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the maiden whom he had left behind at St。 Jean … the same whose
glove dangled from his helmet … had observed nothing that had
occurred。 Hence； all that met his eyes was a noble yellow horse；
which was tethered by the track； and a small young man； who
appeared to be a lunatic since he had undressed hastily in the
heart of the forest； and stood now with an eager anxious face clad
in his underlinen amid the scattered debris of his garments。 Of
such a person the high Lord of Pons could take no notice； and so
he pursued his inexorable way； his arrogant eyes looking out into
the distance and his thoughts set intently upon the maiden of St。
Jean。 He was dimly aware that the little crazy man in the
undershirt ran a long way beside him in his stockings； begging；
imploring and arguing。
〃Just one hour； most fair sir； just one hour at the longest； and a
poor Squire of England shall ever hold himself your debtor！ Do
but condescend to rein your horse until my harness comes back to
me！ Will you not stoop to show me some small deed of arms？ I
implore you； fair sir； to spare me a little of your time and a
handstroke or two ere you go upon your way！〃
Lord de Pons motioned impatiently with his gauntleted hand； as one
might brush away an importunate fly； but when at last Nigel became
desperate in his clamor he thrust his spurs into his great
war…horse； and clashing like a pair of cymbals he thundered off
through the forest。 So he rode upon his majestic way； until two
days later he was slain by Lord Reginald Cobham in a field near
Weybridge。
When after a long chase Aylward secured the spare horse and
brought it back； he found his master seated upon a fallen tree；
his face buried in his hands and his mind clouded with humiliation
and grief。 Nothing was said； for the matter was beyond words； and
so in moody silence they rode upon their way。
But soon they came upon a scene which drew Nigel's thoughts away
from his bitter trouble； for in front of them there rose the
towers of a great building with a small gray sloping village
around it； and they learned from a passing hind that this was the
hamlet and Abbey of Battle。 Together they drew rein upon the low
ridge and looked down into that valley of death from which even
now the reek of blood seems to rise。 Down beside that sinister
lake and amid those scattered bushes sprinkled over the naked
flank of the long ridge was fought that long…drawn struggle
betwixt two most noble foes with broad England as the prize of
victory。 Here； up and down the low hill； hour by hour the grim
struggle had waxed and waned； until the Saxon army had died where
it stood； King； court； house…carl and fyrdsman； each in their
ranks even as they had fought。 And now； after all the stress and
toil； the tyranny； the savage revolt； the fierce suppression； God
had made His purpose complete； for here were Nigel the Norman and
Aylward the Saxon with good…fellowship in their hearts and a
common respect in their minds； with the same banner and the same
cause； riding forth to do battle for their old mother England。
And now the long ride drew to an end。 In front of them was the
blue sea； flecked with the white sails of ships。 Once more the
road passed upward from the heavy…wooded plain to the springy turf
of the chalk downs。 Far to the right rose the grim fortalice of
Pevensey； squat and powerful； like one great block of rugged
stone； the parapet twinkling with steel caps and crowned by the
royal banner of England。 A flat expanse of reeded marshland lay
before them； out of which rose a single wooded hill； crowned with
towers； with a bristle of masts rising out of the green plain some
distance to the south of it。 Nigel looked at it with his hand
shading his eyes； and then urged Pommers to a trot。 The town was
Winchelsea； and there amid that cluster of houses on the hill the
gallant Chandos must be awaiting him。
XIV。 HOW NIGEL CHASED THE RED FERRET
They passed a ferry； wound upward by a curving path； and then；
having satisfied a guard of men…at…arms； were admitted through the
frowning arch of the Pipewell Gate。 There waiting for them； in
the middle of the east street； the sun gleaming upon his lemon…
colored beard； and puckering his single eye； stood Chandos
himself； his legs apart； his hands behind his back； and a
welcoming smile upon hiss quaint high…nosed face。 Behind him a
crowd of little boys were gazing with reverent eyes at the famous
soldier。
〃Welcome； Nigel！〃 said he； 〃and you also； good archer！ I chanced
to be walking on the city wall； and I thought from the color of
your horse that it was indeed you upon the Udimore Road。 How have
you fared； young squire errant？ Have you held bridges or rescued
damsels or slain oppressors on your way from Tilford？〃
〃Nay； my fair lord； I have accomplished nothing； but I once had
hopes … 〃 Nigel flushed at the remembrance。
〃I will give you more than hopes； Nigel。 I will put you where you
can dip both arms to the elbow into danger and honor； where peril
will sleep with you at night and rise with you in the morning and
the very air you breathe be laden with it。 Are you ready for
that； young sir？〃
〃I can but pray； fair lord； that my spirit will rise to it。〃
Chandos smiled his approval and laid his thin brown hand on the
youth's shoulder。 〃Good！〃 said he。 〃It is the mute hound which
bites the hardest。 The babbler is ever the hang…back。 Bide with
me here； Nigel； and walk upon the ramparts。 Archer； do you lead
the horses to the ‘Sign of the Broom Pod' in the high street； and
tell my varlets to see them aboard the cog Thomas before
nightfall。 We sail at the second hour after curfew。 Come hither；
Nigel； to the crest of the corner turret； for from it I will show
you what you have never seen。〃
It was but a dim and distant white cloud upon the blue water seen
far off over the Dungeness Point； and yet the sight of it flushed
the young Squire's cheeks and sent the blood hot through his
veins。 It was the fringe of France； that land of chivalry and
glory； the stage where name and fame were to be won。 With burning
eyes he gazed across at it； his heart rejoicing to think that the
hour was at hand when he might tread that sacred soil。 Then his
gaze crossed the immense stretch of the blue sea； dotted over with
the sails of fishing…boats； until it rested upon the double harbor
beneath packed with vessels of every size and shape； from the
pessoners and creyers which plied up and down the coast to the
great cogs and galleys which were used either as war…ships or
merchantmen as the occasion served。 One of them was at that
instant passing out to sea； a huge galleass； with trumpets blowing
and nakers banging； the flag of Saint George flaunting over the
broad purple sail； and the decks sparkling from end to end with
steel。 Nigel gave a cry of pleasure at the splendor of the sight。
〃Aye； lad；〃 said Chandos； 〃it is the Trinity of Rye； the very ship
on which I fought at Sluys。 Her deck ran blood from stem to stern
that day。 But turn your eyes this way； I beg you； and tell me if
you see aught strange about this town。〃
Nigel looked down at the noble straight street； at the Roundel
Tower； at the fine church of Saint Thomas； and the other fair
buildings of Winchelsea。 〃It is all new；〃 said he … 〃church；
castle； houses； all are new。〃
〃You are right； fair son。 My grandfather can call to mind the
time when only the conies lived upon this rock。 The town was down
yonder by the sea； until one night the waves rose upon it and not
a house was left。 See； yonder is Rye； huddling also on a hill；
the two towns like poor sheep when the waters are out。 But down
there under the blue water and below the Camber Sand lies the true
Winchelsea … tower； cathedral； walls and all； even as my
grandfather knew it； when the first Edward was young upon the
throne。〃
For an hour or more Chandos paced upon the ramparts with his young
Squire at his elbow and talked to him of his duties and of the
secrets and craft of warfare； Nigel drinking in and storing in his
memory every word from so revered a teacher。 Many a time in after
life； in stress and in danger； he strengthened himself by the
memory of that slow walk with the blue sea on one side and the
fair town on the other； when the wise soldier and noble…hearted
knight poured forth his precept and advice as the master workman
to the apprentice。
〃Perhaps； fair son；〃 said he； 〃you are like so many other lads who
ride to the wars； and know so much already that it is waste of
breath to advise them？〃
〃Nay； my fair lord； I know nothing save that I would fain do my
duty and either win honorable advancement or die worshipful on the
field。〃
〃You are wise to be humble；〃 said Chandos； 〃for indeed he who
knows most of war knows best that there is much to learn。 As
there is a mystery of the rivers and a mystery of woodcraft； even
so there is a mystery of warfare by which battles may be lost and
gained； for all nations are brave； and where the brave meets the
brave it is he who is crafty and war…wise who will win the day。
The best hound will run at fault if he be ill laid on； and the
best hawk will