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 Dick 's command had simply melted at the rumour of their coming . Dick stood for a moment , bitterly recognising the fruits of his precipitate and unwise valour . Sir Daniel had seen the fire ; he had moved out with his main force , whether to attack his pursuers or to take them in the rear if they should venture the assault . His had been throughout the part of a sagacious captain ; Dick 's the conduct of an eager boy . And here was the young knight , his sweetheart , indeed , holding him tightly by the hand , but otherwise alone , his whole command of men and horses dispersed in the night and the wide forest , like a paper of pins in a bay barn . `` The saints enlighten me ! '' he thought . `` It is well I was knighted for this morning 's matter ; this doth me little honour . '' And thereupon , still holding Joanna , he began to run . The silence of the night was now shattered by the shouts of the men of Tunstall , as they galloped hither and thither , hunting fugitives ; and Dick broke boldly through the underwood and ran straight before him like a deer . The silver clearness of the moon upon the open snow increased , by contrast , the obscurity of the thickets ; and the extreme dispersion of the vanquished led the pursuers into wildly divergent paths . Hence , in but a little while , Dick and Joanna paused , in a close covert , and heard the sounds of the pursuit , scattering abroad , indeed , in all directions , but yet fainting already in the distance . `` An I had but kept a reserve of them together , '' Dick cried , bitterly , `` I could have turned the tables yet ! Well , we live and learn ; next time it shall go better , by the rood . ''
`` Nay , Dick , '' said XXXXX , `` what matters it ?
Daniel Dick Hatch Joanna attack fire rumour steeds tuckets wavering