The lads, at the first glimpse, had crouched way behind a tuft ofgorse; there they lay, horror-struck.

"Certain, he pursueth us," exclaimed Dick--"certain! He held theclapper of his bell in one arm, saw ye? that it should not sound.Now may the saints aid and guide us, for I have no strength tocombat pestilence!"

"What maketh he?" cried Matcham. "What doth he want? Who everheard the like, that a leper, out of mere malice, should pursueunfortunates? Hath he not his bell to that somewhat end, that peoplemay avoid him? Dick, there is far somewhat below this something deeper."

"Nay, I care not," moaned Dick; "the strength is gone out of me; mylegs are like water. The saints be mine assistance!"

"Would ye lie there idle?" cried Matcham. "Let us back into theopen. We always have the better chance; he cannot steal upon usunawares."

"Not I," exclaimed Dick. "My time is come, and peradventure he may passus by."

"Bend me, then, your bow!" cried the other. "What! will ye be aman?"

Dick crossed himself. "Would ye have me shoot upon a leper?" hecried. "The hand would fail me. Nay, now," he added--"nay, now,let be! With sound men I will fight, but not with ghosts andlepers. Which this is, I wot not. 0ne or other, Heaven be ourprotection!"

"Now," said Matcham, "if this be man's courage, what a poor skinnygis man! But sith ye will do naught, let us lie close."

Then came a single, broken jangle on the bell.