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have speech with you。 Would that I could do what you ask； for I
also have a fair lady to whom I would fain send you。 What use are
you to me； Raoul； since I have gained no honor in the taking of
you？ How is it with you now？〃
The young Frenchman had risen to his feet。 〃Do not take my
sword；〃 he said。 〃I am yours； rescue or no rescue。 I think now
that I could mount my horse； though indeed my head still rings
like a cracked bell。〃
Nigel had lost all traces of his comrades； but he remembered Sir
Robert's words that he should ride upon the sun with the certainty
that sooner or later he would strike upon the road。 As they
jogged slowly along over undulating hills； the Frenchman shook off
his hurt and the two chatted merrily together。
〃I had but just come from France；〃 said he； 〃and I had hoped to
win honor in this country； for I have ever heard that the English
are very hardy men and excellent people to fight with。 My mules
and my baggage are at Evran； but I rode forth to see what I could
see； and I chanced upon your army moving down the road； so I
coasted it in the hopes of some profit or adventure。 Then you
came after me and I would have given all the gold goblets upon my
father's table if I had my harness so that I could have turned
upon you。 I have promised the Countess Beatrice that I will send
her an Englishman or two to kiss her hands。〃
〃One might perchance have a worse fate；〃 said Nigel。 〃Is this
fair dame your betrothed？〃
〃She is my love；〃 answered the Frenchman。 〃We are but waiting for
the Count to be slain in the wars； and then we mean to marry。 And
this lady of thine； Nigel？ I would that I could see her。〃
〃Perchance you shall； fair sir；〃 said Nigel； 〃for all that I have
seen of you fills me with desire to go further with you。 It is in
my mind that we might turn this thing to profit and to honor； for
when Sir Robert has spoken with you； I am free to do with you as I
will。〃
〃And what will you do； Nigel？〃
〃We shall surely try some small deed upon each other； so that
either I shall see the Lady Beatrice； or you the Lady Mary。 Nay；
thank me not； for like yourself； I have come to this country in
search of honor； and I know not where I may better find it than at
the end of your sword…point。 My good lord and master； Sir John
Chandos； has told me many times that never yet did he meet French
knight nor squire that he did not find great pleasure and profit
from their company； and now I very clearly see that he has spoken
the truth。〃
For an hour these two friends rode together； the Frenchman pouring
forth the praises of his lady； whose glove he produced from one
pocket； her garter from his vest； and her shoe from his
saddle…bag。 She was blond； and when he heard that Mary was dark；
he would fain stop then and there to fight the question of color。
He talked too of his great chateau at Lauta； by the head waters of
the pleasant Garonne； of the hundred horses in the stables； the
seventy hounds in the kennels； the fifty hawks in the mews。 His
English friend should come there when the wars were over； and what
golden days would be theirs！ Nigel too； with his English coldness
thawing before this young sunbeam of the South； found himself
talking of the heather slopes of Surrey； of the forest of Woolmer；
even of the sacred chambers of Cosford。
But as they rode onward towards the sinking sun； their thoughts
far away in their distant homes； their horses striding together；
there came that which brought their minds back in an instant to
the perilous hillsides of Brittany。
It was the long blast of a trumpet blown from somewhere on the
farther side of a ridge toward which they were riding。 A second
long…drawn note from a distance answered it。
〃It is your camp；〃 said the Frenchman。
〃Nay；〃 said Nigel； 〃we have pipes with us and a naker or two； but
I have heard no trumpet…call from our ranks。 It behooves us to
take heed； for we know not what may be before us。 Ride this way；
I pray you； that we may look over and yet be ourselves unseen。〃
Some scattered boulders crowned the height； and from behind them
the two young Squires could see the long rocky valley beyond。
Upon a knoll was a small square building with a battlement round
it。 Some distance from it towered a great dark castle； as massive
as the rocks on which it stood； with one strong keep at the
corner； and four long lines of machicolated walls。 Above； a great
banner flew proudly in the wind； with some device which glowed red
in the setting sun。 Nigel shaded his eyes and stared with
wrinkled brow。
〃It is not the arms of England； nor yet the lilies of France； nor
is it the ermine of Brittany；〃 said he。 〃He who holds this castle
fights for his own hand； since his own device flies above it。
Surely it is a head gules on an argent field。〃
〃The bloody head on a silver tray！〃 cried the Frenchman。 〃Was I
not warned against him？ This is not a man； friend Nigel。 It is a
monster who wars upon English； French and all Christendom。 Have
you not heard of the Butcher of La Brohiniere？〃
〃Nay； I have not heard of him。〃
〃 His name is accursed in France。 Have I not been told also that
he put to death this very year Gilles de St。 Pol； a friend of the
English King？〃
〃Yes； in very truth it comes back to my mind now that I heard
something of this matter in Calais before we started。〃
〃Then there he dwells； and God guard you if ever you pass under
yonder portal； for no prisoner has ever come forth alive！ Since
these wars began he hath been a king to himself； and the plunder
of eleven years lies in yonder cellars。 How can justice come to
him； when no man knows who owns the land？ But when we have packed
you all back to your island； by the Blessed Mother of God； we have
a heavy debt to pay to the man who dwells in yonder pile！〃
But even as they watched； the trumpet…call burst forth once more。
It came not from the castle but from the farther end of the
valley。 It was answered by a second call from the walls。 Then in
a long； straggling line there came a wild troop of marauders
streaming homeward from some foray。 In the van； at the head of a
body of spearmen； rode a tall and burly man； clad in brazen armor；
so that he shone like a golden image in the slanting rays of the
sun。 His helmet had been loosened from his gorget and was held
before him on his horse's neck。 A great tangled beard flowed over
his breastplate； and his hair hung down as far behind。 A squire
at his elbow bore high the banner of the bleeding head。 Behind
the spearmen were a line of heavily laden mules； and on either
side of them a drove of poor country folk； who were being herded
into the castle。 Lastly came a second strong troop of mounted
spearmen； who conducted a score or more of prisoners who marched
together in a solid body。
Nigel stared at them and then； springing on his horse； he urged it
along the shelter of the ridge so as to reach unseen a spot which
was close to the castle gate。 He had scarce taken up his new
position when the cavalcade reached the drawbridge； and amid yells
of welcome from those upon the wall； filed in a thin line across
it。 Nigel stared hard once more at the prisoners in the rear； and
so absorbed was he by the sight that he had passed the rocks and
was standing sheer upon the summit。
〃By Saint Paul！〃 he cried； 〃it must indeed be so。 I see their
russet jackets。 They are English archers！〃
As he spoke； the hindmost one； a strongly built； broad…shouldered
man； looked round and saw the gleaming figure above him upon the
hill； with open helmet； and the five roses glowing upon his
breast。 With a sweep of his hands he had thrust his guardians
aside and for a moment was clear of the throng。
〃Squire Loring！ Squire Loring！〃 he cried。 〃It is I； Aylward the
archer！ It is I； Samkin Aylward！〃 The next minute a dozen hands
had seized him； his cries were muffled with a gag； and he was
hurled； the last of the band； through the black and threatening
archway of the gate。 Then with a clang the two iron wings came
together； the portcullis swung upward； and captives and captors；
robbers and booty； were all swallowed up within the grim and
silent fortress。
XX。 HOW THE ENGLISH ATTEMPTED THE CASTLE OF LA BROHINIERE
For some minutes Nigel remained motionless upon the crest of the
hill； his heart； like lead within him； and his eyes fixed upon the
huge gray walls which contained his unhappy henchman。 He was
roused by a sympathetic hand upon his shoulder and the voice of
his young prisoner in his ear。
〃Peste！〃 said he。 〃They have some of your birds in their cage；
have they not？ What then； my friend？ Keep your heart high！ Is
it not the chance of war； to…day to them； to…morrow to thee； and
death at last for us all？ And yet I had rather they were in any
hands than those of Oliver the Butcher。〃
〃By Saint Paul； we cannot suffer it！〃 cried Nigel distractedly。
〃This man has come with me from my own home。 He has stood between
me and death before now。 It goes to my very heart that he should
call upon me in vain。 I pray you； Raoul； to use your wits； for
mine are all curdled in my head。 Tell me what I should