He had gone but a few yards , when Matcham touched him on the arm , and pointed . To the eastward of the summit there was a dip , and , as it were , a valley passing to the other side ; the heath was not yet out ; all the ground was rusty , like an unscoured buckler , and dotted sparingly with yews ; and there , one following another , Dick saw half a score green jerkins mounting the ascent , and marching at their head , conspicuous by his boar-spear , Ellis Duckworth in person . One after another gained the top , showed for a moment against the sky , and then dipped upon the further side , until the last was gone . Dick looked at Matcham with a kindlier eye . `` So y ' are to be true to me , Jack ? '' he asked . `` I thought ye were of the other party . '' Matcham began to sob . `` What cheer ! '' cried Dick . `` Now the saints behold us ! would ye snivel for a word ? '' `` Ye hurt me , '' sobbed Matcham . `` Ye hurt me when ye threw me down . Y ' are a coward to abuse your strength . '' `` Nay , that is fool 's talk , '' said Dick , roughly . `` Y ' had no title to my windac , Master John . I would ` a ' done right to have well basted you . If ye go with me , ye must obey me ; and so , come . '' Matcham had half a thought to stay behind ; but , seeing that Dick continued to scour full-tilt towards the eminence and not so much as looked across his shoulder , he soon thought better of that , and began to run in turn .
But the ground was very difficult and steep ; Dick had already a long start , and had , at any rate , the lighter heels , and he had long since come to the summit , crawled forward through the firs , and ensconced himself in a thick tuft of gorse , before XXXXX , panting like a deer , rejoined him , and lay down in silence by his side .
Dick Duckworth John Matcham boar-spear buckler heath right windac yews