the other once more followed him. The blackness grew
thicker and thicker; only here and there, in open places,
they saw the sky, dotted with small stars. In the distance,
the noise of the rout of the Lancastrian army still contin-
ued to be faintly audible; but with every step they left it
farther in the rear.

At the end of half an hour of silent progress they came
forth upon a broad patch of heathy open. It glimmered
in the light of the stars, shaggy with fern and islanded
with clumps of yew. And here they paused and looked
upon each other.

"Y' are weary?"Dick said.

"Nay, I am so weary," answered Matcham, "that me-
thinks I could lie down and die."

"I hear the chiding of a river," returned Dick. "Let
us go so far forth, for I am sore athirst."

The ground sloped down gently; and, sure enough, in
the bottom, they found a little murmuring river, running
among willows. Here they threw themselves down to-
gether by the brink; and putting their mouths to the
level of a starry pool, they drank their fill.

"Dick," said Matcham, "it may not be. I can no
more."

"I saw a pit as we came down," said Dick. "Let us
lie down therein and sleep."

"Nay, but with all my heart!" cried Matcham.

The pit was sandy and dry; a shock of brambles hung
upon one hedge, and made a partial shelter; and there

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