han to be polluted by his
touch," answered the spaniard, with his black eyes sparkling with
rage and hatred. "i trust that i am now the prisoner of some
honorable knight or gentleman."
"you are the prisoner of the man who took you, sir diego,"
answered sir nigel. "and i may tell you that better men than
either you or i have found themselves before now prisoners in the
hands of archers of england."
"what ransom, then, does he demand?" asked the spaniard.
big john scratched his red head and grinned in high delight when
the question was propounded to him. "tell him," said he, "that i
shall have ten cows and a bull too, if it be but a little one.
also a dress of blue sendall for mother and a red one for joan;
with five acres of pasture-land, two scythes, and a fine new
grindstone. likewise a small house, with stalls for the cows,
and thirty-six gallons of beer for the thirsty weather."
"tut, tut!" cried sir nigel, laughing. "all these things may be
had for money; and i think, don diego, that five thousand crowns
is not too much for so renowned a knight."
"it shall be duly paid him."
"for some days we must keep you with us; and i must crave leave
also to use your shield, your armor, and your horse."
"my harness is yours by the law of arms," said the spaniard,
gloomily.
"i do but ask the loan of it. i have need of it this day, but it
shall be duly returned to you. set guards, aylward, with arrow
on string, at either end of the pass; for it may happen that some
other cavaliers may visit us ere the time be come." all day the
little band of englishmen lay in the sheltered gorge, looking
down upon the vast host of their unconscious enemies. shortly
after mid-day, a great uproar of shouting and cheering broke out
in the camp, with mustering of men and calling of bugles.
clambering up among the rocks, the companions saw a long rolling
cloud of dust along the whole eastern sky-line, with the glint
of spears and the flutter of pennons, which announced the
approach of a large body of cavalry, for a moment a wild hope
came upon them that perhaps the prince had moved more swiftly
than had been planned, that he had crossed the ebro, and that
this was his vanguard sweeping to the attack.
"surely i see the red pile of chandos at the head of yonder
squadron!" cried sir richard causton, shading his eyes with his
hand.
"not so," answered sir simon burley, who had watched the
approaching host with a darkening face. "it is even as i feared.
that is the double eagle of du guesclin."
"you say very truly," cried the earl of angus. "these are the
levies of france, for i can see the ensigns of the marshal
d'andreghen, with that of the lord of antoing and of briseuil,
and of many another from brittany and anjou."
"by st. paul! i am very glad of it," said sir nigel. "of these
spaniards i know nothing; but the french are very worthy
gentlemen, and will do what they can for our advancement."
"there are at the least four thousand of them, and all men-at-
arms," cried sir william felton. "see, there is bertrand
himself, beside his banner, and there is king henry, who rides to
welcome him. now they all turn and come into the camp together."
as he spoke, the vast throng of spaniards and of frenchmen
trooped across the plain, with brandished arms and tossing
banners. all day long the sound of revelry and of rejoicing from
the crowded camp swelled up to the ears of the englishmen, and
they could see the soldiers of the two nations throwing
themselves into each other's arms and dancing hand-in-hand round
the blazing fires. the sun had sunk behind a cloud-bank in the
west before sir nigel at last gave word that the men should
resume their arms and have their horses ready. he had himself
thrown off his armor, and had dressed himself from head to foot
in the harness of the captured spaniard.
"sir william," said he, "it is my intention to attempt a small
deed, and i ask you therefore that you will lead this outfall
upon the camp. for me, i will ride into their camp with my
squire and two archers. i pray you to watch me, and to ride
forth when i am come among the tents. you will leave twenty men
behind here, as we planned this morning, and you will ride back
here after you have ventured as far as seems good to you."
"i will do as you order, nigel; but what is it that you propose
to do?"
"you will see anon, and indeed it is but a trifling matter.
alleyne, you will come with me, and lead a spare horse by the
bridle. i will have the two archers who rode with us through
france, for they are trusty men and of stout heart. let them
ride behind us, and let them leave their bows here among the
bushes for it is not my wish that they should know that we are
englishmen. say no word to any whom we may meet, and, if any
speak to yo
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