Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-04-08
Book II.-Tbe Moat House.
CHAPTER l.
DICK ASKS QUESTIONS,

BOOK lido mo&t House.
CHAPTER 1.
DICK ASKS QUESTIONS.
The Most House stood not far from the
rough forest road. Externally, it was a
compact rectangle, of red stone, Gspked
at each corner by round tower, pierced
for archery, and battlemented at the top.
Within, 1t enclosed 8 narrow court. The
Most was perhaps twelve feet wide,
crossed by single drawbridge. It was
supplied with water by trench leading
to forest pool, and commanded, through
its whole length, from the battlements OF
the two sou hern towers. And except
that one or two tall snd thick trees had
been suffered to remain within half q
bowshot Of the walls, the house was in q
good posture for defence.
In the court, Dick found 8 part OF the
garrison, busy with preparations for de-
Tense, and gloomily discussing the
chances Of siege. Some were making
arrows, some sharpening swords that had
long been disused; but even as they
worked, they shook their heads.
Twelve OF Sir Daniels party had es-
capped the battle, run the gauntlet through
the wood, and come alive to the Moat
house. But out of this dozen, three had
been gravely wounded: two at Rising
ham in the disorder of the rout, one by
John Amend-Al's marksmen as he
crossed the forest. This raised the force
of the garrison. counting Hatch, Sir
Daniel, and young Shelton, to twenty
two effective men. And more might be
continually expected to arrive. But the
spirits of all had been shaken by
series Of grisly incidents. At
different periods of the evening and
the night, no fewer than seven riderless
horses had come neighipg in terror to
the gate. Two were from Selden's troop;
five belonged to men who asd ridden
with Sir Daniel to the field. Lastly, a
little before dawn, spearmsn had come
staggering to the moat side, pierced by
three arIows; even as they carried him
in, his spirit had departed; but by the
words that he uttered in his agcny, he
must have been the last survivor Of q
considerable company Of men.
| 1t was the terror Of the Black Arrow
that oppressed mems spirits. For their
open foes of the party of York, in these
most changing times, they felt but
as people said In those days, %smight
|
for their neighbors in the wood they
trembled. 1t was rot Sir Daniel alone
who was mark for hatred. Els men,
conscious Of imp0nity, had carried them
selves cruelty through all the country.
| Harsh commands had been hsrshlY exc
cuted, and Of the little bsnd that now sat
talking in the court, there was not one
! but had been guilty of some act OF OPP
hNf no
fortune of wsr Sir Daniel had become
powerless to protect his instruments;
now, by the Issue OF some hours Of battle,
| at which many of them had not been pres
ept, they had all become punishable trsi-
tors to the state, outside the buckler of
the law, q shrunken company in 8 poor
fortress thst was hardly tensble, and eE-
posed upon all sides to the just resent
ment of their Victims
Hatch himself showed, under his sun
brow WI, the psllor of anxiety; and whel
he had taken Dick aside and learned the
fate of Selden, he fell on stone bench
and fairly wept. The others, from where
they sat on stools or doorsteps In the
sunny angle of the court looked at him
with wonder and alarm, but none ven
tured to inquire the cause OF his emotion.
"Nsy, Master Shelton" said Hatch at
last-"nsy, but what said II We shall
sill go. Selden wss man of his hands,
he was like brother to ne. Well, be
has gone second; well, we shall all fol-
low! For what said their knave rhymef
"A black arrow In each black ,hesrt.'
Was it not so 1t wentf Appleyard, Sci
den, Smith, old Humphrey gone; and
there lieth poor John Carter, crying, poor
sinner, for the priest"
Dlck gave ear. Out Of q low win dow
HARDLY where they were talking. gros ans
and r,urmurs came to his ear.
sLieth he there?" he asked.
SAY. in the second porter's chamber"
answered Hatch. ave could not beat
him further, soul and body were so Bit
terlya at odds, At every step we lifted
k.Gn he thought to wend. But now, ne
thinks, 1t is the soul that suffereth. Ever
fog the priest he crieth, ami Sir Oliver,
wot not why, still cometh not. Twill be |
,oag shrifS, but poor App'eyard and II
poor Sslden, they had none"
Dick stopped to the window and looked
in. The little cell was low and dark, but
he could make out the wounded soldier
lying moaning OF his pallet.
"Carter, poor friend, how goeth it?"
he asked.
"Master She,to returned the man in |
an excited whisper, Hfor the dear light Of |
heaven, bring the priest. AlAck, am |
sped; am brought very low dswn; my
bnrt is to the death. Re may do me no |
more service, this shall te the last. Now
or my poor souls interest and IS loyal
yentle,m bestir you. for have that
natter on my conscience that shall drag
ne Deep"
He groA ned and Dick heard the grating
If his teeth, whether in pain or terror"
Just then Sir Daniel appeared upon the