Part 37 (1/2)
”For my Lord of Gloucester?” repeated the priest ”Hath, then, the battle gone so sore?”
”The battle, father, is at an end, Lancaster clean sped, haood leave, I followon one side the priest, who seemed stupefied at the news, dick pushed open the door and rattled up the stairs four at a bound, and without pause or stumble, till he stepped upon the open platform at the top
Shoreby Church tower not only commanded the town, as in a map, but looked far, on both sides, over sea and land It was now near upon noon; the day exceeding bright, the snow dazzling And as dick looked around him, he could rowling uproar reached him from the streets, and now and then, but very rarely, the clash of steel Not a shi+p, not so much as a skiff remained in harbour; but the sea was dotted with sails and row-boats laden with fugitives On shore, too, the surface of the snowytheir way towards the borders of the forest, others, ere doubtless of the Yorkist side, stoutly interposing and beating theround there lay a prodigious quantity of fallen men and horses, clearly defined upon the snow
To complete the picture, those of the foot soldiers as had not found place upon a shi+p still kept up an archery combat on the borders of the port, and from the cover of the shoreside taverns In that quarter, also, one or two houses had been fired, and the sht, and blew off to sea in voluin of the woods, and somewhat in the line of Holywood, one particular clu watcher on the tower It was fairly numerous; in no other quarter of the field did so ether; thus they had left a wide, discoloured wake upon the snow, and dick was able to trace them step by step from where they had left the town
While dick stood watching thee of the leafless forest, and, turning a little from their direction, the sun fell for a ainst the dusky wood
”Murrey and blue!” cried dick ”I swear it-- the stairway
It was now his business to seek out the Duke of Gloucester, who alone, in the disorder of the forces, hting in the main toas now practically at an end; and as dick ran hither and thither, seeking the co soldiers, soer under, others shouting 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 hie 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 ht on London But now, sir, claim your reward”
”Freely, my lord,” said dick, ”freely and loudly One hath escaped to whoes, and taken with him one whom I owe love and service Give ation 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 et him these lances; and you, sir, bethink ye, in the meanwhile, what pleasure, honour, or profit it shall be ive you”
Just then the Yorkist skir in upon it on three sides, and driving out or taking its defenders Crookback dick was pleased to cheer the exploit, and pushi+ng his horse a little nearer, called to see the prisoners
There were four or five of theha the number, and last, but in dick's eyes not least, a tall, sharizzled old shi+p and ju duke passed them for atheress of the fight
”My lord,” said dick, ”so please you, I have found my reward Grant me the life and liberty of yon old shi+pman”
Gloucester turned and looked the speaker in the face
”Sir Richard,” he said, ”I make not ith peacock's feathers, but steel shafts Those that are mine enemies I slay, and that without excuse or favour For, bethink ye, in this realland, 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 pardons, I ht sheathe my sword”
”It may be so, my lord; and yet I will be overbold, and at the risk of your disfavour, recall your lordshi+p's promise,” replied dick
Richard of Gloucester flushed
”Mark it right well,” he said, harshly ”I love not ers Ye have this day laid the foundations of high fortune If ye oppose to lory of heaven, there your favour dies!