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be called to account； made war upon all mankind； and wrung with
rack and with flame the last shilling from all who fell into their
savage hands。 The fields had long been untilled。 Commerce was
dead。 From Rennes in the east to Hennebon in the west； and from
Dinan in the north to Nantes in the south； there was no spot where
a man's life or a woman's honor was safe。 Such was the land； full
of darkness and blood； the saddest； blackest spot in Christendom；
into which Knolles and his men were now advancing。
But there was no sadness in the young heart of Nigel； as he rode
by the side of Knolles at the head of a clump of spears； nor did
it seem to him that Fate had led him into an unduly arduous path。
On the contrary； he blessed the good fortune which had sent him
into so delightful a country； and it seemed to him as he listened
to dreadful stories of robber barons； and looked round at the
black scars of war which lay branded upon the fair faces of the
hills； that no hero of romances or trouveur had ever journeyed
through such a land of promise； with so fair a chance of knightly
venture and honorable advancement。
The Red Ferret was one deed toward his vow。 Surely a second； and
perhaps a better； was to be found somewhere upon this glorious
countryside。 He had borne himself as the others had in the
sea…fight； and could not count it to his credit where he had done
no more than mere duty。 Something beyond this was needed for such
a deed as could be laid at the feet of the Lady Mary。 But surely
it was to be found here in fermenting war…distracted Brittany。
Then with two done it would be strange if he could not find
occasion for that third one； which would complete his service and
set him free to look her in the face once more。 With the great
yellow horse curveting beneath him； his Guildford armor gleaming
in the sun； his sword clanking against his stirrup…iron； and his
father's tough ash…spear in his hand； he rode with a light heart
and a smiling face； looking eagerly to right and to left for any
chance which his good Fate might send。
The road from Dinan to Caulnes； along which the small army was
moving； rose and dipped over undulating ground； with a bare marshy
plain upon the left where the river Rance ran down to the sea；
while upon the right lay a wooded country with a few wretched
villages； so poor and sordid that they had nothing with which to
tempt the spoiler。 The peasants had left them at the first
twinkle of a steel cap； and lurked at the edges of the woods；
ready in an instant to dive into those secret recesses known only
to themselves。 These creatures suffered sorely at the hands of
both parties； but when the chance came they revenged their wrongs
on either in a savage way which brought fresh brutalities upon
their heads。
The new…comers soon had a chance of seeing to what lengths they
would go； for in the roadway near to Caulnes they came upon an
English man…at…arms who had been waylaid and slain by them。 How
they had overcome him could not be told； but how they had slain
him within his armor was horribly apparent； for they had carried
such a rock as eight men could lift； and had dropped it upon him
as he lay； so that he was spread out in his shattered case like a
crab beneath a stone。 Many a fist was shaken at the distant woods
and many a curse hurled at those who haunted them； as the column
of scowling soldiers passed the murdered man； whose badge of the
Molene cross showed him to have been a follower of that House of
Bentley； whose head； Sir Walter； was at that time leader of the
British forces in the country。
Sir Robert Knolles had served in Brittany before； and he marshaled
his men on the march with the skill and caution of the veteran
soldier； the man who leaves as little as possible to chance；
having too steadfast a mind to heed the fool who may think him
overcautious。 He had recruited a number of bowmen and men…at…arms
at Dinan； so that his following was now close upon five hundred
men。 In front under his own leadership were fifty mounted
lancers； fully armed and ready for any sudden attack。 Behind them
on foot came the archers； and a second body of mounted men closed
up the rear。 Out upon either flank moved small bodies of cavalry；
and a dozen scouts； spread fanwise； probed every gorge and dingle
in front of the column。 So for three days he moved slowly down
the Southern Road。
Sir Thomas Percy and Sir James Astley had ridden to the head of
the column； and Knolles conferred with them as they marched
concerning the plan of their campaign。 Percy and Astley were
young and hot…headed with wild visions of dashing deeds and knight
errantry； but Knolles with cold； clear brain and purpose of iron
held ever his object in view。
〃By the holy Dunstan and all the saints of Lindisfarne！〃 cried the
fiery Borderer； 〃it goes to my heart to ride forward when there
are such honorable chances on either side of us。 Have I not heard
that the French are at Evran beyond the river； and is it not sooth
that yonder castle； the towers of which I see above the woods； is
in the hands of a traitor； who is false to his liege lord of
Montford？ There is little profit to be gained upon this road； for
the folk seem to have no heart for war。 Had we ventured as far
over the marches of Scotland as we now are in Brittany； we should
not have lacked some honorable venture or chance of winning
worship。〃
〃You say truth； Thomas；〃 cried Astley； a red…faced and choleric
young man。 〃It is well certain that the French will not come to
us； and surely it is the more needful that we go to them。 In
sooth； any soldier who sees us would smile that we should creep
for three days along this road as though a thousand dangers lay
before us； when we have but poor broken peasants to deal with。〃
But Robert Knolles shook his head。 〃We know not what are in these
woods； or behind these hills；〃 said he； 〃and when I know nothing
it is my wont to prepare for the worst which may befall。 It is
but prudence so to do。〃
〃Your enemies might find some harsher name for it；〃 said Astley
with a sneer。 〃Nay； you need not think to scare me by glaring at
me； Sir Robert； nor will your ill…pleasure change my thoughts。 I
have faced fiercer eyes than thine； and I have not feared。〃
〃Your speech； Sir James； is neither courteous nor good；〃 said
Knolles； 〃and if I were a free man I would cram your words down
your throat with the point of my dagger。 But I am here to lead
these men in profit and honor； not to quarrel with every fool who
has not the wit to understand how soldiers should be led。 Can you
not see that if I make attempts here and there； as you would have
me do； I shall have weakened my strength before I come to that
part where it can best be spent？〃
〃And where is that？〃 asked Percy。 〃'Fore God； Astley； it is in my
mind that we ride with one who knows more of war than you or I；
and that we would be wise to be guided by his rede。 Tell us then
what is in your mind。〃
〃Thirty miles from here；〃 said Knolles； 〃there is； as I am told； a
fortalice named Ploermel； and within it is one Bambro'； an
Englishman； with a good garrison。 No great distance from him is
the Castle of Josselin where dwells Robert of Beaumanoir with a
great following of Bretons。 It is my intention that we should
join Bambro'； and so be in such strength that we may throw
ourselves upon Josselin； and by taking it become the masters of
all mid…Brittany； and able to make head against the Frenchmen in
the south。〃
〃Indeed I think that you can do no better；〃 said Percy heartily；
〃and I swear to you on jeopardy of my soul that I will stand by
you in the matter！ I doubt not that when we come deep into their
land they will draw together and do what they may to make head
against us； but up to now I swear by all the saints of Lindisfarne
that I should have seen more war in a summer's day in Liddesdale
or at the Forest of Jedburgh than any that Brittany has shown us。
Bat see； yonder horsemen are riding in。 They are our own
hobblers； are they not？ And who are these who are lashed to their
stirrups？〃
A small troop of mounted bowmen had ridden out of an oak grove
upon the left of the road。 They trotted up to where the three
knights had halted。 Two wretched peasants whose wrists had been
tied to their leathers came leaping and straining beside the
horses in their effort not to be dragged off their feet。 One was
a tall； gaunt； yellow…haired man； the other short and swarthy； but
both so crusted with dirt； so matted and tangled and ragged； that
they were more like beasts of the wood than human beings。
〃What is this？〃 asked Knolles。 〃Have I not ordered you to leave
the countryfolk at peace？〃
The leader of the archers； old Wat of Carlisle； held up a sword； a
girdle and a dagger。 〃If it please you； fair sir；〃 said he； 〃I
saw the glint of these； and I thought them no fit tools for hands
which were made for the spade and the plow。 But when we had
ridden them down and taken them； there was the Bentley cross upon
each； and we knew that they had belonged to yonder dead Englishman
upon the road。 Surely then； these are two of the villains who
have slain h