wit of man had yet

devised, thrusting forth from behind their shoulders. from each

man's girdle hung sword or axe, according to his humor, and over

the right hip there jutted out the leathern quiver with its

bristle of goose, pigeon, and peacock feathers. behind the

bowmen strode two trumpeters blowing upon nakirs, and two

drummers in parti-colored clothes. after them came twenty-seven

sumpter horses carrying tent-poles, cloth, spare arms, spurs,

wedges, cooking kettles, horse-shoes, bags of nails and the

hundred other things which experience had shown to be needful in

a harried and hostile country. a white mule with red trappings,

led by a varlet, carried sir nigel's own napery and table

comforts. then came two-score more archers, ten more men-at-

arms, and finally a rear guard of twenty bowmen, with big john

towering in the front rank and the veteran aylward marching by

the side, his battered harness and faded surcoat in strange

contrast with the snow-white jupons and shining brigandines of

his companions. a quick cross-fire of greetings and questions

and rough west saxon jests flew from rank to rank, or were

bandied about betwixt the marching archers and the gazing crowd.

"hola, gaffer higginson!" cried aylward, as he spied the portly

figure of the village innkeeper. "no more of thy nut-brown, mon

gar. we leave it behind us."

"by st. paul, no!" cried the other. "you take it with you.

devil a drop have you left in the great kilderkin. it was time

for you to go."

"if your cask is leer, i warrant your purse is full, gaffer,"

shouted hordle john. "see that you lay in good store of the best

for our home-coming."

"see that you keep your throat whole for the drinking of it

archer," cried a voice, and the crowd laughed at the rough

pleasantry.

"if you will warrant the beer, i will warrant the throat," said

john composedly.

"close up the ranks!" cried aylward. "en avant, mes enfants!

ah, by my finger bones, there is my sweet mary from the priory

mill! ma foi, but she is beautiful! adieu, mary ma cherie! mon

coeur est toujours a toi. brace your belt, watkins, man, and

swing your shoulders as a free companion should. by my hilt!

your jerkins will be as dirty as mine ere you clap eyes on

hengistbury head again."

the company had marched to the turn of the road ere sir nigel

loring rode out from the gateway, mounted on pommers, his great

black war-horse, whose ponderous footfall on the wooden

drawbridge echoed loudly from the gloomy arch which spanned it.

sir nigel was still in his velvet dress of peace, with flat

velvet cap of maintenance, and curling ostrich feather clasped in

a golden brooch. to his three squires riding behind him it

looked as though he bore the bird's egg as well as its feather,

for the back of his bald pate shone like a globe of ivory. he

bore no arms save the long and heavy sword which hung at his

saddle-bow; but terlake carried in front of him the high wivern-

crested bassinet, ford the heavy ash spear with swallow-tail

pennon, while alleyne was entrusted with the emblazoned shield.

the lady loring rode her palfrey at her lord's bridle-arm, for

she would see him as far as the edge of the forest, and ever and

anon she turned her hard-lined face up wistfully to him and ran a

questioning eye over his apparel and appointments

"i trust that there is nothing forgot," she said, beckoning to

alleyne to ride on her further side. "i trust him to you,

edricson. hosen, shirts, cyclas, and under-jupons are in the

brown basket on the left side of the mule. his wine he takes hot

when the nights are cold, malvoisie or vernage, with as much

spice as would cover the thumb-nail. see that he hath a change

if he come back hot from the tilting. there is goose-grease in a

box, if the old scars ache at the turn of the weather. let his

blankets be dry and----"

"nay, my heart's life," the little knight interrupted, "trouble

not now about such matters. why so pale and wan, edricson? is it

not enow to make a man's heart dance to see this noble company,

such valiant men-at-arms, such lusty archers? by st. paul! i

would be ill to please if i were not blithe to see the red roses

flying at the head of so noble a following!"

"the purse i have already given you, edricson," continue the

lady. "there are in it twenty-three marks, one noble, three

shillings and fourpence, which is a great treasure for one man to

carry. and i pray you to bear in mind, edricson, that he hath

two pair of shoes, those of red leather for common use, and the

others with golden toe-chains, which he may wear should he chance

to drink wine with the prince or with chandos."

"my sweet bird," said sir nigel, "i am right loth to part from

you, but we are now at the fringe of the forest, and it is not

right that i should take the chatelain