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The best hound will run at fault if he be ill laid on； and the
best hawk will fly at check if he be badly loosed； and even so the
bravest army may go awry if it be ill handled。 There are not in
Christendom better knights and squires than those of the French；
and yet we have had the better of them； for in our Scottish Wars
and elsewhere we have learned more of this same mystery of which I
speak。〃
〃And wherein lies our wisdom； honored sir？〃 asked Nigel。 〃I also
would fain be war…wise and learn to fight with my wits as well as
with my sword。〃
Chandos shook his head and smiled。 〃It is in the forest and on
the down that you learn to fly the hawk and loose the hound；〃 said
he。 〃So also it is in camp and on the field that the mystery of
war can be learned。 There only has every great captain come to be
its master。 To start he must have a cool head； quick to think；
soft as wax before his purpose is formed； hard as steel when once
he sees it before him。 Ever alert he must be； and cautious also；
but with judgment to turn his caution into rashness where a large
gain may be put against a small stake。 An eye for country also；
for the trend of the rivers； the slope of the hills； the cover of
the woods； and the light green of the bog…land。〃
Poor Nigel； who had trusted to his lance and to Pommers to break
his path to glory； stood aghast at this list of needs。 〃Alas！〃 he
cried。 〃How am I to gain all this？ … I； who could scarce learn
to read or write though the good Father Matthew broke a hazel
stick a day across my shoulders？ 〃
〃You will gain it； fair son； where others have gained it before
you。 You have that which is the first thing of all； a heart of
fire from which other colder hearts may catch a spark。 But you
must have knowledge also of that which warfare has taught us in
olden times。 We know； par exemple； that horsemen alone cannot
hope to win against good foot…soldiers。 Has it not been tried at
Courtrai； at Stirling； and again under my own eyes at Crecy； where
the chivalry of France went down before our bowmen？〃
Nigel stared at him； with a perplexed brow。 〃Fair sir； my heart
grows heavy as I hear you。 Do you then say that our chivalry can
make no head against archers； billmen and the like？〃
〃Nay； Nigel； for it has also been very clearly shown that the best
foot…soldiers unsupported cannot hold their own against the mailed
horsemen。〃
〃To whom then is the victory？〃 asked Nigel。
〃To him who can mix his horse and foot； using each to strengthen
the other。 Apart they are weak。 Together they are strong。 The
archer who can weaken the enemy's line； the horseman who can break
it when it is weakened； as was done at Falkirk and Duplin； there
is the secret of our strength。 Now touching this same battle of
Falkirk； I pray you for one instant to give it your attention。〃
With his whip he began to trace a plan of the Scottish battle upon
the dust； and Nigel with knitted brows was trying hard to muster
his small stock of brains and to profit by the lecture； when their
conversation was interrupted by a strange new arrival。
It was a very stout little man； wheezy and purple with haste； who
scudded down the rampart as if he were blown by the wind； his
grizzled hair flying and his long black gown floating behind him。
He was clad in the dress of a respectable citizen； a black jerkin
trimmed with sable； a black…velvet beaver hat and a white feather。
At the sight of Chandos he gave a cry of joy and quickened his
pace so that when he did at last reach him he could only stand
gasping and waving his hands。
〃Give yourself time； good Master Wintersole； give yourself time！〃
said Chandos in a soothing voice。
〃The papers！〃 gasped the little man。 〃Oh； my Lord Chandos； the
papers … 〃
〃What of the papers； my worthy sir？〃
〃I swear by our good patron Saint Leonard； it is no fault of mine！
I had locked them in my coffer。 But the lock was forced and the
coffer rifled。〃
A shadow of anger passed over the soldier's keen face。
〃How now； Master Mayor？ Pull your wits together and do not stand
there babbling like a three…year child。 Do you say that some one
hath taken the papers？〃
〃It is sooth； fair sir！ Thrice I have been Mayor of the town； and
fifteen years burgess and jurat； but never once has any public
matter gone awry through me。 Only last month there came an order
from Windsor on a Tuesday for a Friday banquet； a thousand soles；
four thousand plaice； two thousand mackerel； five hundred crabs； a
thousand lobsters； five thousand whiting … 〃
〃I doubt not； Master Mayor； that you are an excellent fishmonger；
but the matter concerns the papers I gave into your keeping。
Where are they？〃
〃Taken； fair sir…gone！〃
〃And who hath dared to take them？〃
〃Alas！ I know not。 It was but for as long as you would say an
angelus that I left the chamber； and when I came back there was
the coffer； broken and empty； upon my table。〃
〃Do you suspect no one？〃
〃There was a varlet who hath come with the last few days into my
employ。 He is not to be found； and I have sent horsemen along
both the Udimore road and that to Rye； that they may seize him。
By the help of Saint Leonard they can scarce miss him； for one can
tell him a bow…shot off by his hair。〃
〃Is it red？〃 asked Chandos eagerly。 〃Is it fox…red； and the man a
small man pocked with sun…spots； and very quick in his movements？〃
〃It is the man himself。〃
Chandos shook his clenched hand with annoyance； and then set off
swiftly down the street。
〃It is Peter the Red Ferret once more！〃 said he。 〃I knew him of
old in France； where he has done us more harm than a company of
men…at…arms。 He speaks English as he speaks French； and he is of
such daring and cunning that nothing is secret from him。 In all
France there is no more dangerous man； for though he is a
gentleman of blood and coat…armor he takes the part of a spy；
because it hath the more danger and therefore the more honor。〃
〃But； my fair lord；〃 cried the Mayor； as he hurried along； keeping
pace with the long strides of the soldier； 〃I knew that you warned
me to take all care of the papers； but surely there was no matter
of great import in it？ It was but to say what stores were to be
sent after you to Calais？〃
〃Is that not everything？〃 cried Chandos impatiently。 〃Can you not
see； oh foolish Master Wintersole； that the French suspect we are
about to make some attempt and that they have sent Peter the Red
Ferret； as they have sent him many times before； to get tidings of
whither we are bound？ Now that he knows that the stores are for
Calais； then the French near Calais will take his warning； and so
the King's whole plan come to nothing。〃
〃Then he will fly by water。 We can stop him yet。 He has not an
hour's start。〃
〃It may be that a boat awaits him at Rye or Hythe； but it is more
like that he has all ready to depart from here。 Ah； see yonder！
I'll warrant that the Red Ferret is on board！〃
Chandos had halted in front of his inn； and now he pointed down to
the outer harbor； which lay two miles off across the green plain。
It was connected by a long winding canal with the inner dock at
the base of the hill； upon which the town was built。 Between the
two horns formed by the short curving piers a small schooner was
running out to sea； dipping and rising before a sharp southerly
breeze。
〃It is no Winchelsea boat；〃 said the Mayor。 〃She is longer and
broader in the beam than ours。〃
〃Horses！ bring horses！〃 cried Chandos。 〃Come； Nigel； let us go
further into the matter。〃
A busy crowd of varlets； archers； and men…at…arms swarmed round
the gateway of the 〃Sign of the Broom Pod；〃 singing； shouting； and
jostling in rough good…fellowship。 The sight of the tall thin
figure of Chandos brought order amongst them； and a few minutes
later the horses were ready and saddled。 A breakneck ride down a
steep declivity； and then a gallop of two miles over the sedgy
plain carried them to the outer harbor。 A dozen vessels were
lying there； ready to start for Bordeaux or Rochelle； and the quay
was thick with sailors； laborers and townsmen and heaped with
wine…barrels and wool…packs。
〃Who is warden here？〃 asked Chandos； springing from his horse。
〃Badding！ Where is Cock Badding？ Badding is warden！〃 shouted the
crowd。
A moment later a short swarthy man； bull…necked and deep…chested；
pushed through the people。 He was clad in rough russet wool with
a scarlet cloth tied round his black curly head。 His sleeves were
rolled up to his shoulders； and his brown arms； all stained with
grease and tar； were like two thick gnarled branches from an oaken
stump。 His savage brown face was fierce and frowning； and was
split from chin to temple with the long white wale of an
ill…healed wound。
〃How now； gentles； will you never wait your turn？〃 he rumbled in a
deep angry voice。 〃Can you not see that we are warping the Rose
of Guienne into midstream for the ebb…tide？ Is this a time to
break in upon us？ Your goods will go aboard in due season； I
promise you； so ride back into the town and find such pleasure as
you may； while I and my mates do our work without let or
hindrance。〃
〃It is th