The Black Arrow: A Tale of the Two Roses Read online

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  THE BLACK ARROW

  A TALE OF THE TWO ROSES

  ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON

  ILLUSTRATED BY N. C. WYETH

  NEW YORK

  CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS

  MCMXXXIII

  COPYRIGHT, 1916, BY

  CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS

  Printed in the United States of America

  _All rights reserved._

  _No part of this book may be reproduced in any form withoutthe permission of Charles Scribner's Sons._

  CRITIC ON THE HEARTH:

  No one but myself knows what I have suffered, nor what my books havegained, by your unsleeping watchfulness and admirable pertinacity. Andnow here is a volume that goes into the world and lacks your_imprimatur_: a strange thing in our joint lives; and the reason of itstranger still! I have watched with interest, with pain, and at lengthwith amusement, your unavailing attempts to peruse _The Black Arrow_;and I think I should lack humour indeed, if I let the occasion slip anddid not place your name in the fly-leaf of the only book of mine thatyou have never read--and never will read.

  That others may display more constancy is still my hope. The tale waswritten years ago for a particular audience and (I may say) in rivalrywith a particular author; I think I should do well to name him, Mr.Alfred R. Phillips. It was not without its reward at the time. I couldnot, indeed, displace Mr. Phillips from his well-won priority; but inthe eyes of readers who thought less than nothing of _Treasure Island_,_The Black Arrow_ was supposed to mark a clear advance. Those who readvolumes and those who read story papers belong to different worlds. Theverdict on _Treasure Island_ was reversed in the other court; I wonder,will it be the same with its successor?

  R. L. S.

  SARANAC LAKE, April 8, 1888

  CONTENTS

  PROLOGUE

  PAGE

  JOHN AMEND-ALL 3

  BOOK I

  THE TWO LADS

  CHAPTER

  I. AT THE SIGN OF THE SUN IN KETTLEY 25

  II. IN THE FEN 36

  III. THE FEN FERRY 44

  IV. A GREENWOOD COMPANY 54

  V. "BLOODY AS THE HUNTER" 64

  VI. TO THE DAY'S END 75

  VII. THE HOODED FACE 84

  BOOK II

  THE MOAT HOUSE

  I. DICK ASKS QUESTIONS 97

  II. THE TWO OATHS 108

  III. THE ROOM OVER THE CHAPEL 118

  IV. THE PASSAGE 127

  V. HOW DICK CHANGED SIDES 133

  BOOK III

  MY LORD FOXHAM

  I. THE HOUSE BY THE SHORE 147

  II. A SKIRMISH IN THE DARK 156

  III. ST. BRIDE'S CROSS 164

  IV. THE "GOOD HOPE" 169

  V. THE "GOOD HOPE" (_Continued_) 180

  VI. THE "GOOD HOPE" (_Concluded_) 188

  BOOK IV

  THE DISGUISE

  I. THE DEN 197

  II. "IN MINE ENEMIES' HOUSE" 206

  III. THE DEAD SPY 218

  IV. IN THE ABBEY CHURCH 228

  V. EARL RISINGHAM 240

  VI. ARBLASTER AGAIN 245

  BOOK V

  CROOKBACK

  I. THE SHRILL TRUMPET 261

  II. THE BATTLE OF SHOREBY 270

  III. THE BATTLE OF SHOREBY (_Concluded_) 279

  IV. THE SACK OF SHOREBY 285

  V. NIGHT IN THE WOODS: ALICIA RISINGHAM 298

  VI. NIGHT IN THE WOODS (_Concluded_): DICK AND JOAN 308

  VII. DICK'S REVENGE 320

  VIII. CONCLUSION 325