deep voice from below. "who is this

who speaks with an english tongue?"

"it is i, old lad. it is sam aylward of the company; and here is

your captain, sir nigel loring, and four others, all laid out to

be grilled like an easterling's herrings."

"curse me if i did not think that it was the style of speech of

old samkin aylward," said the voice, amid a buzz from the ranks.

"wherever there are knocks going there is sammy in the heart of

it. but who are these ill-faced rogues who block the path? to

your kennels, canaille! what! you dare look us in the eyes? out

swords, lads, and give them the flat of them! waste not your

shafts upon such runagate knaves."

there was little fight left in the peasants, however, still dazed

by the explosion, amazed at their own losses and disheartened by

the arrival of the disciplined archers. in a very few minutes

they were in full flight for their brushwood homes, leaving the

morning sun to rise upon a blackened and blood-stained ruin,

where it had left the night before the magnificent castle of the

seneschal of auvergne. already the white lines in the east were

deepening into pink as the archers gathered round the keep and

took counsel how to rescue the survivors.

"had we a rope," said alleyne, "there is one side which is not

yet on fire, down which we might slip."

"but how to get a rope?"

"it is an old trick," quoth aylward. "hola! johnston, cast me up

a rope, even as you did at maupertius in the war time."

the grizzled archer thus addressed took several lengths of rope

from his comrades, and knotting them firmly together, he

stretched them out in the long shadow which the rising sun threw

from the frowning keep. then he fixed the yew-stave of his bow

upon end and measured the long, thin, black line which it threw

upon the turf.

"a six-foot stave throws a twelve-foot shadow," he muttered. "the

keep throws a shadow of sixty paces. thirty paces of rope will

be enow and to spare. another strand, watkin! now pull at the

end that all may be safe. so! it is ready for them.'

"but how are they to reach it?" asked the young archer beside

him.

"watch and see, young fool's-head," growled the old bowman. he

took a long string from his pouch and fastened one end to an

arrow.

"all ready, samkin?"

"ready, camarade."

"close to your hand then." with an easy pull he sent the shaft

flickering gently up, falling upon the stonework within a foot of

where aylward was standing. the other end was secured to the

rope, so that in a minute a good strong cord was dangling from

the only sound side of the blazing and shattered tower. the lady

tiphaine was lowered with a noose drawn fast under the arms, and

the other five slid swiftly down, amid the cheers and joyous

outcry of their rescuers.

chapter xxxii.

how the company took counsel round the fallen tree.

"where is sir claude latour?" asked sir nigel, as his feet

touched ground.

"he is in camp, near montpezat, two hours' march from here, my

fair lord," said johnston, the grizzled bowman who commanded the

archers.

"then we shall march thither, for i would fain have you all back

at dax in time to be in the prince's vanguard."

"my lord," cried alleyne, joyfully, "here are our chargers in the

field, and i see your harness amid the plunder which these rogues

have left behind them."

"by saint ives! you speak sooth, young squire," said du guesclin.

"there is my horse and my lady's jennet. the knaves led them

from the stables, but fled without them. now, nigel, it is great

joy to me to have seen one of whom i have often heard. yet we

must leave you now, for i must be with the king of spain ere your

army crosses the mountains."

"i had thought that you were in spain with the valiant henry of

trastamare."

"i have been there, but i came to france to raise succor for him.

i shall ride back, nigel, with four thousand of the best lances

of france at my back, so that your prince may find he hath a task

which is worthy of him. god be with you, friend, and may we meet

again in better times!"

"i do not think," said sir nigel, as he stood by alleyne's side

looking after the french knight and his lady, "that in all

christendom you will meet with a more stout-hearted man or a

fairer and sweeter dame. but your face is pale and sad, alleyne!

have you perchance met with some hurt during the ruffle?"

"nay, my fair lord, i was but thinking of my friend ford, and how

he sat upon my couch no later than yesternight."

sir nigel shook his head sadly. "two brave squires have i lost,"

said he. "i know not why the young shoots should be plucked, and

an old weed left standing, yet certes there must be come good

reason, since god hath so planned it. did you not note, alleyne,

that the lady tiphaine did give us warnin