Come winter again , with wind and rain -- Come winter , with snow and sleet , Get home to your places , with hoods on your faces , And sit by the fire and eat . '' All this while the two lads had listened and lain close ; only Richard had unslung his cross-bow , and held ready in one hand the windac , or grappling-iron that he used to bend it . Otherwise they had not dared to stir ; and this scene of forest life had gone on before their eyes like a scene upon a theatre . But now there came a strange interruption . The tall chimney which over-topped the remainder of the ruins rose right above their hiding-place . There came a whistle in the air , and then a sounding smack , and the fragments of a broken arrow fell about their ears . Some one from the upper quarters of the wood , perhaps the very sentinel they saw posted in the fir , had shot an arrow at the chimney-top . Matcham could not restrain a little cry , which he instantly stifled , and even Dick started with surprise , and dropped the windac from his fingers . But to the fellows on the lawn , this shaft was an expected signal . They were all afoot together , tightening their belts , testing their bow-strings , loosening sword and dagger in the sheath . Ellis held up his hand ; his face had suddenly assumed a look of savage energy ; the white of his eyes shone in his sun-brown face . `` Lads , '' he said , `` ye know your places . Let not one man 's soul escape you . Appleyard was a whet before a meal ; but now we go to table . I have three men whom I will bitterly avenge -- Harry Shelton , Simon Malmesbury , and '' -- striking his broad bosom -- `` and Ellis Duckworth , by the mass ! '' Another man came , red with hurry , through the thorns . '' 'T is not Sir Daniel ! '' he panted . `` They are but seven . Is the arrow gone ? ''
`` It struck but now , '' replied XXXXX .
Daniel Ellis Malmesbury Matcham chimney-top dagger fire hiding-place right windac