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 without the permission of Charles Scribner’s Sons.
No one but myself knows what I have suffered, nor what my books have gained, by your unsleeping watchfulness and admirable pertinacity. And now here is a volume that goes into the world and lacks your imprimatur : a strange thing in our joint lives; and the reason of it stranger still! I have watched with interest, with pain, and at length with amusement, your unavailing attempts to peruse The Black Arrow ; and I think I should lack humour indeed, if I let the occasion slip and did not place your name in the fly-leaf of the only book of mine that you have never read—and never will read.
That others may display more constancy is still my hope. The tale was written years ago for a particular audience and (I may say) in rivalry with 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 could not, indeed, displace Mr. Phillips from his well-won priority; but in the eyes of readers who thought less than nothing of Treasure Island , The Black Arrow was supposed to mark a clear advance. Those who read volumes and those who read story papers belong to different worlds. The verdict 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
Robert Louis Stevenson
---
THE BLACK ARROW
A TALE OF THE TWO ROSES
Critic on the Hearth:
CONTENTS
Prologue
ILLUSTRATIONS
PROLOGUE
JOHN AMEND-ALL
CHAPTER I
AT THE SIGN OF THE SUN IN KETTLEY
CHAPTER II
IN THE FEN
CHAPTER III
THE FEN FERRY
CHAPTER IV
A GREENWOOD COMPANY
CHAPTER V
“BLOODY AS THE HUNTER”
CHAPTER VI
TO THE DAY’S END
CHAPTER VII
THE HOODED FACE
CHAPTER I
DICK ASKS QUESTIONS
CHAPTER II
THE TWO OATHS
CHAPTER III
THE ROOM OVER THE CHAPEL
CHAPTER IV
THE PASSAGE
CHAPTER V
HOW DICK CHANGED SIDES
CHAPTER I
THE HOUSE BY THE SHORE
CHAPTER II
A SKIRMISH IN THE DARK
CHAPTER III
ST. BRIDE’S CROSS
CHAPTER IV
THE “GOOD HOPE”
CHAPTER V
CHAPTER VI
CHAPTER I
THE DEN
CHAPTER II
“IN MINE ENEMIES’ HOUSE”
CHAPTER III
THE DEAD SPY
CHAPTER IV
IN THE ABBEY CHURCH
CHAPTER V
EARL RISINGHAM
CHAPTER VI
ARBLASTER AGAIN
CHAPTER I
THE SHRILL TRUMPET
CHAPTER II
THE BATTLE OF SHOREBY
CHAPTER III
CHAPTER IV
THE SACK OF SHOREBY
CHAPTER V
NIGHT IN THE WOODS: ALICIA RISINGHAM
CHAPTER VI
NIGHT IN THE WOODS (CONCLUDED): DICK AND JOAN
CHAPTER VII
DICK’S REVENGE
CHAPTER VIII
CONCLUSION
