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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 do and how
I may bring him help。〃
The Frenchman shrugged his shoulders。 〃As easy to get a lamb
unscathed out of a wolves' lair as a prisoner safe from La
Brohiniere。 Nay； Nigel； whither do you go？ Have you indeed taken
leave of your wits？〃
The Squire had spurred his horse down the hillside and never
halted until he was within a bowshot of the gate。 The French
prisoner followed hard behind him； with a buzz of reproaches and
expostulations。
〃You are mad； Nigel！〃 he。 cried。 〃What do you hope to do then？
Would you carry the castle with your own hands？ Halt； man； halt；
in the name of the Virgin！〃
But Nigel had no plan in his head and only obeyed the fevered
impulse to do something to ease his thoughts。 He paced his horse
up and down； waving his spear； and shouting insults and challenges
to the garrison。 Over the high wall a hundred jeering faces
looked down upon him。 So rash and wild was his action that it
seemed to those within to mean some trap； so the drawbridge was
still held high and none ventured forth to seize him。 A few
long…range arrows pattered on the rocks； and then with a deep
booming sound a huge stone； hurled from a mangonel； sang over the
head of the two Squires and crushed into splinters amongst the
boulders behind them。 The Frenchman seized Nigel's bridle and
forced him farther from the gateway。
〃By the dear Virgin！〃 he cried； 〃I care not to have those pebbles
about my ears； yet I cannot go back alone； so it is very clear；
my； crazy comrade； that you must come also。 Now we are beyond
their reach！ But see； my friend Nigel； who are those who crown
the height？〃
The sun had sunk behind the western ridge； but the glowing sky was
fringed at its lower edge by a score of ruddy twinkling points。 A
body of horsemen showed hard and black upon the bare hill。 Then
they dipped down the slope into the valley； whilst a band of
footmen followed behind。
〃They are my people；〃 cried Nigel joyously。 〃Come； my friend；
hasten； that we may take counsel what we shall do。〃
Sir Robert Knolles rode a bowshot in front of his men； and his
brow was as black as night。 Beside him； with crestfallen face；
his horse bleeding； his armor dinted and soiled； was the
hot…headed knight； Sir James Astley。 A fierce discussion raged
between them。
〃I have done my devoir as best I might；〃 said Astley。 〃Alone I
had ten of them at my sword…point。 I know not how I have lived to
tell it。〃
〃What is your devoir to me？ Where are my thirty bowmen？〃 cried
Knolles in bitter wrath。 〃Ten lie dead upon the ground and twenty
are worse than dead in yonder castle。 And all because you must
needs show all men how bold you are； and ride into a bushment such
as a child could see。 Alas for my own folly that ever I should
have trusted such a one as you with the handling of men！〃
〃By God； Sir Robert； you shall answer to me for those words！〃
cried Astley with a choking voice。 〃Never has a man dared to
speak to me as you have done this day。〃
〃As long as I hold the King's order I shall be master； and by the
Lord I will hang you； James； on a near tree if I have further
cause of offense！ How now； Nigel？ I see by yonder white horse
that you at least have not failed me。 I will speak with you anon。
Percy； bring up your men； and let us gather round this castle；
for； as I hope for my soul's salvation； I win not leave it until I
have my archers； or the head of him who holds them。〃
That night the English lay thick round the fortress of La
Brohiniere so that none might come forth from it。 But if none
could come forth it was hard to see how any could win their way
in； for it was full of men； the walls were high and strong； and a
deep dry ditch girt it round。 But the hatred and fear which its
master had raised over the whole country…side could now be plainly
seen； for during the night the brushwood men and the villagers
came in from all parts with offers of such help as they could give
for the intaking of the castle。 Knolles set them cutting bushes
and tying them into fagots。 When morning came he rode out before
the wall and he held counsel with his knights and squires as to
how he should enter in。
〃By noon；〃 said he； 〃we shall have so many fagots that we may make
our way over the ditch。 Then we will beat in the gates and so win
a footing。〃
The young Frenchman had come with Nigel to the conference； and
now； amid the silence which followed the leader's proposal； he
asked if he might be heard。 He was clad in the brazen armor which
Nigel had taken from the Red Ferret。
〃It may be that it is not for me to join in your counsel；〃 said
he； 〃seeing that I am a prisoner and a Frenchman。 But this man is
the enemy of all； and we of France owe him a debt even as you do；
since many a good Frenchman has died in his cellars。 For this
reason I crave to be heard。〃
〃We will hear you；〃 said Knolles。
〃I have come from Evran yesterday；〃 said he。 〃Sir Henry
Spinnefort； Sir Peter La Roye and many other brave knights and
squires lie there； with a good company of men； all of whom would
very gladly join with you to destroy this butcher and his castle；
for it is well known amongst us that his deeds are neither good
nor fair。 There are also bombards which we could drag over the
hills； and so beat down this iron gate。 If you so order it I will
ride to Evran and bring my companions back with me。〃
〃Indeed； Robert；〃 said Percy； 〃it is in my mind that this
Frenchman speaks very wisely and well。〃
〃And when we have taken the castle … what then？〃 asked Knolles。
〃Then you could go upon your way； fair sir； and we upon ours。 Or
if it please you better you could draw together on yonder hill and
we on this one； so that the valley lies between us。 Then if any
cavalier wished to advance himself or to shed a vow and exalt his
lady； an opening might be found for him。 Surely it would be shame
if so many brave men drew together and no small deed were to come
of it。〃
Nigel clasped his captive's hand to show his admiration and
esteem； but Knolles shook his head。
〃Things are not ordered thus； save in the tales of the minstrels；〃
said he。 〃I have no wish that your people at Evran should know
our numbers or our plans。 I am not in this land for knight
errantry； but I am here to make head against the King's enemies。
Has no one aught else to say？〃
Percy pointed to the small outlying fortalice upon the knoll； on
which also flew the flag of the bloody head。 〃This smaller
castle； Robert； is of no great strength and cannot hold more than
fifty men。 It is built； as I conceive it； that no one should
seize the high ground and shoot down into the other。 Why should
we not turn all our strength upon it； since it is the weaker of
the twain？〃
But again the young leader shook his head。 〃If I should take it；〃
said he； 〃I am still no nearer to my desire； nor will it avail me
in getting back my bowmen。 It may cost a score of men； and what
profit shall I have from it？ Had I bombards； I might place them
on yonder hill； but having none it is of little use to me。〃
〃It may be；〃 said Nigel； 〃that they have scant food or water； and
so must come forth to fight us。〃
〃I have made inquiry of the peasants；〃 Knolles answered； 〃and they
are of one mind that there is a well within the castle； and good
store of food。 Nay； gentlemen； there is no way before us save to
take it by arms； and no spot where we can attempt it save through
the great gate。 Soon we will have so many fagots that we can cast
them down into the ditch； and so win our way across。 I have
ordered them to cut a pine…tree on the hill and shear the branches
so that we may beat down the gate with it。 But what is now amiss；
and why do they run forward to the castle？〃
A buzz had risen from the soldiers in the camp； and they all
crowded in one direction； rushing toward the castle wall。 The
knights and squires rode after them； and when in view of the main
gate； the cause of the disturbance lay before them。 On the tower
above the portal three men were standing in the garb of English
archers； ropes round their necks and their hands bound behind
them。 Their comrades surged below them with cries of recognition
and of pity。
〃It is Ambrose！〃 cried one。 〃Surely it is Ambrose of Ingleton。〃
〃Yes； in truth； I see his yellow hair。 And the other； him with
the beard； it is Lockwood of Skipton。 Alas for his wife who keeps
the booth by the bridge…head of Ribble！ I wot not who the third
may be。〃
〃It is little Johnny Alspaye； the youngest man in the company；〃
cried old Wat； with the tears running down his cheeks； 〃'Twas I
who brought him from his home。 Alas！ Alas！ Foul fare the day
that ever I coaxed him from his mother's side that he might perish
in a far land。〃
There was a sudden flourish of a trumpet and the drawbridge fell。
Across it strode a portly man with a faded herald's coat。 He
halted warily upon the farther side and his voice boomed like a
drum。 〃I would speak with your leader。〃 he cried。
Knolles rode forward。
〃Have I your knightly word th