The Black Arrow: A Tale of the Two Roses
Robert Louis Stevenson
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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
