CHAPTER II

THE BATTLE OF SHOREBY

The whole distance to be crossed was not above a quarter of a mile. But
they had no sooner debouched beyond the cover of the trees than they
were aware of people fleeing and screaming in the snowy meadows upon
either hand. Almost at the same moment a great rumour began to arise,
and spread and grow continually louder in the town; and they were not
yet half-way to the nearest house before the bells began to ring
backward from the steeple.

The young duke ground his teeth together. By these so early signals of
alarm he feared to find his enemies prepared; and if he failed to gain a
footing in the town, he knew that his small party would soon be broken
and exterminated in the open.

In the town, however, the Lancastrians were far from being in so good a
posture. It was as Dick had said. The night-guard had already doffed
their harness; the rest were still hanging--unlatched, unbraced, all
unprepared for battle--about their quarters; and in the whole of Shoreby
there were not, perhaps, fifty men full armed, or fifty chargers to be
mounted.

The beating of the bells, the terrifying summons of men who ran about
the streets crying and beating upon the doors, aroused in an incredibly
short space at least two score out of that half hundred. These got
speedily to horse, and, the alarm still flying wild and contrary,
galloped in different directions.

Thus it befell that, when Richard of Gloucester reached the first house
of Shoreby, he was met in the mouth of the street by a mere handful of
lances, whom he swept before his onset as the storm chases the bark.

A hundred paces into the town, Dick Shelton touched the duke's arm; the
duke, in answer, gathered his reins, put the shrill trumpet to his
mouth, and blowing a concerted point, turned to the right hand out of
the direct advance. Swerving like a single rider, his whole command
turned after him, and, still at the full gallop of the chargers, swept
up the narrow by-street. Only the last score of riders drew rein and
faced about in the entrance; the footmen, whom they carried behind them,
leapt at the same instant to the earth, and began, some to bend their
bows, and others to break into and secure the houses upon either hand.

Surprised at this sudden change of direction, and daunted by the firm
front of the rear-guard, the few Lancastrians, after a momentary
consultation, turned and rode farther into town to seek for
reinforcement