of the English throne. Evading, striking,
riding down, he so forced and so manoeuvred his strong horse, so aptly
defended himself, and so liberally scattered death to his opponents, that
he was now far ahead of the foremost of his knights, hewing his way, with
the truncheon of a bloody sword, to where Lord Risingham was rallying the
bravest. A moment more and they had met; the tall, splendid, and famous
warrior against the deformed and sickly boy.

Yet Shelton had never a doubt of the result; and when the fight next
opened for a moment, the figure of the earl had disappeared; but still,
in the first of the danger, Crookback Dick was launching his big horse
and plying the truncheon of his sword.

Thus, by Shelton's courage in holding the mouth of the street against the
first attack, and by the opportune arrival of his seven hundred
reinforcements, the lad, who was afterwards to be handed down to the
execration of posterity under the name of Richard III., had won his first
considerable fight.

CHAPTER IV--THE SACK OF SHOREBY

There was not a foe left within striking distance; and Dick, as he looked
ruefully about him on the remainder of his gallant force, began to count
the cost of victory. He was himself, now that the danger was ended, so
stiff and sore, so bruised and cut and broken, and, above all, so utterly
exhausted by his desperate and unremitting labours in the fight, that he
seemed incapable of any fresh exertion.

But this was not yet the hour for repose. Shoreby had been taken by
assault; and though an open town, and not in any manner to be charged
with the resistance, it was plain that these rough fighters would be not
less rough now that the fight was over, and that the more horrid part of
war would fall to be enacted. Richard of Gloucester was not the captain
to protect the citizens from his infuriated soldiery; and even if he had
the will, it might be questioned if he had the power.