The night was not yet old before nearly a score of men crouched beside him in the gorse . Separating these into two bodies , he took the command of the smaller himself , and entrusted the larger to the leadership of Greensheve . `` Now , Kit , '' said he to this last , `` take me your men to the near angle of the garden wall upon the beach . Post them strongly , and wait till that ye hear me falling on upon the other side . It is those upon the sea front that I would fain make certain of , for there will be the leader . The rest will run ; even let them . And now , lads , let no man draw an arrow ; ye will but hurt friends . Take to the steel , and keep to the steel ; and if we have the uppermost , I promise every man of you a gold noble when I come to mine estate . '' Out of the odd collection of broken men , thieves , murderers , and ruined peasantry , whom Duckworth had gathered together to serve the purposes of his revenge , some of the boldest and the most experienced in war had volunteered to follow Richard Shelton . The service of watching Sir Daniel 's movements in the town of Shoreby had from the first been irksome to their temper , and they had of late begun to grumble loudly and threaten to disperse . The prospect of a sharp encounter and possible spoils restored them to good humour , and they joyfully prepared for battle . Their long tabards thrown aside , they appeared , some in plain green jerkins , and some in stout leathern jacks ; under their hoods many wore bonnets strengthened by iron plates ; and , for offensive armour , swords , daggers , a few stout boar-spears , and a dozen of bright bills , put them in a posture to engage even regular feudal troops . The bows , quivers , and tabards were concealed among the gorse , and the two bands set resolutely forward . Dick , when he had reached the other side of the house , posted his six men in a line , about twenty yards from the garden wall , and took position himself a few paces in front . Then they all shouted with one voice , and closed upon the enemy . These , lying widely scattered , stiff with cold , and taken at unawares , sprang stupidly to their feet , and stood undecided . Before they had time to get their courage about them , or even to form an idea of the number and mettle of their assailants , a similar shout of onslaught sounded in their ears from the far side of the enclosure . Thereupon they gave themselves up for lost and ran . In this way the two small troops of the men of the Black Arrow closed upon the sea front of the garden wall , and took a part of the strangers , as it were , between two fires ; while the whole of the remainder ran for their lives in different directions , and were soon scattered in the darkness . For all that , the fight was but beginning .
XXXXX 's outlaws , although they had the advantage of the surprise , were still considerably outnumbered by the men they had surrounded .
Daniel Dick Shelton bonnets jacks jerkins night peasantry tabards war