`` Do , you see Harry the Fift ? '' The veteran continued looking up the hill in silence . The sun shone broadly over the shelving meadows ; a few white sheep wandered browsing ; all was still but the distant jangle of the bell . `` What is it , Appleyard ? '' asked Dick . `` Why , the birds , '' said Appleyard . And , sure enough , over the top of the forest , where it ran down in a tongue among the meadows , and ended in a pair of goodly green elms , about a bowshot from the field where they were standing , a flight of birds was skimming to and fro , in evident disorder . `` What of the birds ? '' said Bennet . `` Ay ! '' returned Appleyard , `` y ' are a wise man to go to war , Master Bennet . Birds are a good sentry ; in forest places they be the first line of battle . Look you , now , if we lay here in camp , there might be archers skulking down to get the wind of us ; and here would you be , none the wiser ! '' `` Why , old shrew , '' said Hatch , `` there be no men nearer us than Sir Daniel 's , at Kettley ; y ' are as safe as in London Tower ; and ye raise scares upon a man for a few chaffinches and sparrows ! '' `` Hear him ! '' grinned Appleyard . `` How many a rogue would give his two crop ears to have a shoot at either of us ? Saint Michael , man ! they hate us like two polecats ! '' `` Well , sooth it is , they hate Sir Daniel , '' answered Hatch , a little sobered .
`` Ay , they hate Sir Daniel , and they hate every man that serves with him , '' said XXXXX ; `` and in the first order of hating , they hate Bennet Hatch and old Nicholas the bowman .
Appleyard Bennet Daniel Hatch bowshot fro polecats shrew sparrows war