`` Five score shillings ! '' he grumbled . `` Fool , he had more in his sandal , or stitched into his tippet . Y ' are but a child , Tom Cuckow ; ye have lost the fish . '' But , for all that , Ellis pocketed the purse with nonchalance . He stood leaning on his boar-spear , and looked round upon the rest . They , in various attitudes , took greedily of the venison pottage , and liberally washed it down with ale . This was a good day ; they were in luck ; but business pressed , and they were speedy in their eating . The first-comers had by this time even despatched their dinner . Some lay down upon the grass and fell instantly asleep , like boa-constrictors ; others talked together , or overhauled their weapons : and one , whose humour was particularly gay , holding forth an ale-horn , began to sing : `` Here is no law in good green shaw , Here is no lack of meat ; 'T is merry and quiet , with deer for our diet , In summer , when all is sweet . Come winter again , with wind and rain -- Come winter , with snow and sleet , Get home to your places , with hoods on your faces , And sit by the fire and eat . '' All this while the two lads had listened and lain close ; only Richard had unslung his cross-bow , and held ready in one hand the windac , or grappling-iron that he used to bend it . Otherwise they had not dared to stir ; and this scene of forest life had gone on before their eyes like a scene upon a theatre . But now there came a strange interruption . The tall chimney which over-topped the remainder of the ruins rose right above their hiding-place . There came a whistle in the air , and then a sounding smack , and the fragments of a broken arrow fell about their ears . Some one from the upper quarters of the wood , perhaps the very sentinel they saw posted in the fir , had shot an arrow at the chimney-top . Matcham could not restrain a little cry , which he instantly stifled , and even Dick started with surprise , and dropped the windac from his fingers . But to the fellows on the lawn , this shaft was an expected signal . They were all afoot together , tightening their belts , testing their bow-strings , loosening sword and dagger in the sheath .
XXXXX held up his hand ; his face had suddenly assumed a look of savage energy ; the white of his eyes shone in his sun-brown face .
Dick Ellis Richard boa-constrictors chimney-top cross-bow grappling-iron hiding-place nonchalance tippet