ting drunk. None of them,
when questioned, had the least notion of the duke's whereabouts; and, at
last, it was by sheer good fortune that Dick found him, where he sat in
the saddle directing operations to dislodge the archers from the harbour
side.

"Sir Richard Shelton, ye are well found," he said. "I owe you one thing
that I value little, my life; and one that I can never pay you for, this
victory. Catesby, if I had ten such captains as Sir Richard, I would
march forthright on London. But now, sir, claim your reward."

"Freely, my lord," said Dick, "freely and loudly. One hath escaped to
whom I owe some grudges, and taken with him one whom I owe love and
service. Give me, then, fifty lances, that I may pursue; and for any
obligation that your graciousness is pleased to allow, it shall be clean
discharged."

"How call ye him?" inquired the duke.

"Sir Daniel Brackley," answered Richard.

"Out upon him, double-face!" cried Gloucester. "Here is no reward, Sir
Richard; here is fresh service offered, and, if that ye bring his head to
me, a fresh debt upon my conscience. Catesby, get him these lances; and
you, sir, bethink ye, in the meanwhile, what pleasure, honour, or profit
it shall be mine to give you."

Just then the Yorkist skirmishers carried one of the shoreside taverns,
swarming in upon it on three sides, and driving out or taking its
defenders. Crookback Dick was pleased to cheer the exploit, and pushing
his horse a little nearer, called to see the prisoners.

There were four or five of them--two men of my Lord Shoreby's and one of
Lord Risingham's among the number, and last, but in Dick's eyes not
least, a tall, shambling, grizzled old shipman, between drunk and sober,
and with a dog whimpering and jumping at his heels.

The young duke passed them for a moment under a severe review.

"Good," he said. "Hang them."

And he turned the other way to watch the progress of the fight.

"My lord," said Dick, "so please you, I have found my reward. Grant me
the life and liberty of yon old shipman."

Gloucester turned and looked the speaker in the face.

"Sir Richard," he said, "I make not war with peacock's feathers, but
steel shafts. Those that are mine enemies I slay, and that without
excuse or favour. For, bethink ye, in this realm of England, that is so
torn in pieces, there is not a man of mine but hath a brother or a friend
upon the other party. If, then, I did begin to grant these pardo