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company。 Mark； each of you； that he smote him in the back； smote him
running！ What reward would you have； man？〃
〃None；〃 answered Dick in a surly voice。 〃My reward is that； whatever
happens； yon filthy French knave will never mock honest English folk
again。 Or so I think； though the arrow barely reached him。 Yet； Sire；〃
he added after a pause； 〃you might knight my master； Hugh de Cressi；
if you will； since but for him I should have feared to risk that
shot。〃
Then turning aside； Dick unstrung his bow； and； pulling the remains of
the apple out of his pouch； began to munch it unconcernedly。
〃Hugh de Cressi！〃 said the King。 〃Ah！ yes； I mind me of him and of the
rogue； Acour； and the maid； Red Eve。 Well； Hugh； I am told you fought
gallantly at Blanche…Tague two days gone and were among the last to
cross the Somme。 Also； we have other debts to pay you。 Come hither；
sir； and give me your sword。〃
〃Your pardon； my liege；〃 said Hugh； colouring； 〃but I'll not be
knighted for my henchman's feats； or at all until I have done some of
my own。〃
〃Ah； well； Master Hugh；〃 said the King； 〃that's a right spirit。 After
the battle； perhaps； if it should please God that we live to meet
again in honour。 De Cressi；〃 he added musingly； 〃why this place is
called Crecy； and here； I think； is another good omen。 At Crecy shall
de Cressi gain great honour for himself and for St。 George of England。
You are luck bringers； you two。 Let them not be separated in the
battle； lest the luck should leave them。 See to it； if it please you；
my lord of Warwick。 Young de Cressi can draw a bow； let him fight
amongst the archers and have liberty to join the men…at…arms when the
time comes。 Or stay； set them near my son the Prince； for there surely
the fight will be hottest。
〃And now； you men of England； whatever your degree； my brothers of
England； gentle and simple； Philip rolls down upon us with all the
might of France； our heritage which he has stolen； our heritage and
yours。 Well； well； show him to…day； or to…morrow； or whenever it may
be； that Englishmen put not their faith in numbers； but in justice and
their own great hearts。 Oh； my brothers and my friends； let not
Edward； whom you are pleased to serve as your lawful King； be whipped
off the field of Crecy and out of France！ Stand to your banners； stand
to your King； stand to St。 George and God！ Die where you are if need
be； as I will。 Never threaten and then show your backs like that knave
the archer shot but now。 Look； I give my son into your keeping；〃 and
he pointed to the young Prince； who all this while sat upon his horse
upright and silent。 〃The Hope of England shall be your leader； but if
he flies； why then； cut him down； and fight without him。 But he'll not
fly and you'll not fly； no； you and he together will this day earn a
name that shall be told of when the world is grey with age。 Great is
the chance that life has given you； pluck it； pluck it from the land
of opportunity and； dead or living； become a song forever in the
mouths of men unborn。 Think not of prisoners； think not of ransoms and
of wealth。 Think not of me or of yourselves； but think of England's
honour； and for that strike home； for England watches you to…day。〃
〃We will； we will！ Fear not； King； we will；〃 shouted the host in
answer。
With a glad smile； Edward took his young son's hand and shook it； then
rode away followed by his marshals。
〃De Cressi；〃 he said； as he passed Hugh； 〃the knave Acour； your foe
and mine； is with Philip of France。 He has done me much damage； de
Cressi； more than I can stop to tell。 Avenge it if you can。 Your luck
is great； you may find the chance。 God be with you and all。 My lords；
farewell。 You have your orders。 Son Edward； fare you well； also。 Meet
me again with honour； or never more。〃
It was not yet noon when King Edward spoke these words； and long hours
were to go by before the battle joined。 Indeed； most thought that no
blow would be struck that day； since it was known that Philip had
slept at Abbeville； whence for a great army the march was somewhat
long。 Still； when all was made ready； the English sat them down in
their ranks； bows and helmets at side； ate their mid…day meal with
appetite； and waited whatever fate might send them。
In obedience to the King's command Hugh and Grey Dick had been
attached to the immediate person of the Prince of Wales； who had about
him； besides his own knights； a small band of chosen archers and
another band of men…at…arms picked for their strength and courage。
These soldiers were all dismounted； since the order had gone forth
that knight and squire must fight afoot； every horse having been sent
to the rear； for that day the English expected to receive charges； not
to make them。 This； indeed； would have been impossible； seeing that
all along their front the wild Welsh had laboured for hours digging
pits into which horses might plunge and fall。
There then the Prince's battle sat； a small force after all； perhaps
twelve hundred knights and men…at…arms； with three or four thousand
archers； and to their rear； as many of the savage； knife…armed Welsh
who fought that day under the banner of their country； the red Dragon
of Merlin。 Grey Dick's place was on the extreme left of the archer
bodyguard； and Hugh's on the extreme right of that of the men…at…arms；
so that they were but a few yards apart and could talk together。 From
time to time they spoke of sundry things； but mostly of home； for in
this hour of danger through which both of them could hardly hope to
live； even if one did； their thoughts turned thither； as was but
natural。
〃I wonder how it fares with the lady Eve；〃 said Hugh； with a sigh； for
of her no news had come to him since they had parted some months
before； after he recovered from the wound which Clavering gave him。
〃Well enough； doubtless。 Why not？〃 replied Dick。 〃She is strong and
healthy； she has many friends and servants to guard her and no enemy
there to harm her； for her great foe is yonder；〃 and he nodded towards
Abbeville。 〃Oh； without doubt well enough。 It is she who should wonder
how it fares with us。 Let us hope that； having naught else to do； she
remembers us in her prayers； since in such a case even one woman's
prayers are worth something； for does not a single feather sometimes
turn the scale？〃
〃I think that Eve would rather fight than pray；〃 answered Hugh； with a
smile； 〃like old Sir Andrew； who would give half his remaining days to
sit here with us this afternoon。 Well； he is better where he is。 Dick；
that knave Acour sent only insolent words in answer to my challenge；
which I despatched to him by the knight I took and spared at Caen。〃
〃Why should he do more； master？ He can find plenty of ways of dying
without risking a single combat with one whom he has wronged and who
is therefore very dangerous。 You remember his crest； mastera silver
swan painted on his shield。 I knew it； and that is why I shot that
poor fowl just before you killed young Clavering on the banks of
Blythe； to teach him that swans are not proof against arrows。 Watch
for the swan crest； master； when the battle joins； and so will I； I
promise you。〃
〃Ay； I'll watch；〃 said Hugh grimly。 〃God help all swans that come my
way。 Let us pray that this one has not taken wing； for if so I； too；
must learn to fly。〃
Thus they talked of these and other things amongst the hum of the
great camp； which was like to that of bees on a lime…tree in summer；
and whilst they talked the blue August sky became suddenly overcast。
Dense and heavy clouds hid up its face； a cold and fitful wind began
to blow； increasing presently to a gale which caused the planted
standards； blazoned with lions rampant and with fleurs…de…lis； and the
pennons of a hundred knights set here and there among the long battle
lines； first to flap and waver and then to stand out straight as
though they were cut of iron。
A word of command was called from rank to rank。
〃Sheath bows！〃 it said； and instantly thousands of slender points were
lifted and sank again； vanishing into the leathern cases which the
archers bore。
Scarcely were these snug when the storm broke。 First fell a few heavy
drops； to be followed by such a torrent that all who had cloaks were
glad to wear them。 From the black clouds above leapt lightnings that
were succeeded by the deep and solemn roll of thunder。 A darkness fell
upon the field so great that men wondered what it might portend； for
their minds were strained。 That which at other times would have passed
without remark； now became portentous。 Indeed； afterward some declared
that through it they had seen angels or demons in the air； and others
that they had heard a voice prophesying woe and death； to whom they
knew not。
〃It is nothing but a harvest tempest；〃 said Dick presently； as he
shook the wet from him like a dog and looked to the covering of his
quiver。 〃See； the clouds break。〃
As he spoke a single red ray from the westering sun shot through a
rift in the sky and lay across the English host like a sword of light；
whereof the point hung over the eastern plain。 Save for this flaming
sword all else was dark； and silent also； for the rain and thund