There was no need for a lamp to walk by ; nor , in that still but ringing air , the least temptation to delay . Dick had crossed the greater part of the open ground between Shoreby and the forest , and had reached the bottom of the little hill , some hundred yards below the Cross of St. Bride , when , through the stillness of the black morn , there rang forth the note of a trumpet , so shrill , clear , and piercing , that he thought he had never heard the match of it for audibility . It was blown once , and then hurriedly a second time ; and then the clash of steel succeeded . At this young Shelton pricked his ears , and drawing his sword , ran forward up the hill . Presently he came in sight of the cross , and was aware of a most fierce encounter raging on the road before it . There were seven or eight assailants , and but one to keep head against them ; but so active and dexterous was this one , so desperately did he charge and scatter his opponents , so deftly keep his footing on the ice , that already , before Dick could intervene , he had slain one , wounded another , and kept the whole in check . Still , it was by a miracle that he continued his defence , and at any moment , any accident , the least slip of foot or error of hand , his life would be a forfeit . `` Hold ye well , sir ! Here is help ! '' cried Richard ; and forgetting that he was alone , and that the cry was somewhat irregular , `` To the Arrow ! to the Arrow ! '' he shouted , as he fell upon the rear of the assailants . These were stout fellows also , for they gave not an inch at this surprise , but faced about , and fell with astonishing fury upon Dick . Four against one , the steel flashed about him in the starlight ; the sparks flew fiercely ; one of the men opposed to him fell -- in the stir of the fight he hardly knew why ; then he himself was struck across the head , and though the steel cap below his hood protected him , the blow beat him down upon one knee , with a brain whirling like a windmill sail . Meanwhile the man whom he had come to rescue , instead of joining in the conflict , had , on the first sign of intervention , leaped aback and blown again , and yet more urgently and loudly , on that same shrill-voiced trumpet that began the alarm . Next moment , indeed , his foes were on him , and he was once more charging and fleeing , leaping , stabbing , dropping to his knee , and using indifferently sword and dagger , foot and hand , with the same unshaken courage and feverish energy and speed . But that ear-piercing summons had been heard at last . There was a muffled rushing in the snow ; and in a good hour for Dick , who saw the sword-points glitter already at his throat , there poured forth out of the wood upon both sides a disorderly torrent of mounted men-at-arms , each cased in iron , and with visor lowered , each bearing his lance in rest , or his sword bared and raised , and each carrying , so to speak , a passenger , in the shape of an archer or page , who leaped one after another from their perches , and had presently doubled the array . The original assailants ; seeing themselves outnumbered and surrounded , threw down their arms without a word . `` Seize me these fellows ! ''
said the hero of the trumpet ; and when his order had been obeyed , he drew near to XXXXX and looked him in the face .
Bride Dick accident archer dagger first morn perches second visor