ch which turns every _v_ into a

_b_. "but you know what these islanders of yours are, sir nigel.

they will not be led by any save their own blood and race. there

is no persuading them. not even i, claude letour seigneur of

montchateau, master of the high justice, the middle and the low,

could gain their favor. they must needs hold a council and put

their two hundred thick heads together, and then there comes this

fellow aylward and another, as their spokesmen, to say that they

will disband unless an englishman of good name be set over them.

there are many of them, as i understand, who come from some great

forest which lies in hampi, or hampti--i cannot lay my tongue to

the name. your dwelling is in those parts, and so their thoughts

turned to you as their leader. but we had hoped that you would

bring a hundred men with you."

"they are already at dax, where we shall join them," said sir

nigel. "but let the men break their fast, and we shall then take

counsel what to do."

"come into my hut," said sir claude. "it is but poor fare that i

can lay before you--milk, cheese, wine, and bacon--yet your

squire and yourself will doubtless excuse it. this is my house

where the pennon flies before the door--a small residence to

contain the lord of montchateau."

sir nigel sat silent and distrait at his meal, while alleyne

hearkened to the clattering tongue of the gascon, and to his talk

of the glories of his own estate, his successes in love, and his

triumphs in war.

"and now that you are here, sir nigel," he said at last, "i have

many fine ventures all ready for us. i have heard that montpezat

is of no great strength, and that there are two hundred thousand

crowns in the castle. at castelnau also there is a cobbler who

is in my pay, and who will throw us a rope any dark night from

his house by the town wall. i promise you that you shall thrust

your arms elbow-deep among good silver pieces ere the nights are

moonless again; for on every hand of us are fair women, rich

wine, and good plunder, as much as heart could wish."

"i have other plans," answered sir nigel curtly; "for i have come

hither to lead these bowmen to the help of the prince, our

master, who may have sore need of them ere he set pedro upon the

throne of spain. it is my purpose to start this very day for dax

upon the adour, where he hath now pitched his camp."

the face of the gascon darkened, and his eyes flashed with

resentment, "for me," he said, "i care little for this war, and i

find the life which i lead a very joyous and pleasant one. i

will not go to dax."

"nay, think again, sir claude," said sir nigel gently; "for you

have ever had the name of a true and loyal knight. surely you

will not hold back now when your master hath need of you."

"i will not go to dax," the other shouted.

"but your devoir--your oath of fealty?"

"i say that i will not go."

"then, sir claude, i must lead the company without you."

"if they will follow," cried the gascon with a sneer. "these are

not hired slaves, but free companions, who will do nothing save

by their own good wills. in very sooth, my lord loring, they are

ill men to trifle with, and it were easier to pluck a bone from a

hungry bear than to lead a bowman out of a land of plenty and of

pleasure."

"then i pray you to gather them together," said sir nigel, "and i

will tell them what is in my mind; for if i am their leader they

must to dax, and if i am not then i know not what i am doing in

auvergne. have my horse ready, alleyne; for, by st. paul! come

what may, i must be upon the homeward road ere mid-day."

a blast upon the bugle summoned the bowmen to counsel, and they

gathered in little knots and groups around a great fallen tree

which lay athwart the glade. sir nigel sprang lightly upon the

trunk, and stood with blinking eye and firm lips looking down at

the ring of upturned warlike faces.

"they tell me, bowmen," said he, "that ye have grown so fond of

ease and plunder and high living that ye are not to be moved from

this pleasant country. but, by saint paul! i will believe no

such thing of you, for i can readily see that you are all very

valiant men, who would scorn to live here in peace when your

prince hath so great a venture before him. ye have chosen me as

a leader, and a leader i will be if ye come with me to spain; and

i vow to you that my pennon of the five roses shall, if god give

me strength and life, be ever where there is most honor to be

gained. but if it be your wish to loll and loiter in these

glades, bartering glory and renown for vile gold and ill-gotten

riches, then ye must find another leader; for i have lived in

honor, and in honor i trust that i shall die. if there be forest

men or hampshire men amongst ye, i call upon them to say whether

they will follow the banner of