--if it be but a little one--a

grindstone, and i know not what besides; so that i thought it

well to sit upon him, lest he should take a fancy to leave me."

"tell me, john," cried alleyne faintly: "where is my dear lord,

sir nigel loring?"

"he is dead, i fear. i saw them throw his body across a horse

and ride away with it, but i fear the life had gone from him."

"now woe worth me! and where is aylward?"

"he sprang upon a riderless horse and rode after sir nigel to

save him. i saw them throng around him, and he is either taken

or slain."

"blow the bugles!" cried sir hugh, with a scowling brow. "we must

back to camp, and ere three days i trust that we may see these

spaniards again. i would fain have ye all in my company."

"we are of the white company, my fair lord," said john.

"nay, the white company is here disbanded," answered sir hugh

solemnly, looking round him at the lines of silent figures, "look

to the brave squire, for i fear that he will never see the sun

rise again."

chapter xxxviii.

of the home-coming to hampshire.

it was a bright july morning four months after that fatal fight

in the spanish batranca. a blue heaven stretched above, a green

rolling plain undulated below, intersected with hedge-rows and

flecked with grazing sheep. the sun was yet low in the heaven,

and the red cows stood in the long shadow of the elms, chewing

the cud and gazing with great vacant eyes at two horsemen who

were spurring it down the long white road which dipped and curved

away back to where the towers and pinnacles beneath the flat-

topped hill marked the old town of winchester.

of the riders one was young, graceful, and fair, clad in plain

doublet and hosen of blue brussels cloth, which served to show

his active and well-knit figure. a flat velvet cap was drawn

forward to keep the glare from his eyes, and he rode with lips

compressed and anxious face, as one who has much care upon his

mind. young as he was, and peaceful as was his dress, the dainty

golden spurs which twinkled upon his heels proclaimed his

knighthood, while a long seam upon his brow and a scar upon his

temple gave a manly grace to his refined and delicate

countenance. his comrade was a large, red-headed man upon a

great black horse, with a huge canvas bag slung from his saddle-

bow, which jingled and clinked with every movement of his steed.

his broad, brown face was lighted up by a continual smile, and he

looked slowly from side to side with eyes which twinkled and

shone with delight. well might john rejoice, for was he not back

in his native hampshire, had he not don diego's five thousand

crowns rasping against his knee, and above all was he not himself

squire now to sir alleyne edricson, the young socman of minstead

lately knighted by the sword of the black prince himself, and

esteemed by the whole army as one of the most rising of the

soldiers of england.

for the last stand of the company had been told throughout

christendom wherever a brave deed of arms was loved, and honors

had flowed in upon the few who had survived it. for two months

alleyne had wavered betwixt death and life, with a broken rib and

a shattered head; yet youth and strength and a cleanly life were

all upon his side, and he awoke from his long delirium to find

that the war was over, that the spaniards and their allies had

been crushed at navaretta, and that the prince had himself heard

the tale of his ride for succor and had come in person to his

bedside to touch his shoulder with his sword and to insure that

so brave and true a man should die, if he could not live, within

the order of chivalry. the instant that he could set foot to

ground alleyne had started in search of his lord, but no word

could he hear of him, dead or alive, and he had come home now

sad-hearted, in the hope of raising money upon his estates and so

starting upon his quest once more. landing at london, he had

hurried on with a mind full of care, for he had heard no word

from hampshire since the short note which had announced his

brother's death.

"by the rood!" cried john, looking around him exultantly, "where

have we seen since we left such noble cows, such fleecy sheep,

grass so green, or a man so drunk as yonder rogue who lies in the

gap of the hedge?"

"ah, john," alleyne answered wearily, "it is well for you, but i

never thought that my home-coming would be so sad a one. my

heart is heavy for my dear lord and for aylward, and i know not

how i may break the news to the lady mary and to the lady maude,

if they have not yet had tidings of it."

john gave a groan which made the horses shy. "it is indeed a

black business," said he. "but be not sad, for i shall give half

these crowns to my old mother, and half will i add to the money

which you may have, and so we shall buy that yellow cog