ch which turns every _v_ into a
_b_. "but you know what these islanders of yours are, sir nigel.
they will not be led by any save their own blood and race. there
is no persuading them. not even i, claude letour seigneur of
montchateau, master of the high justice, the middle and the low,
could gain their favor. they must needs hold a council and put
their two hundred thick heads together, and then there comes this
fellow aylward and another, as their spokesmen, to say that they
will disband unless an englishman of good name be set over them.
there are many of them, as i understand, who come from some great
forest which lies in hampi, or hampti--i cannot lay my tongue to
the name. your dwelling is in those parts, and so their thoughts
turned to you as their leader. but we had hoped that you would
bring a hundred men with you."
"they are already at dax, where we shall join them," said sir
nigel. "but let the men break their fast, and we shall then take
counsel what to do."
"come into my hut," said sir claude. "it is but poor fare that i
can lay before you--milk, cheese, wine, and bacon--yet your
squire and yourself will doubtless excuse it. this is my house
where the pennon flies before the door--a small residence to
contain the lord of montchateau."
sir nigel sat silent and distrait at his meal, while alleyne
hearkened to the clattering tongue of the gascon, and to his talk
of the glories of his own estate, his successes in love, and his
triumphs in war.
"and now that you are here, sir nigel," he said at last, "i have
many fine ventures all ready for us. i have heard that montpezat
is of no great strength, and that there are two hundred thousand
crowns in the castle. at castelnau also there is a cobbler who
is in my pay, and who will throw us a rope any dark night from
his house by the town wall. i promise you that you shall thrust
your arms elbow-deep among good silver pieces ere the nights are
moonless again; for on every hand of us are fair women, rich
wine, and good plunder, as much as heart could wish."
"i have other plans," answered sir nigel curtly; "for i have come
hither to lead these bowmen to the help of the prince, our
master, who may have sore need of them ere he set pedro upon the
throne of spain. it is my purpose to start this very day for dax
upon the adour, where he hath now pitched his camp."
the face of the gascon darkened, and his eyes flashed with
resentment, "for me," he said, "i care little for this war, and i
find the life which i lead a very joyous and pleasant one. i
will not go to dax."
"nay, think again, sir claude," said sir nigel gently; "for you
have ever had the name of a true and loyal knight. surely you
will not hold back now when your master hath need of you."
"i will not go to dax," the other shouted.
"but your devoir--your oath of fealty?"
"i say that i will not go."
"then, sir claude, i must lead the company without you."
"if they will follow," cried the gascon with a sneer. "these are
not hired slaves, but free companions, who will do nothing save
by their own good wills. in very sooth, my lord loring, they are
ill men to trifle with, and it were easier to pluck a bone from a
hungry bear than to lead a bowman out of a land of plenty and of
pleasure."
"then i pray you to gather them together," said sir nigel, "and i
will tell them what is in my mind; for if i am their leader they
must to dax, and if i am not then i know not what i am doing in
auvergne. have my horse ready, alleyne; for, by st. paul! come
what may, i must be upon the homeward road ere mid-day."
a blast upon the bugle summoned the bowmen to counsel, and they
gathered in little knots and groups around a great fallen tree
which lay athwart the glade. sir nigel sprang lightly upon the
trunk, and stood with blinking eye and firm lips looking down at
the ring of upturned warlike faces.
"they tell me, bowmen," said he, "that ye have grown so fond of
ease and plunder and high living that ye are not to be moved from
this pleasant country. but, by saint paul! i will believe no
such thing of you, for i can readily see that you are all very
valiant men, who would scorn to live here in peace when your
prince hath so great a venture before him. ye have chosen me as
a leader, and a leader i will be if ye come with me to spain; and
i vow to you that my pennon of the five roses shall, if god give
me strength and life, be ever where there is most honor to be
gained. but if it be your wish to loll and loiter in these
glades, bartering glory and renown for vile gold and ill-gotten
riches, then ye must find another leader; for i have lived in
honor, and in honor i trust that i shall die. if there be forest
men or hampshire men amongst ye, i call upon them to say whether
they will follow the banner of
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