w
stood they could look forward down a long vista of beech woods
and jagged rock-strewn wilderness, all white with snow, to where
the pass opened out upon the uplands beyond. behind them they
could still catch a glimpse of the gray plains of gascony, and
could see her rivers gleaming like coils of silver in the
sunshine. as far as eye could see from among the rocky gorges
and the bristles of the pine woods there came the quick twinkle
and glitter of steel, while the wind brought with it sudden
distant bursts of martial music from the great host which rolled
by every road and by-path towards the narrow pass of
roncesvalles. on the cliffs on either side might also be seen
the flash of arms and the waving of pennons where the force of
navarre looked down upon the army of strangers who passed
through their territories.
"by saint paul!" said sir nigel, blinking up at them, "i think
that we have much to hope for from these cavaliers, for they
cluster very thickly upon our flanks. pass word to the men,
aylward, that they unsling their bows, for i have no doubt that
there are some very worthy gentlemen yonder who may give us some
opportunity for honorable advancement."
"i hear that the prince hath the king of navarre as hostage,"
said alleyne, "and it is said that he hath sworn to put him to
death if there be any attack upon us."
"it was not so that war was made when good king edward first
turned his hand to it," said sir nigel sadly. "ah! alleyne, i
fear that you will never live to see such things, for the minds
of men are more set upon money and gain than of old. by saint
paul! it was a noble sight when two great armies would draw
together upon a certain day, and all who had a vow would ride
forth to discharge themselves of it. what noble spear-runnings
have i not seen, and even in an humble way had a part in, when
cavaliers would run a course for the easing of their souls and
for the love of their ladies! never a bad word have i for the
french, for, though i have ridden twenty times up to their array,
i have never yet failed to find some very gentle and worthy
knight or squire who was willing to do what he might to enable me
to attempt some small feat of arms. then, when all cavaliers had
been satisfied, the two armies would come to hand-strokes, and
fight right merrily until one or other had the vantage. by saint
paul! it was not our wont in those days to pay gold for the
opening of passes, nor would we hold a king as hostage lest his
people come to thrusts with us. in good sooth, if the war is to
be carried out in such a fashion, then it is grief to me that i
ever came away from castle twynham, for i would not have left my
sweet lady had i not thought that there were deeds of arms to be
done."
"but surely, my fair lord," said alleyne, "you have done some
great feats of arms since we left the lady loring."
"i cannot call any to mind," answered sir nigel.
"there was the taking of the sea-rovers, and the holding of the
keep against the jacks."
"nay, nay," said the knight, "these were not feats of arms, but
mere wayside ventures and the chances of travel. by saint paul!
if it were not that these hills are over-steep for pommers, i
would ride to these cavaliers of navarre and see if there were
not some among them who would help me to take this patch from
mine eye. it is a sad sight to see this very fine pass, which my
own company here could hold against an army, and yet to ride
through it with as little profit as though it were the lane from
my kennels to the avon."
all morning sir nigel rode in a very ill-humor, with his company
tramping behind him. it was a toilsome march over broken ground
and through snow, which came often as high as the knee, yet ere
the sun had begun to sink they had reached the spot where the
gorge opens out on to the uplands of navarre, and could see the
towers of pampeluna jutting up against the southern sky-line.
here the company were quartered in a scattered mountain hamlet,
and alleyne spent the day looking down upon the swarming army
which poured with gleam of spears and flaunt of standards through
the narrow pass.
"hola, mon gar.," said aylward, seating himself upon a boulder by
his side. "this is indeed a fine sight upon which it is good to
look, and a man might go far ere he would see so many brave men
and fine horses. by my hilt! our little lord is wroth because we
have come peacefully through the passes, but i will warrant him
that we have fighting enow ere we turn our faces northward again.
it is said that there are four-score thousand men behind the king
of spain, with du guesclin and all the best lances of france, who
have sworn to shed their heart's blood ere this pedro come again
to the throne."
"yet our own army is a great one," said alleyne.
"nay, there are but seve
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