arms; upon this adventure, Master Shelton, shall I make or
mar the quality of my renown. There lie mine enemies, under two old,
skilled captains, Risingham and Brackley, well posted for strength, I do
believe, but yet upon two sides without retreat, enclosed betwixt the
sea, the harbour, and the river. Methinks, Shelton, here were a great
blow to be stricken, an we could strike it silently and suddenly."

"I do think so, indeed," cried Dick, warming.

"Have ye my Lord Foxham's notes?" inquired the duke.

And then Dick, having explained how he was without them for the moment,
made himself bold to offer information every jot as good, of his own
knowledge.

"And for mine own part, my lord duke," he added, "an ye had men enough,
I would fall on even at this present. For, look ye, at the peep of day
the watches of the night are over; but by day they keep neither watch
nor ward--only scour the outskirts with horsemen. Now, then, when the
night-watch is already unarmed, and the rest are at their morning
cup--now were the time to break them."

"How many do ye count?" asked Gloucester.

"They number not two thousand," Dick replied.

"I have seven hundred in the woods behind us," said the duke; "seven
hundred follow from Kettley, and will be here anon; behind these, and
farther, are four hundred more; and my Lord Foxham hath five hundred
half a day from here, at Holywood. Shall we attend their coming or fall
on?"

"My lord," said Dick, "when ye hanged these five poor rogues ye did
decide the question. Churls although they were, in these uneasy times
they will be lacked and looked for, and the alarm be given. Therefore,
my lord, if ye do count upon the advantage of a surprise, ye have not,
in my poor opinion, one whole hour in front of you."

"I do think so indeed," returned Crookback. "Well, before an hour ye
shall be in the thick on't, winning spurs. A swift man to Holywood,
carrying Lord Foxham's signet; another along the road to speed my
laggards! Nay, Shelton, by the rood, it may be done!"

Therewith he once more set his trumpet to his lips and blew.

This time he was not long kept waiting. In a moment the open space about
the cross was filled with horse and foot. Richard of Gloucester took his
place upon the steps, and despatched messenger after messenger to hasten
the concentration of the seven hundred men that lay hidden in the
immediate neighbourhood among the woods; and before a quarter of an hour
had passe