But for you , Bennet , y ' are to remain behind here at your own peril , and if ye come to my years unhanged , the old true-blue English spirit will be dead . '' `` Y ' are the shrewishest old dolt in Tunstall Forest , '' returned Hatch , visibly ruffled by these threats . `` Get ye to your arms before Sir Oliver come , and leave prating for one good while . An ye had talked so much with Harry the Fift , his ears would ha ' been richer than his pocket . '' An arrow sang in the air , like a huge hornet ; it struck old Appleyard between the shoulder-blades , and pierced him clean through , and he fell forward on his face among the cabbages . Hatch , with a broken cry , leapt into the air ; then , stooping double , he ran for the cover of the house . And in the meanwhile Dick Shelton had dropped behind a lilac , and had his crossbow bent and shouldered , covering the point of the forest . Not a leaf stirred . The sheep were patiently browsing ; the birds had settled . But there lay the old man , with a cloth-yard arrow standing in his back ; and there were Hatch holding to the gable , and Dick crouching and ready behind the lilac bush . `` D'ye see aught ? '' cried Hatch . `` Not a twig stirs , '' said Dick . `` I think shame to leave him lying , '' said Bennet , coming forward once more with hesitating steps and a very pale countenance . `` Keep a good eye on the wood , Master Shelton -- keep a clear eye on the wood . The saints assoil us ! here was a good shoot ! '' Bennet raised the old archer on his knee . He was not yet dead ; his face worked , and his eyes shut and opened like machinery , and he had a most horrible , ugly look of one in pain . `` Can ye hear , old Nick ? ''
asked XXXXX .
Appleyard Fift Hatch Nick Shelton archer aught cabbages shrewishest twig