` The arrow that flieth by day , ' saith the evangel ; I have no mind of the context ; nay , I am a sluggard priest , I am too deep in men 's affairs . Well , let us ride forth , Master Hatch . The jackmen should be at the church by now . '' So they rode forward down the road , with the wind after them , blowing the tails of the parson 's cloak ; and behind them , as they went , clouds began to arise and blot out the sinking sun . They had passed three of the scattered houses that make up Tunstall hamlet , when , coming to a turn , they saw the church before them . Ten or a dozen houses clustered immediately round it ; but to the back the churchyard was next the meadows . At the lych-gate , near a score of men were gathered , some in the saddle , some standing by their horses ' heads . 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 XXXXX and asked if he should shoot .
Bennet Daniel Hatch Shelton day equipments lych-gate plough-horses right yews