At the sight Dick paused ; and as soon as he stopped running , he became aware of a confused noise , which rapidly grew louder . It was at first like the rush of a very high gust of wind , but soon it became more definite , and resolved itself into the galloping of horses ; and then , in a flash , a whole company of men-at-arms came driving round the corner , swept before the lads , and were gone again upon the instant . They rode as for their lives , in complete disorder ; some of them were wounded ; riderless horses galloped at their side with bloody saddles . They were plainly fugitives from the great battle . The noise of their passage had scarce begun to die away towards Shoreby , before fresh hoofs came echoing in their wake , and another deserter clattered down the road ; this time a single rider and , by his splendid armour , a man of high degree . Close after him there followed several baggage-waggons , fleeing at an ungainly canter , the drivers flailing at the horses as if for life . These must have run early in the day ; but their cowardice was not to save them . For just before they came abreast of where the lads stood wondering , a man in hacked armour , and seemingly beside himself with fury , overtook the waggons , and with the truncheon of a sword , began to cut the drivers down . Some leaped from their places and plunged into the wood ; the others he sabred as they sat , cursing them the while for cowards in a voice that was scarce human . All this time the noise in the distance had continued to increase ; the rumble of carts , the clatter of horses , the cries of men , a great , confused rumour , came swelling on the wind ; and it was plain that the rout of a whole army was pouring , like an inundation , down the road . Dick stood sombre . He had meant to follow the highway till the turn for Holywood , and now he had to change his plan . But above all , he had recognised the colours of Earl Risingham , and he knew that the battle had gone finally against the rose of Lancaster . Had Sir Daniel joined , and was he now a fugitive and ruined ? or had he deserted to the side of York , and was he forfeit to honour ? It was an ugly choice . `` Come , '' he said , sternly ; and , turning on his heel , he began to walk forward through the grove , with Matcham limping in his rear . For some time they continued to thread the forest in silence . It was now growing late ; the sun was setting in the plain beyond Kettley ; the tree-tops overhead glowed golden ; but the shadows had begun to grow darker and the chill of the night to fall . `` If there were anything to eat ! ''
cried XXXXX , suddenly , pausing as he spoke .
Daniel Dick Holywood Kettley Lancaster Shoreby men-at-arms rout rumour truncheon