A moment more and they had met ; the tall , splendid , and famous warrior against the deformed and sickly boy . Yet Shelton had never a doubt of the result ; and when the fight next opened for a moment , the figure of the earl had disappeared ; but still , in the first of the danger , Crookback Dick was launching his big horse and plying the truncheon of his sword . Thus , by Shelton 's courage in holding the mouth of the street against the first attack , and by the opportune arrival of his seven hundred reinforcements , the lad , who was afterwards to be handed down to the execration of posterity under the name of Richard III. , had won his first considerable fight . CHAPTER IV -- THE SACK OF SHOREBY There was not a foe left within striking distance ; and Dick , as he looked ruefully about him on the remainder of his gallant force , began to count the cost of victory . He was himself , now that the danger was ended , so stiff and sore , so bruised and cut and broken , and , above all , so utterly exhausted by his desperate and unremitting labours in the fight , that he seemed incapable of any fresh exertion . But this was not yet the hour for repose . Shoreby had been taken by assault ; and though an open town , and not in any manner to be charged with the resistance , it was plain that these rough fighters would be not less rough now that the fight was over , and that the more horrid part of war would fall to be enacted . Richard of Gloucester was not the captain to protect the citizens from his infuriated soldiery ; and even if he had the will , it might be questioned if he had the power . It was , therefore , Dick 's business to find and to protect Joanna ; and with that end he looked about him at the faces of his men . The three or four who seemed likeliest to be obedient and to keep sober he drew aside ; and promising them a rich reward and a special recommendation to the duke , led them across the market-place , now empty of horsemen , and into the streets upon the further side . Every here and there small combats of from two to a dozen still raged upon the open street ; here and there a house was being besieged , the defenders throwing out stools and tables on the heads of the assailants . The snow was strewn with arms and corpses ; but except for these partial combats the streets were deserted , and the houses , some standing open , and some shuttered and barricaded , had for the most part ceased to give out smoke . Dick , threading the skirts of these skirmishers , led his followers briskly in the direction of the abbey church ; but when he came the length of the main street , a cry of horror broke from his lips . Sir Daniel 's great house had been carried by assault . The gates hung in splinters from the hinges , and a double throng kept pouring in and out through the entrance , seeking and carrying booty . Meanwhile , in the upper storeys , some resistance was still being offered to the pillagers ; for just as Dick came within eyeshot of the building , a casement was burst open from within , and a poor wretch in murrey and blue , screaming and resisting , was forced through the embrasure and tossed into the street below . The most sickening apprehension fell upon Dick . He ran forward like one possessed , forced his way into the house among the foremost , and mounted without pause to the chamber on the third floor where he had last parted from Joanna . It was a mere wreck ; the furniture had been overthrown , the cupboards broken open , and in one place a trailing corner of the arras lay smouldering on the embers of the fire . Dick , almost without thinking , trod out the incipient conflagration , and then stood bewildered .
Sir Daniel , Sir Oliver , Joanna , all were gone ; but whether butchered in the rout or safe escaped from XXXXX , who should say ?
Dick Shoreby arras casement fall left murrey storeys third truncheon