han to be polluted by his

touch," answered the spaniard, with his black eyes sparkling with

rage and hatred. "i trust that i am now the prisoner of some

honorable knight or gentleman."

"you are the prisoner of the man who took you, sir diego,"

answered sir nigel. "and i may tell you that better men than

either you or i have found themselves before now prisoners in the

hands of archers of england."

"what ransom, then, does he demand?" asked the spaniard.

big john scratched his red head and grinned in high delight when

the question was propounded to him. "tell him," said he, "that i

shall have ten cows and a bull too, if it be but a little one.

also a dress of blue sendall for mother and a red one for joan;

with five acres of pasture-land, two scythes, and a fine new

grindstone. likewise a small house, with stalls for the cows,

and thirty-six gallons of beer for the thirsty weather."

"tut, tut!" cried sir nigel, laughing. "all these things may be

had for money; and i think, don diego, that five thousand crowns

is not too much for so renowned a knight."

"it shall be duly paid him."

"for some days we must keep you with us; and i must crave leave

also to use your shield, your armor, and your horse."

"my harness is yours by the law of arms," said the spaniard,

gloomily.

"i do but ask the loan of it. i have need of it this day, but it

shall be duly returned to you. set guards, aylward, with arrow

on string, at either end of the pass; for it may happen that some

other cavaliers may visit us ere the time be come." all day the

little band of englishmen lay in the sheltered gorge, looking

down upon the vast host of their unconscious enemies. shortly

after mid-day, a great uproar of shouting and cheering broke out

in the camp, with mustering of men and calling of bugles.

clambering up among the rocks, the companions saw a long rolling

cloud of dust along the whole eastern sky-line, with the glint

of spears and the flutter of pennons, which announced the

approach of a large body of cavalry, for a moment a wild hope

came upon them that perhaps the prince had moved more swiftly

than had been planned, that he had crossed the ebro, and that

this was his vanguard sweeping to the attack.

"surely i see the red pile of chandos at the head of yonder

squadron!" cried sir richard causton, shading his eyes with his

hand.

"not so," answered sir simon burley, who had watched the

approaching host with a darkening face. "it is even as i feared.

that is the double eagle of du guesclin."

"you say very truly," cried the earl of angus. "these are the

levies of france, for i can see the ensigns of the marshal

d'andreghen, with that of the lord of antoing and of briseuil,

and of many another from brittany and anjou."

"by st. paul! i am very glad of it," said sir nigel. "of these

spaniards i know nothing; but the french are very worthy

gentlemen, and will do what they can for our advancement."

"there are at the least four thousand of them, and all men-at-

arms," cried sir william felton. "see, there is bertrand

himself, beside his banner, and there is king henry, who rides to

welcome him. now they all turn and come into the camp together."

as he spoke, the vast throng of spaniards and of frenchmen

trooped across the plain, with brandished arms and tossing

banners. all day long the sound of revelry and of rejoicing from

the crowded camp swelled up to the ears of the englishmen, and

they could see the soldiers of the two nations throwing

themselves into each other's arms and dancing hand-in-hand round

the blazing fires. the sun had sunk behind a cloud-bank in the

west before sir nigel at last gave word that the men should

resume their arms and have their horses ready. he had himself

thrown off his armor, and had dressed himself from head to foot

in the harness of the captured spaniard.

"sir william," said he, "it is my intention to attempt a small

deed, and i ask you therefore that you will lead this outfall

upon the camp. for me, i will ride into their camp with my

squire and two archers. i pray you to watch me, and to ride

forth when i am come among the tents. you will leave twenty men

behind here, as we planned this morning, and you will ride back

here after you have ventured as far as seems good to you."

"i will do as you order, nigel; but what is it that you propose

to do?"

"you will see anon, and indeed it is but a trifling matter.

alleyne, you will come with me, and lead a spare horse by the

bridle. i will have the two archers who rode with us through

france, for they are trusty men and of stout heart. let them

ride behind us, and let them leave their bows here among the

bushes for it is not my wish that they should know that we are

englishmen. say no word to any whom we may meet, and, if any

speak to yo