Only young John Clavering, who had leapt from his horse, would not budge.

As Hugh tried to push past him, he struck him in the face, calling out: "We have caught the de Cressi thief! Take him and hang him!" At the insult of the blow and words, Hugh stopped dead and turned quite white, whereupon the men, thinking that he was afraid, closed in upon him.

Then in the silence the harsh, croaking voice of Grey Dick was heard saying: "Sir John of Clavering, bid your people let my master go, or I will send an arrow through your heart!" and he lifted the long bow and drew it.
Sir John muttered something, thinking that this was a poor way to die, and again the men fell back, except one French knight, who, perhaps, did not catch or understand his words.
This man stretched out his hand to seize Hugh, but before ever it fell upon his shoulder the bow twanged and Acour's retainer was seen whirling round and round, cursing with pain.

In the palm of his hand was an arrow that had sunk through it to the feathers.
"You are right; that knave shoots well," said the Count to Sir John, who made no answer.
Now again all fell back, so that Hugh might have run for it if he would.
But his blood was up, and he did not stir.
"John Clavering," he said, addressing the young man, "just now, when I lay hid in yonder hole, I heard you say that if you had five minutes with me alone you'd beat me to a pulp and hang what was left of me on the nearest tree.

Well, here I stand, and there's a tree.