`` Beast ! '' he hissed -- `` beast and no man ! It is worse than treachery to be so witless . We may all be shent for thy sotting . '' But Lawless only laughed and staggered , and tried to clap young Shelton on the back . And just then Dick 's quick ear caught a rapid brushing in the arras . He leaped towards the sound , and the next moment a piece of the wall-hanging had been torn down , and Dick and the spy were sprawling together in its folds . Over and over they rolled , grappling for each other 's throat , and still baffled by the arras , and still silent in their deadly fury . But Dick was by much the stronger , and soon the spy lay prostrate under his knee , and , with a single stroke of the long poniard , ceased to breathe . CHAPTER III -- THE DEAD SPY Throughout this furious and rapid passage , Lawless had looked on helplessly , and even when all was over , and Dick , already re-arisen to his feet , was listening with the most passionate attention to the distant bustle in the lower storeys of the house , the old outlaw was still wavering on his legs like a shrub in a breeze of wind , and still stupidly staring on the face of the dead man . `` It is well , '' said Dick , at length ; `` they have not heard us , praise the saints ! But , now , what shall I do with this poor spy ? At least , I will take my tassel from his wallet . '' So saying , Dick opened the wallet ; within he found a few pieces of money , the tassel , and a letter addressed to Lord Wensleydale , and sealed with my Lord Shoreby 's seal . The name awoke Dick 's recollection ; and he instantly broke the wax and read the contents of the letter . It was short , but , to Dick 's delight , it gave evident proof that Lord Shoreby was treacherously corresponding with the House of York . The young fellow usually carried his ink-horn and implements about him , and so now , bending a knee beside the body of the dead spy , he was able to write these words upon a corner of the paper : My Lord of Shoreby , ye that writt the letter , wot ye why your man is ded ? But let me rede you , marry not . JON AMEND-ALL . He laid this paper on the breast of the corpse ; and then Lawless , who had been looking on upon these last manoeuvres with some flickering returns of intelligence , suddenly drew a black arrow from below his robe , and therewith pinned the paper in its place .
The sight of this disrespect , or , as it almost seemed , cruelty to the dead , XXXXX a cry of horror from young Shelton ; but the old outlaw only laughed .
caught drew implements leaped opened rolled sealed sprawling staggered torn