The wind had somewhat fallen, but still tussled merrily with the trees, and, perhaps, had Appleyard been there, he would have drawn a warning from the troubled conduct of the birds.
"Now, mark," Dick whispered.

"They be already well advanced into the wood; their safety lieth rather in continuing forward.

But see ye where this wide glade runneth down before us, and in the midst of it, these two score trees make like an island?
There were their safety.

An they but come sound as far as that, I will make shift to warn them.

But my heart misgiveth me; they are but seven against so many, and they but carry cross-bows.