w

stood they could look forward down a long vista of beech woods

and jagged rock-strewn wilderness, all white with snow, to where

the pass opened out upon the uplands beyond. behind them they

could still catch a glimpse of the gray plains of gascony, and

could see her rivers gleaming like coils of silver in the

sunshine. as far as eye could see from among the rocky gorges

and the bristles of the pine woods there came the quick twinkle

and glitter of steel, while the wind brought with it sudden

distant bursts of martial music from the great host which rolled

by every road and by-path towards the narrow pass of

roncesvalles. on the cliffs on either side might also be seen

the flash of arms and the waving of pennons where the force of

navarre looked down upon the army of strangers who passed

through their territories.

"by saint paul!" said sir nigel, blinking up at them, "i think

that we have much to hope for from these cavaliers, for they

cluster very thickly upon our flanks. pass word to the men,

aylward, that they unsling their bows, for i have no doubt that

there are some very worthy gentlemen yonder who may give us some

opportunity for honorable advancement."

"i hear that the prince hath the king of navarre as hostage,"

said alleyne, "and it is said that he hath sworn to put him to

death if there be any attack upon us."

"it was not so that war was made when good king edward first

turned his hand to it," said sir nigel sadly. "ah! alleyne, i

fear that you will never live to see such things, for the minds

of men are more set upon money and gain than of old. by saint

paul! it was a noble sight when two great armies would draw

together upon a certain day, and all who had a vow would ride

forth to discharge themselves of it. what noble spear-runnings

have i not seen, and even in an humble way had a part in, when

cavaliers would run a course for the easing of their souls and

for the love of their ladies! never a bad word have i for the

french, for, though i have ridden twenty times up to their array,

i have never yet failed to find some very gentle and worthy

knight or squire who was willing to do what he might to enable me

to attempt some small feat of arms. then, when all cavaliers had

been satisfied, the two armies would come to hand-strokes, and

fight right merrily until one or other had the vantage. by saint

paul! it was not our wont in those days to pay gold for the

opening of passes, nor would we hold a king as hostage lest his

people come to thrusts with us. in good sooth, if the war is to

be carried out in such a fashion, then it is grief to me that i

ever came away from castle twynham, for i would not have left my

sweet lady had i not thought that there were deeds of arms to be

done."

"but surely, my fair lord," said alleyne, "you have done some

great feats of arms since we left the lady loring."

"i cannot call any to mind," answered sir nigel.

"there was the taking of the sea-rovers, and the holding of the

keep against the jacks."

"nay, nay," said the knight, "these were not feats of arms, but

mere wayside ventures and the chances of travel. by saint paul!

if it were not that these hills are over-steep for pommers, i

would ride to these cavaliers of navarre and see if there were

not some among them who would help me to take this patch from

mine eye. it is a sad sight to see this very fine pass, which my

own company here could hold against an army, and yet to ride

through it with as little profit as though it were the lane from

my kennels to the avon."

all morning sir nigel rode in a very ill-humor, with his company

tramping behind him. it was a toilsome march over broken ground

and through snow, which came often as high as the knee, yet ere

the sun had begun to sink they had reached the spot where the

gorge opens out on to the uplands of navarre, and could see the

towers of pampeluna jutting up against the southern sky-line.

here the company were quartered in a scattered mountain hamlet,

and alleyne spent the day looking down upon the swarming army

which poured with gleam of spears and flaunt of standards through

the narrow pass.

"hola, mon gar.," said aylward, seating himself upon a boulder by

his side. "this is indeed a fine sight upon which it is good to

look, and a man might go far ere he would see so many brave men

and fine horses. by my hilt! our little lord is wroth because we

have come peacefully through the passes, but i will warrant him

that we have fighting enow ere we turn our faces northward again.

it is said that there are four-score thousand men behind the king

of spain, with du guesclin and all the best lances of france, who

have sworn to shed their heart's blood ere this pedro come again

to the throne."

"yet our own army is a great one," said alleyne.

"nay, there are but seve