And here they paused and looked upon each other . `` Y ' are weary ? '' Dick said . `` Nay , I am so weary , '' answered Matcham , `` that methinks I could lie down and die . '' `` I hear the chiding of a river , '' returned Dick . `` Let us go so far forth , for I am sore athirst . '' The ground sloped down gently ; and , sure enough , in the bottom , they found a little murmuring river , running among willows . Here they threw themselves down together by the brink ; and putting their mouths to the level of a starry pool , they drank their fill . `` Dick , '' said Matcham , `` it may not be . I can no more . '' `` I saw a pit as we came down , '' said Dick . `` Let us lie down therein and sleep . '' `` Nay , but with all my heart ! '' cried Matcham . The pit was sandy and dry ; a shock of brambles hung upon one hedge , and made a partial shelter ; and there the two lads lay down , keeping close together for the sake of warmth , their quarrel all forgotten . And soon sleep fell upon them like a cloud , and under the dew and stars they rested peacefully . CHAPTER VII -- THE HOODED FACE They awoke in the grey of the morning ; the birds were not yet in full song , but twittered here and there among the woods ; the sun was not yet up , but the eastern sky was barred with solemn colours . Half starved and over-weary as they were , they lay without moving , sunk in a delightful lassitude . And as they thus lay , the clang of a bell fell suddenly upon their ears . `` A bell ! ''
said XXXXX , sitting up .
Dick Matcham VII athirst cloud colours dew lassitude methinks morning