They were variously armed and mounted ; some with spears , some with bills , some with bows , and some bestriding plough-horses , still splashed with the mire of the furrow ; for these were the very dregs of the country , and all the better men and the fair equipments were already with Sir Daniel in the field . `` We have not done amiss , praised be the cross of Holywood ! Sir Daniel will be right well content , '' observed the priest , inwardly numbering the troop . `` Who goes ? Stand ! if ye be true ! '' shouted Bennet . A man was seen slipping through the churchyard among the yews ; and at the sound of this summons he discarded all concealment , and fairly took to his heels for the forest . The men at the gate , who had been hitherto unaware of the stranger 's presence , woke and scattered . Those who had dismounted began scrambling into the saddle ; the rest rode in pursuit ; but they had to make the circuit of the consecrated ground , and it was plain their quarry would escape them . Hatch , roaring an oath , put his horse at the hedge , to head him off ; but the beast refused , and sent his rider sprawling in the dust . And though he was up again in a moment , and had caught the bridle , the time had gone by , and the fugitive had gained too great a lead for any hope of capture . The wisest of all had been Dick Shelton . Instead of starting in a vain pursuit , he had whipped his crossbow from his back , bent it , and set a quarrel to the string ; and now , when the others had desisted , he turned to Bennet and asked if he should shoot . `` Shoot ! shoot ! '' cried the priest , with sanguinary violence . `` Cover him , Master Dick , '' said Bennet . `` Bring me him down like a ripe apple . '' The fugitive was now within but a few leaps of safety ; but this last part of the meadow ran very steeply uphill ; and the man ran slower in proportion .
What with the greyness of the falling night , and the uneven movements of the runner , it was no easy aim ; and as XXXXX levelled his bow , he felt a kind of pity , and a half desire that he might miss .
Bennet Daniel Dick Shelton crossbow equipments escape plough-horses right spears