For a little while she was silent . Then , very suddenly , she asked : `` My uncle ? '' `` My Lord Risingham ? '' returned Dick . `` I would I had good news to give you , madam ; but I have none . I saw him once in the battle , and once only . Let us hope the best . '' CHAPTER V -- NIGHT IN THE WOODS : ALICIA RISINGHAM It was almost certain that Sir Daniel had made for the Moat House ; but , considering the heavy snow , the lateness of the hour , and the necessity under which he would lie of avoiding the few roads and striking across the wood , it was equally certain that he could not hope to reach it ere the morrow . There were two courses open to Dick ; either to continue to follow in the knight 's trail , and , if he were able , to fall upon him that very night in camp , or to strike out a path of his own , and seek to place himself between Sir Daniel and his destination . Either scheme was open to serious objection , and Dick , who feared to expose Joanna to the hazards of a fight , had not yet decided between them when he reached the borders of the wood . At this point Sir Daniel had turned a little to his left , and then plunged straight under a grove of very lofty timber . His party had then formed to a narrower front , in order to pass between the trees , and the track was trod proportionally deeper in the snow . The eye followed it under the leafless tracery of the oaks , running direct and narrow ; the trees stood over it , with knotty joints and the great , uplifted forest of their boughs ; there was no sound , whether of man or beast -- not so much as the stirring of a robin ; and over the field of snow the winter sun lay golden among netted shadows . `` How say ye , '' asked Dick of one of the men , `` to follow straight on , or strike across for Tunstall ? '' `` Sir Richard , '' replied the man-at-arms , `` I would follow the line until they scatter . '' `` Ye are , doubtless , right , '' returned Dick ; `` but we came right hastily upon the errand , even as the time commanded . Here are no houses , neither for food nor shelter , and by the morrow 's dawn we shall know both cold fingers and an empty belly . How say ye , lads ? Will ye stand a pinch for expedition 's sake , or shall we turn by Holywood and sup with Mother Church ? The case being somewhat doubtful , I will drive no man ; yet if ye would suffer me to lead you , ye would choose the first . ''
The men answered , almost with one voice , that they would follow Sir XXXXX where he would .
Daniel Dick House NIGHT Richard Risingham lateness left man-at-arms tracery