.

But the time passed, and still there was no movement. From quarter of an
hour to quarter of an hour the same signal passed about the garden wall,
as if the leader desired to assure himself of the vigilance of his
scattered followers; but in every other particular the neighbourhood of
the little house lay undisturbed.

Presently Dick's reinforcements began to arrive. The night was not yet
old before nearly a score of men crouched beside him in the gorse.

Separating these into two bodies, he took the command of the smaller
himself, and entrusted the larger to the leadership of Greensheve.

"Now, Kit," said he to this last, "take me your men to the near angle of
the garden wall upon the beach. Post them strongly, and wait till that
ye hear me falling on upon the other side. It is those upon the sea
front that I would fain make certain of, for there will be the leader.
The rest will run; even let them. And now, lads, let no man draw an
arrow; ye will but hurt friends. Take to the steel, and keep to the
steel; and if we have the uppermost, I promise every man of you a gold
noble when I come to mine estate."

Out of the odd collection of broken men, thieves, murderers, and ruined
peasantry, whom Duckworth had gathered together to serve the purposes of
his revenge, some of the boldest and the most experienced in war had
volunteered to follow Richard Shelton. The service of watching Sir
Daniel's movements in the town of Shoreby had from the first been
irksome to their temper, and they had of late begun to grumble loudly
and threaten to disperse. The prospect of a sharp encounter and possible
spoils restored them to good humour, and they joyfully prepared for
battle.

Their long tabards thrown aside, they appeared, some in plain green
jerkins, and some in stout leathern jacks; under their hoods many wore
bonnets strengthened by iron plates; and for offensive armour, swords,
daggers, a few stout boar-spears, and a dozen of bright bills, put them
in a posture to engage even regular feudal troops. The bows, quivers,
and tabards were concealed among the gorse, and the two bands set
resolutely forward.

Dick, when he had reached the other side of the house, posted his six
men in a line, about twenty yards from the garden wall, and took
position himself a few paces in front. Then they all shouted with one
voice, and closed upon the enemy.

These, lying widely scattered, stiff with cold, and taken at unawares,
sprang stup