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jacks to shield their bodies。 From above a ceaseless shower of
darts and of stones were poured down upon them； while on the other
hand the archers； seeing the greatness of the danger； ran up to
the edge of the ditch； and shot fast and true at every face which
showed above the wall。
Scorched； wearied and bedraggled； the remains of the storming
party clambered out of the ditch as best they could； clutching at
the friendly hands held down to them； and so limped their way back
amid the taunts and howls of their enemies。 A long pile of
smoldering cinders was all that remained of their bridge； and on
it lay Astley and six other red…hot men glowing in their armor。
Knolles clinched his hands as he looked back at the ruin that was
wrought； and then surveyed the group of men who stood or lay
around him nursing their burned limbs and scowling up at the
exultant figures who waved on the castle wall。 Badly scorched
himself； the young leader had no thought for his own injuries in
the rage and grief which racked his soul。 〃We will build another
bridge；〃 he cried。 〃Set the peasants binding fagots once more。〃
But a thought had flashed through Nigel's mind。 〃See； fair sir；〃
said he。 〃The nails of yonder door are red…hot and the wood as
white as ashes。 Surely we can break our way through it。〃
〃By the Virgin； you speak truly！〃 cried the French Squire。 〃If we
can cross the ditch the gate will not stop us。 Come； Nigel； for
our fair ladies' sakes； I will race you who will reach it first；
England or France。〃
Alas for all the wise words of the good Chandos！ Alas for all the
lessons in order and discipline learned from the wary Knolles。 In
an instant； forgetful of all things but this noble challenge；
Nigel was running at the top of his speed for the burning gate。
Close at his heels was the Frenchman； blowing and gasping； as he
rushed along in his brazen armor。 Behind came a stream of howling
archers and men…at…arms； like a flood which has broken its dam。
Down they slipped into the ditch； rushed across it； and clambered
on each other's backs up the opposite side。 Nigel； Raoul and two
archers gained a foothold in front of the burning gate at the same
moment。 With blows and kicks they burst it to pieces； and dashed
with a yell of triumph through the dark archway beyond。 For a
moment they thought with mad rapture that the castle was carried。
A dark tunnel lay before them； down which they rushed。 But alas！
at the farther end it was blocked by a second gateway as strong as
that which had been burned。 In vain they beat upon it with their
swords and axes。 On each side the tunnel was pierced with slits；
and the crossbow bolts discharged at only a few yards' distance
crashed through armor as if it were cloth and laid man after man
upon the stones。 They raged and leaped before the great
iron…clamped barrier； but the ；wall itself was as easy to tear
down。
It was bitter to draw back； but it was madness to remain。 Nigel
looked round and saw that half his men were down。 At the same
moment Raoul sank with a gasp at his feet； a bolt driven to its
socket through the links of the camail which guarded his neck。
Some of the archers； seeing that certain death awaited them； were
already running back to escape from the fatal passage。
〃By Saint Paul！〃 cried Nigel hotly。 〃Would you leave our wounded
where this butcher may lay his hands upon them？ Let the archers
shoot inwards and hold them back from the slits。 Now let each man
raise one of our comrades； lest we leave our honor in the gate of
this castle。〃
With a mighty effort he had raised Raoul upon his shoulders and
staggered with him to the edge of the ditch。 Several men were
waiting below where the steep bank shield them from the arrows；
and to them Nigel handed down his wounded friend； and each archer
in turn did the same。 Again and again Nigel went back until no
one lay in the tunnel save seven who had died there。 Thirteen
wounded were laid in the shelter of the ditch； and there they must
remain until night came to cover them。 Meanwhile the bowmen on
the farther side protected them from attack； and also prevented
the enemy from all attempts to build up the outer gate。 The
gaping smoke…blackened arch was all that they could show for a
loss of thirty men； but that at least Knolles was determined to
keep。
Burned and bruised； but unconscious of either pain or fatigue for
the turmoil of his spirit within him； Nigel knelt by the Frenchman
and loosened his helmet。 The girlish face of the young Squire was
white as chalk； and the haze of death was gathering over his
violet eyes； but a faint smile played round his lips as he looked
up at his English comrade。
〃I shall never see Beatrice again；〃 he whispered。 〃I pray you；
Nigel； that when there is a truce you will journey as far as my
father's chateau and tell him how his son died。 Young Gaston will
rejoice； for to him come the land and the coat； the war…cry and
the profit。 See them； Nigel； and tell them that I was as forward
as the others。〃
〃Indeed Raoul； no man could have carried himself with more honor
or won more worship than you have done this day。 I will do your
behest when the time comes。〃
〃Surely you are happy； Nigel；〃 the dying Squire murmured； 〃for
this day has given you one more deed which you may lay at the feet
of your lady…love。〃
〃It might have been so had we carried the gate；〃 Nigel answered
sadly； 〃but by Saint Paul！ I cannot count it a deed where I have
come back with my purpose unfulfilled。 But this is no time；
Raoul； to talk of my small affairs。 If we take the castle and I
bear a good part in it； then perchance all this may indeed avail。〃
The Frenchman sat up with that strange energy which comes often as
the harbinger of death。 〃You will win your Lady Mary； Nigel； and
your great deeds will be not three but a score； so that in all
Christendom there shall be no man of blood and coat…armor who has
not heard your name and your fame。 This I tell you … I； Raoul de
la Roche Pierre de Bras； dying upon the field of honor。 And now
kiss me； sweet friend； and lay me back； for the mists close round
me and I am gone！〃
With tender hands the Squire lowered his comrade's head； but even
as he did so there came a choking rush of blood； and the soul had
passed。 So died a gallant cavalier of France； and Nigel as he
knelt in the ditch beside him prayed that his own end might be as
noble and as debonair。
XXI。 HOW THE SECOND MESSENGER WENT TO COSFORD
Under cover of night the wounded men were lifted from the ditch
and carried back； whilst pickets of archers were advanced to the
very gate so that none should rebuild it。 Nigel； sick at heart
over his own failure； the death of his prisoner and his fears for
Aylward； crept back into the camp； but his cup was not yet full；
for Knolles was waiting for him with a tongue which cut like a
whip…lash。 Who was he； a raw squire； that he should lead an
attack without orders？ See what his crazy knight errantry had
brought about。 Twenty men had been destroyed by it and nothing
gained。 Their blood was on his head。 Chandos should hear of his
conduct。 He should be sent back to England when the castle had
fallen。
Such were the bitter words of Knolles； the more bitter because
Nigel felt in his heart that he had indeed done wrong； and that
Chandos would have said the same though； perchance； in kinder
words。 He listened in silent respect； as his duty was； and then
having saluted his leader he withdrew apart； threw himself down
amongst the bushes； and wept the hottest tears of his life；
sobbing bitterly with his face between his hands。 He had striven
hard； and yet everything had gone wrong with him。 He was bruised；
burned and aching from head to foot。 Yet so high is the spirit
above the body that all was nothing compared to the sorrow and
shame which racked his soul。
But a little thing changed the current of his thoughts and brought
some peace to his mind。 He had slipped off his mail gauntlets；
and as he did so his fingers lighted upon the tiny bangle which
Mary had fastened there when they stood together upon St。
Catharine's Hill on the Guildford Road。 He remembered the motto
curiously worked in filigree of gold。 It ran： 〃Fais ce que dois；
adviegne que pourra … c'est commande au chevalier。〃
The words rang in his weary brain。 He had done what seemed right；
come what might。 It had gone awry； it is true； but all things
human may do that。 If he had carried the castle； he felt that
Knolles would have forgiven and forgotten all else。 If he had not
carried it； it was no fault of his。 No man could have done more。
If Mary could see she would surely have approved。 Dropping into
sleep； he saw her dark face； shining with pride and with pity；
stooping over him as he lay。 She stretched out her hand in his
dream and touched him on the shoulder。 He sprang up and rubbed
his eyes； for fact had woven itself into dream in the strange way
that it does； and some one was indeed leaning over him in the
gloom； and shaking him from his slumbers。 But the gentle voice
and soft touch of the Lady Mary had changed suddenly to the harsh
accent