CHAPTER VI -- TO THE DAY 'S END It was , indeed , high time for them to run . On every side the company of the Black Arrow was making for the hill . Some , being better runners , or having open ground to run upon , had far outstripped the others , and were already close upon the goal ; some , following valleys , had spread out to right and left , and outflanked the lads on either side . Dick plunged into the nearest cover . It was a tall grove of oaks , firm under foot and clear of underbrush , and as it lay down hill , they made good speed . There followed next a piece of open , which Dick avoided , holding to his left . Two minutes after , and the same obstacle arising , the lads followed the same course . Thus it followed that , while the lads , bending continually to the left , drew nearer and nearer to the high road and the river which they had crossed an hour or two before , the great bulk of their pursuers were leaning to the other hand , and running towards Tunstall . The lads paused to breathe . There was no sound of pursuit . Dick put his ear to the ground , and still there was nothing ; but the wind , to be sure , still made a turmoil in the trees , and it was hard to make certain . `` On again , '' said Dick ; and , tired as they were , and Matcham limping with his injured foot , they pulled themselves together , and once more pelted down the hill . Three minutes later , they were breasting through a low thicket of evergreen . High overhead , the tall trees made a continuous roof of foliage . It was a pillared grove , as high as a cathedral , and except for the hollies among which the lads were struggling , open and smoothly swarded . On the other side , pushing through the last fringe of evergreen , they blundered forth again into the open twilight of the grove . `` Stand ! '' cried a voice . And there , between the huge stems , not fifty feet before them , they beheld a stout fellow in green , sore blown with running , who instantly drew an arrow to the head and covered them . Matcham stopped with a cry ; but Dick , without a pause , ran straight upon the forester , drawing his dagger as he went .
The other , whether he was startled by the daring of the onslaught , or whether he was hampered by his orders , did not shoot ; he stood wavering ; and before he had time to come to himself , XXXXX bounded at his throat , and sent him sprawling backward on the turf .
Dick Tunstall VI dagger forester hollies left minutes right twilight