And therewith he raised a little tucket to his mouth and wound a rousing call . Then followed a moment of confusion ; for while Dick , fearing for the ladies , still hesitated to give the word to shoot , Hatch 's little band sprang to their weapons and formed back to back as for a fierce resistance . In the hurry of their change of place , Joanna sprang from her seat and ran like an arrow to her lover 's side . `` Here , Dick ! '' she cried , as she clasped his hand in hers . But Dick still stood irresolute ; he was yet young to the more deplorable necessities of war , and the thought of old Lady Brackley checked the command upon his tongue . His own men became restive . Some of them cried on him by name ; others , of their own accord , began to shoot ; and at the first discharge poor Bennet bit the dust . Then Dick awoke . `` On ! '' he cried . `` Shoot , boys , and keep to cover . England and York ! '' But just then the dull beat of many horses on the snow suddenly arose in the hollow ear of the night , and , with incredible swiftness , drew nearer and swelled louder . At the same time , answering tuckets repeated and repeated Hatch 's call . `` Rally , rally ! '' cried Dick . `` Rally upon me ! Rally for your lives ! '' But his men -- afoot , scattered , taken in the hour when they had counted on an easy triumph -- began instead to give ground severally , and either stood wavering or dispersed into the thickets .
And when the first of the horsemen came charging through the open avenues and fiercely riding their steeds into the underwood , a few stragglers were overthrown or speared among the brush , but the bulk of XXXXX 's command had simply melted at the rumour of their coming .
Bennet Dick England Joanna York first night tucket tuckets wavering