The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-06-12

blows upon the walls of the two thanking
houses.
The attack had begun, by common signal,
on all the five issues of the quarter. Glouces-
ter was beleagured on every side; and Dick
Judged, If he would mako good his post, he
must rely entirely on the hundred mon of his
command.
Seven volleys of arrows followed one upon
the other, and i'll the very thick of the dis
charges Dick was touched from behind upon
lhe arm, and found page holding out to him
a leathern jacket, strengthened with bright
plates of mail.
at is from my lord of Gloucester" said the
page. He hath Observed, Sir Richard, that
ye went unarmed."
Dick, with glow at his heart at being so ad-
dressed got to his feet and with the assistance
OF the page, donned the defensive coat. Even
as he did 50, two arrows ratified harmlessly
upon the plates, and third struck down the
page. MORALLY wounded, at his feet.
Meantime the whole body of the enemy had
been steadily drawing nearer across the mar
ket-place; and by this time were so close at
hand that Dick gave the order to return their
shot. Immediately, from behind the barrier
and from the windows of the houses,a counter
blast of arrows sped, carrying death. But the
Lancastrians, as if they had but waited for
signal, shouted loudly in answer, and began to
close at run upon the barrier, the horsemen
still hanging back, with visors lowered.
Then followed an obstinate and deadly
struggle, hand to hand. The assailants,
WELD their falchions with ore
hand, strove with the other to
dSig down the structure of the barricade.
On the other side, the parts were reversed. and
the defenders exposed themselves like mad
men to protect their rampant. So for some
minutes the contest ragged almost in
silence, friend and foe falling
one upon another. But it is az
ways the easier to destroy, and when a single
note upon the tucket recalled the attacking
party FROM this desperate service, much Of the
narrlcade had been removed piecemeal, and
the whole fabric had sunk to half its height,
and tottered to-a general fall
And now the footman in the market-place
Tell back, at run, on every side. The Horse
men, who had been standing in line two
deep, wheeled suddenly, and made their flank
into their front; and as swift as a striking adj
der, the long, steel-clad column was launched
upon the ruinous barricade.
OF the first two horsemen, the first fell rider
and steed, and was ridden down by his coinpan-
ions. The second leaped clean upon the summit
OF the rampant, TRANSPORTING an archer with his
lance. Almost in the same instant he was
dragged from the saddle and his horse dis
patched
And then the full weight and impetus of the
charge burst upon and scattered the defend
ers. The men-at-arms, surmoUnting their
fallen comrades, and carried onward by the
fury of their onslaught, dashed through Dicks
broken line and poured laundering up the
lane beyond, as a stream bestrides and pours
across a broken dam.
Yet was the fight not over Still, in the
narrow jaws of the entrance, Dick and few
survivors piled their bills like woodmen; and
already, across the width of the passage, there
had been formed a second, q higher and
more etfectual rampant of fallen meu and dis
emboweled horses, flashing il the agonies of
death.
Baffled by this fresh obstacle, the re-
mainder of the cavalry fell back and
as, at the sight of this movement,
the flight of arrows redoubled from tho case
ments OF the houses, their retreat had, for
moment, almost degcnerated into flight.
Almost at the same time, those who had
crossed the barricade and charged further up
the street, being met before The door of the
Chequers by the formidable hunchback and
the whole reserve Of the Yorkists, began to
come scattering backward in the excess of
disarray and terror.
Dick and his fellows faced about, fresh men
poured out Of the houses; q cruel blast of
arrows met the fugitiyes fall in the face,
while Gloucester was already riding down
their rear: in the inside of a minute and q
half their was no living Lancastrian in the
street.
Then. and not till then, did Dick hold up
his rocking blade and give the word to cheer.
Meanwhile Gloucester dismountcd from his
horse and came forward to inspect the post.
His face was as pale as linen; but his eyes
shone in his head like some strange jewel, and
his voice, when he spoke, was hOarse and
broken with the exultatiOn of battle and Sue
cess. He looked at the rampant, which
neither friend nor foe could now approach
without precaution, so fiercely did the horses
struggle il the throes of death, and at the
sight Of that great carnage he smiled npon one
side.
dispatch these horses" he said; "they
keep you from your vantage. Richard Shell
ton" he added, 'ye have pleased me.
Kneel."
The Lancastrians had already resumed their
archery, and the shafts fell thick in the mouth
OF the street; but the duke minding IL not at
all, deliberately drew his sword and dubbed
Richard knight upon the spot.
"And now, Sir Richard" he continued, "if
that We see Lord Risingham, send me an eX-
press upon the instant. Were it your last man,
let me hear of it incontinently. | had rather
venture the post than lose my stroke at him
For mark me, all Of ye,p he added raising his
voice, "if Earl Risingham fall by another
hand than mine, l shall count this victory a
defeat"
"My lord duke" said one Of his attendants,
lis your grace not weary Of exposing his dear
life unneedfully2 Why tarry we here 2"
"Catesby," returned the duke, there is the
battle, not elsewhere. The rest are but feigned
onslaughts Here must we yanquish. And
for the eXposure--if ye were an ugly hunch-
back, and the children gecked at You upon the
street, ye would count your body cheaper and
an hour Of glory worth life. Howbcit, ii 30
will, let'ts ride on and visit the other POSTS.
SIR Richard here, my namesakc, lac shall still
hold this entry. where he wadcth 10 the ankles
IN hot blood Him can we trust But marx
it, Sir Richard, ye are not yet done. The
worst is yet 10 ward Sleep not"
He came right up 70 young Shelton, hoking
him hard in the eyes, and taking his hand IN
both Of his. gave it 50 extreme squeeze that
the blood had nearly spurted, Dick quaied
before his eyes. The insane excitement, the
courage, and the cruelty that he read therein
filed him with dsmay about the fut1re. This
young dukes was indeed gallant spirit, to
ride foremost in the ranks Of war, but after