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stoup of ale with me in my tower of Mettingham as you have done before
this red day dawned？ What would you give； young Hugh de Cressi？〃
〃Nothing at all；〃 answered Hugh。 〃Rather would I die upon this field
in glory than drink all the ale in Suffolk for a hundred years。〃
〃Well said； young man；〃 grunted John。 〃So do I think would I； though I
have never longed for a quart of liquor more。〃
They came to a windmill and climbed its steep stairs。 On the top
stage； amid the corn sacks stood Edward of England looking through the
window…places。
〃Your business； Sir John？〃 he said； scarcely turning his head。
The old knight told it shortly。
〃My son is not dead and is not wounded；〃 replied the King； 〃and I have
none to send to his aid。 Bid him win his spurs； the day shall yet be
his。 Look；〃 he added； pointing through the window…place； 〃our banners
have not given back a spear's throw； and in front of them the field is
paved with dead。 I tell you the French break。 Back； de Norwich！ Back；
de Cressi； and bid the Prince to charge！〃
Some one thrust a cup of wine into Hugh's hand。 He swallowed it；
glancing at the wild scene below； and presently was running with Sir
John toward the spot where they saw the Prince's banner flying。 They
came to Warwick and told him the King's answer。
〃My father speaks well；〃 said the Prince。 〃Let none share our glory
this day！ My lord； form up the lines； and when my banner is lifted
thrice； give the word to charge。 Linger not； the dark is near； and
either France or England must go down ere night。〃
Forward rolled the French in their last desperate onset； horse and
foot mingled together。 Forward they rolled almost in silence； the
arrows playing on their dense host； but not as they did at first； for
many a quiver was empty。 Once； twice； thrice the Prince's banner bowed
and lifted； and as it rose for the third time there rang out a shout
of：
〃Charge for St。 George and Edward！〃
Then England； that all these long hours had stood still； suddenly
hurled herself upon the foe。 Hugh； leaping over a heap of dead and
dying； saw in front of him a knight who wore a helmet shaped like a
wolf's head and had a wolf painted upon his shield。 The wolf knight
charged at him as though he sought him alone。 An arrow from behindit
was Grey Dick'ssank up to the feathers in the horse's neck； and down
it came。 The rider shook himself clear and began to fight。 Hugh was
beaten to his knee beneath a heavy blow that his helm turned。 He rose
unhurt and rushed at the knight； who； in avoiding his onset； caught
his spur on the body of a dead man and fell backward。
Hugh leapt on to him； striving to thrust his sword up beneath his
gorget and make an end of him。
〃Grace！〃 said the knight in French； 〃I yield me。〃
〃We take no prisoners；〃 answered Hugh； as he thrust again。
〃Pity； then；〃 said the knight。 〃You are brave； would you butcher a
fallen man？ If you had tripped I would have spared you。 Show mercy；
some day your case may be mine and it will be repaid to you。〃
Hugh hesitated； although now the point of his sword was through the
lacing of the gorget。
〃For your lady's sake； pity；〃 gasped the knight as he felt its point。
〃You know by what name to conjure；〃 said Hugh doubtfully。 〃Well； get
you gone if you can； and pray for one Hugh de Cressi； for he gives you
your life。〃
The knight seemed to start； then struggled to his feet； and； seizing a
loose horse by the bridle； swung himself to the saddle and galloped
off into the shadows。
〃Master；〃 croaked a voice into Hugh's ear； 〃I've seen the swan！ Follow
me。 My arrows are all gone； or I'd have shot him。〃
〃God's truth！ show him to me；〃 gasped Hugh； and away they leapt
together。
Soon they had outrun even the slaughtering Welsh； and found themselves
mingled with fugitives from the French army。 But in the gathering
twilight none seemed to take any note of them。 Indeed every man was
engaged in saving his own life and thought that this was the purpose
of these two also。 Some three hundred yards away certain French
knights； mounted； often two upon one horse； or afoot； were flying from
that awful field； striking out to the right in order to clear
themselves of the cumbering horde of fugitives。 One of these knights
lagged behind； evidently because his horse was wounded。 He turned to
look back； and a last ray from the dying sun lit upon him。
〃Look；〃 said Dick； and Hugh saw that on the knight's shield was
blazoned a white swan and that he wore upon his helmet a swan for a
crest。 The knight； who had not seen them； spurred his horse； but it
would not or could not move。 Then he called to his companions for
help； but they took no heed。 Finding himself alone； he dismounted；
hastily examined the horse's wound； and； having unbuckled a cloak from
his saddle； cast down his shield in order that he might run more
lightly。
〃Thanks to God； he is mine；〃 muttered Hugh。 〃Touch him not； Dick；
unless I fall； and then do you take up the quarrel till you fall。〃
So speaking he leapt upon the man out of the shadow of some thorns
that grew there。
〃Lift your shield and fight；〃 said Hugh； advancing on him with raised
sword。 〃I am Hugh de Cressi。〃
〃Then； sir； I yield myself your prisoner；〃 answered the knight；
〃seeing that you are two and I but one。〃
〃Not so。 I take no prisoners； who seek vengeance； not ransom； and
least of all from you。 My companion shall not touch you unless I fall。
Swift now； the light dies； and I would kill you fighting。〃
The knight picked up his shield。
〃I know you；〃 he said。 〃I am not he you think。〃
〃And I know you；〃 answered Hugh。 〃Now； no words； of them there have
been enough between us；〃 and he smote at him。
For two minutes or more they fought； for the armour of both was good；
and one was full of rage and the other of despair。 There was little
fine sword…play about this desperate duel； the light was too low for
it。 They struck and warded； that was all； while Grey Dick stood by and
watched grimly。 Some more fugitives came up； but seeing that blows
passed； veered off to the left； for of blows they had known enough
that day。 The swan knight missed a great stroke； for Hugh leapt aside；
then； as the Frenchman staggered forward； struck at him with all his
strength。 The heavy sword； grasped in both hands； for Hugh had thrown
aside his shield； caught his foe where neck joins shoulder and sank
through his mail deep into the flesh beneath。 Down he went。 It was
finished。
〃Unlace his helm； Dick；〃 grasped Hugh。 〃I would see his face for the
last time； and if he still lives〃
Dick obeyed； cutting the lashings of the helm。
〃By the Saints！〃 he said presently in a startled voice； 〃if this be
Sir Edmund Acour he has strangely changed。〃
〃I am not Acour； lord of Noyon；〃 said the dying man in a hollow voice。
〃Had you given me time I would have told you so。〃
〃Then； in Christ's name； who are you？〃 asked Hugh； 〃that wear de
Noyon's cognizance？〃
〃I am Pierre de la Roche； one of his knights。 You have seen me in
England。 I was with him there； and you made me prisoner on Dunwich
heath。 He bade me change arms with him before the battle； promising me
great reward； because he knew that if he were taken； Edward of England
would hang him as a traitor； whereas me they might ransom。 Also； he
feared your vengeance。〃
〃Well； of a truth； you have the reward；〃 said Dick； looking at his
ghastly wound。
〃Where then is Acour？〃 gasped Hugh。
〃I know not。 He fled from the battle an hour ago with the King of
France； but I who was doomed would not fly。 Oh； that I could find a
priest to shrive me！〃
〃Whither does he fly？〃 asked Hugh again。
〃I know not。 He said that if the battle went against us he would seek
his castle in Italy； where Edward cannot reach him。〃
〃What armour did he wear？〃 asked Dick。
〃Mine； minea wolf upon his shield； a wolf's head for crest。〃
Hugh reeled as though an arrow had passed through him。
〃The wolf knight； Acour！〃 he groaned。 〃And I spared his life。〃
〃A very foolish deed； for which you now pay the price；〃 said Dick； as
though to himself。
〃We met in the battle and he told me；〃 said de la Roche； speaking very
slowly； for he grew weak。 〃Yes； he told me and laughed。 Truly we are
Fate's fools； all of us；〃 and he smiled a ghastly smile and died。
Hugh hid his face in his hands and sobbed in his helpless rage。
〃The innocent slain；〃 he said； 〃by me； and the guilty sparedby me。
Oh； God！ my cup is full。 Take his arms； man； that one day I may show
them to Acour； and let us be going ere we share this poor knight's
fate。 Ah！ who could have guessed it was thus that I and Sir Pierre
should meet and part again。〃
CHAPTER X
THE KING'S CHAMPION
Back over that fearful field； whereof the silence was broken only by
the groans of the wounded and the dying； walked Hugh and Grey Dick。
They came to the great rampart of dead men and horses that surrounded
the English line； and climbed it as though it were a wall。 On the
further side bonfires had been lit to lighten the darkness； and by the
flare of them they saw Edward of England embracing and blessing his
son； the Black Prince； wh