Y ' are now to see a new Sir Daniel ; for heretofore hath all prospered in his hands exceedingly , and fortune followed him ; but now , methinks , when his fate hath come upon him , and he runs the adventure of his life , he will prove but a foul lord to both of us . He may be brave in battle , but he hath the liar 's eye ; there is fear in his eye , Dick , and fear is as cruel as the wolf ! We go down into that house , Saint Mary guide us forth again ! '' And so they continued their descent in silence , and came out at last before Sir Daniel 's forest stronghold , where it stood , low and shady , flanked with round towers and stained with moss and lichen , in the lilied waters of the moat . Even as they appeared , the doors were opened , the bridge lowered , and Sir Daniel himself , with Hatch and the parson at his side , stood ready to receive them . BOOK II -- THE MOAT HOUSE CHAPTER I -- DICK ASKS QUESTIONS The Moat House stood not far from the rough forest road . Externally , it was a compact rectangle of red stone , flanked at each corner by a round tower , pierced for archery and battlemented at the top . Within , it enclosed a narrow court . The moat was perhaps twelve feet wide , crossed by a single drawbridge . It was supplied with water by a trench , leading to a forest pool and commanded , through its whole length , from the battlements of the two southern towers . Except that one or two tall and thick trees had been suffered to remain within half a bowshot of the walls , the house was in a good posture for defence . In the court , Dick found a part of the garrison , busy with preparations for defence , and gloomily discussing the chances of a siege . Some were making arrows , some sharpening swords that had long been disused ; but even as they worked , they shook their heads . Twelve of Sir Daniel 's party had escaped the battle , run the gauntlet through the wood , and come alive to the Moat House . But out of this dozen , three had been gravely wounded : two at Risingham in the disorder of the rout , one by John Amend-All 's marksmen as he crossed the forest . This raised the force of the garrison , counting Hatch , Sir Daniel , and young Shelton , to twenty-two effective men . And more might be continually expected to arrive . The danger lay not therefore in the lack of men . It was the terror of the Black Arrow that oppressed the spirits of the garrison . For their open foes of the party of York , in these most changing times , they felt but a far-away concern .
`` The world , '' as people said in those days , `` might change again '' before harm XXXXX .
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