Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-03-25
John AMKND-ALL.

the bell upon Tunstau Most
n house was heard ringing st sn unac-
'customed hour. Far and rear, In the
asforest and in the fields along the river,
people began to desert their labors and
hurry towards the sound; and in Tunstall
Hamlet a group Of poor country folk
- stood wondering st the summons.
Presently there was noise OF E horse,
and soon, out OF the edge Of the wood and
over the echoing bridge, there rode up
Young Master Richard Shelton, Sir Daniel
Brackley's ward, young fellow not yet
eighteen, sun-erowned snd graY-eyed, In !
Jacket Of deer's leather, with black
velvet collar, green hood upon his head,
and steel cross bow at his back.
Just then Bennett Hatch come gsilopiug
"A brawn-fsced, grizzled fellow, heavy |
of hand and grim Of mlen, armed with !
sword ond gpear, steel sHlet on DIS
hesd, s leather jack upon This BODY. DE
WAS q great man in these parts; Sir /
Daniels right hand II pesce aud war, and 1
st that time, by his masters interest.
balliff Of the hundred. /
The house to which these two were
bound was the last in the village, stand |
1, ing alone among lilscs; and beyond 1t, on |
! three sides, there was open meadow ris-
| ing towards the borders Of the wood.
Hatch dismounted, threw his rein over
the .2nce, and walked down the field, |
Dick keeping close at his elbow, to where |
an old soldier was digging, knee-deep IL
his cabbsges, and now and again, in
cracked voice, singing snatch OF song
"Nick Applevard," said Hatch, "Slr
/ Oliver commends him to you, and bids
that We shall come within this hour to the
Moat house, there to take ccmmsnd."
The old fellow looked up.
"Save you, my masters!" he saidi
grinuing. "Aud where goeth Master
Hatch7"
HMaster Hatch is of to Kelley, with
every man that we can horse" returned
Bennett. "There is fight toward, IT.
seems, and my lord stays reinforce
ment."
GAY, verify" said the old fellow, turn
ing to lock over his shoulder, and then he
put up his hand over his eyes and stood
staring.
"Why, what are you locking st?" asked
Bennett
The veteran continued looking up the
hill in silence.
"What is it, Appieyard2" asked Dick,
"Why, the BIRDS" said Appleysrd.
Aud, sure enough, over the top OF the
forest flight Of lbirds was sktmming TO
and fro in evident disorder.
"lS hat Of the birds?" said Bennett.
"A]2" returned AppleYard, ''y' are a
d wise man TO go to war, Master Bennett.
Birds sre s good sentry; in forest places
they be the first line of battle"
"Why, old shrew," said Hatch, "thers
16e 70 men nearer US than Sir Daniels at
Kettley."
"Hear him!" grinned Appleyard.
chow many rogue would give his two
4 crop cars to have shoot at either Of Us?
Saint Michael, man! they hate US like
:. two polecsts!"
49,. "Well, sooth it is, they hate Sir Dan
III lei >" answered Hatch, g little sobered.
7orth say, they hate Sir Daniel, and they
uSToe every man that serves with him."
Appleyard; "sId in the first order
trains. ting, they hate Bennett Hatch and
q sSoVs it;y,,cholss, the bowman. See ye here;
was g stout I, low yonder in the
dye, and you and l stood fair for
by ST. George, we stsnd!-
muu mink ye, would he choose2"
IHk b, for . good wager" answered
surcoat to leather belt, it would
y Of Preu," cried the old archer. Eye
,pysr ped Grimstone, Bennet-theyu meier
Tor,b give you that, my master"
are the shrewishest old dolt in
Tuustall Forest" returned Hatch, visibly
Fufisd by these threats.
Il An arrow sang in the air like huge
hornet; it struck old Appleyard between
& the shoulder blades and pierced him
through, and be fell forward on his face
1 among the cabbsges.
Bennett raised the old archer on his
knee. He WAS not yet dead; his face
worked, and his eyes opened and shut
like machinery, and he had most horri-
BILE, ugly look Of one in pain.
"Can ye hear, old Nick7" asked Hatch.
"Pluck out the shaft, and let me pass,
a. Msry's name" gssped AppleYard. 81
be done with Old England. Pluck 1t
Quit"
Dick laid down his crossoow, and pull
ing hard upon the arrow drew 1t forth
A gush of blood followed; the cid archer
half scrambled upon his feet, called once
upon the name Of God, snd then fell dead
cay" said Hstcb, "lt'll be my turn
next"
"Who hath done this, Bennett" Rich
ard asked, still holding the srroW IN MS
hand.
HNsy, the saints know" said Hatch.
WThis is strange shaft" said the lad,
looking at the arrow in his hand.
GAY, by my fAith!" cried Bennett.
"Black, and black festhered. Here is an
ill-fevored shaft, by my sooth! for black,
they say, BODIES burial. And here be
words written. Wipe the blood aWay.
What read yer"
n'AppulyaIrd fro Jon Amend.Al,' "
read Shelton. "What should this be-
token?"
"Nsy, like it not" returned the re-
tainer, shaking his head. "But why
. stand we here to make q mark. Teke
him by the knees, good Master Shelton,
while lift him by the shoulders, ard let
Us lGy him In his house."
They had scarce carried the old archer
into his house ere they were followed by
a tall, portly, rudy, blsck-eyed man Of
near fifty, in surplice and black robe.
"AppleYsrd"-th new conner was say
ing, as he entered; but he stopped dead
"Ave Marisi" he cried. "Ssints be oul
shieldt What cheer is this?"
neold cheer with Appleyard, sir par
son. answered Hatch, with perfect
cneeIfulness,
say, Bennett" said the priest, "snt
what may this be? What enemy haiti
done this7n
"Here, Sir Oliver, is the arrow. See
Il Il written upou with words" SAID