The ground became more and more uneven , full of pits and hillocks . And with every step of the ascent the wind still blew the shriller , and the trees bent before the gusts like fishing-rods . They had just entered one of the clearings , when Dick suddenly clapped down upon his face among the brambles , and began to crawl slowly backward towards the shelter of the grove . Matcham , in great bewilderment , for he could see no reason for this flight , still imitated his companion 's course ; and it was not until they had gained the harbour of a thicket that he turned and begged him to explain . For all reply , Dick pointed with his finger . At the far end of the clearing , a fir grew high above the neighbouring wood , and planted its black shock of foliage clear against the sky . For about fifty feet above the ground the trunk grew straight and solid like a column . At that level , it split into two massive boughs ; and in the fork , like a mast-headed seaman , there stood a man in a green tabard , spying far and wide . The sun glistened upon his hair ; with one hand he shaded his eyes to look abroad , and he kept slowly rolling his head from side to side , with the regularity of a machine . The lads exchanged glances . `` Let us try to the left , '' said Dick . `` We had near fallen foully , Jack . '' Ten minutes afterwards they struck into a beaten path . `` Here is a piece of forest that I know not , '' Dick remarked . `` Where goeth me this track ? '' `` Let us even try , '' said Matcham . A few yards further , the path came to the top of a ridge and began to go down abruptly into a cup-shaped hollow . At the foot , out of a thick wood of flowering hawthorn , two or three roofless gables , blackened as if by fire , and a single tall chimney marked the ruins of a house . `` What may this be ? '' whispered Matcham .
`` Nay , by the mass , I know not , '' answered XXXXX .
Dick Jack clearings fire harbour hawthorn hillocks left minutes tabard