l

exchange thrusts with him. but we must keep to this road upon

the left."

"nay, my fair lord," quoth aylward. "the road to montaubon is

over the river, and so through quercy and the agenois."

"true, my good aylward; but i have learned from this worthy

knight, who hath come over the french marches, that there is a

company of englishmen who are burning and plundering in the

country round villefranche. i have little doubt, from what he

says, that they are those whom we seek."

"by my hilt! it is like enough," said aylward. "by all accounts

they had been so long at montaubon, that there would be little

there worth the taking. then as they have already been in the

south, they would come north to the country of the aveyron."

"we shall follow the lot until we come to cahors, and then cross

the marches into villefranche," said sir nigel. "by st. paul! as

we are but a small band, it is very likely that we may have some

very honorable and pleasing adventure, for i hear that there is

little peace upon the french border."

all morning they rode down a broad and winding road, barred with

the shadows of poplars. sir nigel rode in front with his

squires, while the two archers followed behind with the sumpter

mule between them. they had left aiguillon and the garonne far

to the south, and rode now by the tranquil lot, which curves blue

and placid through a gently rolling country. alleyne could not

but mark that, whereas in guienne there had been many townlets

and few castles, there were now many castles and few houses. on

either hand gray walls and square grim keeps peeped out at every

few miles from amid the forests while the few villages which they

passed were all ringed round with rude walls, which spoke of the

constant fear and sudden foray of a wild frontier land. twice

during the morning there came bands of horsemen swooping down

upon them from the black gateways of wayside strongholds, with

short, stern questions as to whence they came and what their

errand. bands of armed men clanked along the highway, and the

few lines of laden mules which carried the merchandise of the

trader were guarded by armed varlets, or by archers hired for the

service.

"the peace of bretigny hath not made much change in these parts,"

quoth sir nigel, "for the country is overrun with free companions

and masterless men. yonder towers, between the wood and the

hill, mark the town of cahors, and beyond it is the land of

france. but here is a man by the wayside, and as he hath two

horses and a squire i make little doubt that he is a knight. i

pray you, alleyne, to give him greeting from me, and to ask him

for his titles and coat-armor. it may be that i can relieve him

of some vow, or perchance he hath a lady whom he would wish to

advance."

"nay, my fair lord," said alleyne, "these are not horses and a

squire, but mules and a varlet. the man is a mercer, for he hath

a great bundle beside him."

"now, god's blessing on your honest english voice!" cried the

stranger, pricking up his ears at the sound of alleyne's words.

"never have i heard music that was so sweet to mine ear. come,

watkin lad, throw the bales over laura's back! my heart was nigh

broke, for it seemed that i had left all that was english behind

me, and that i would never set eyes upon norwich market square

again." he was a tall, lusty, middle-aged man with a ruddy face,

a brown forked beard shot with gray, and a broad flanders hat set

at the back of his head. his servant, as tall as himself, but

gaunt and raw-boned, had swung the bales on the back of one mule,

while the merchant mounted upon the other and rode to join the

party. it was easy to see, as he approached, from the quality

of his dress and the richness of his trappings, that he was a man

of some wealth and position.

"sir knight," said he, "my name is david micheldene, and i am a

burgher and alderman of the good town of norwich, where i live

five doors from the church of our lady, as all men know on the

banks of yare. i have here my bales of cloth which i carry to

cahors--woe worth the day that ever i started on such an errand!

i crave your gracious protection upon the way for me, my servant,

and my mercery; for i have already had many perilous passages,

and have now learned that roger club-foot, the robber-knight of

quercy, is out upon the road in front of me. i hereby agree to

give you one rose-noble if you bring me safe to the inn of the

'angel' in cahors, the same to be repaid to me or my heirs if any

harm come to me or my goods."

"by saint paul!" answered sir nigel, "i should be a sorry knight

if i ask pay for standing by a countryman in a strange land. you

may ride with me and welcome, master micheldene, and your varlet

may follow with my archers."

"god's benison upon thy bounty!" cried the stranger. "sho