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they spurred their horses between the exhausted men。
Slowly the gallant Beaumanoir led the twenty…five men who were
left to their original station； where they opened their visors and
threw themselves down upon the grass； panting like weary dogs； and
wiping the sweat from their bloodshot eyes。 A pitcher of wine of
Anjou was carried round by a page； and each in turn drained a cup；
save only Beaumanoir who kept his Lent with such strictness that
neither food nor drink might pass his lips before sunset。 He
paced slowly amongst his men； croaking forth encouragement from
his parched lips and pointing out to them that among the English
there was scarce a man who was not wounded； and some so sorely
that they could hardly stand。 If the fight so far had gone
against them； there were still five hours of daylight； and much
might happen before the last of them was laid upon his back。
Varlets had rushed forth to draw away the two dead Bretons； and a
brace of English archers had carried Nigel from the field。 With
his own hands Aylward had unlaced the crushed helmet and had wept
to see the bloodless and unconscious face of his young master。 He
still breathed； however； and stretched upon the grass by the
riverside the bowman tended him with rude surgery； until the water
upon his brow and the wind upon his face had coaxed back the life
into his battered frame。 He breathed with heavy gasps； and some
tinge of blood crept hack into his cheeks； but still he lay
unconscious of the roar of the crowd and of that great struggle
which his comrades were now waging once again。
The English had lain for a space bleeding and breathless； in no
better case than their rivals； save that they were still
twenty…nine in number。 But of this muster there were not nine who
were hale men； and some were so weak from loss of blood that they
could scarce keep standing。 Yet； when the signal was at last
given to reengage there was not a man upon either side who did not
totter to his feet and stagger forward toward his enemies。
But the opening of this second phase of the combat brought one
great misfortune and discouragement to the English。 Bambro' like
the others； had undone his visor； but with his mind full of many
cares he had neglected to make it fast again。 There was an
opening an inch broad betwixt it and the beaver。 As the two lines
met the left…handed Breton squire； Alain de Karanais； caught sight
of Bambro's face； and in an instant thrust his short spear through
the opening。 The English leader gave a cry of pain and fell on
his knees； but staggered to his feet again； too weak to raise his
shield。 As he stood exposed the Breton knight； Geoffrey Dubois
the Strong； struck him such a blow with his ax that he beat in the
whole breast…plate with the breast behind it。 Bambro' fell dead
upon the ground and for a few minutes a fierce fight raged round
his body。
Then the English drew back； sullen and dogged； bearing Bambro'
with them； and the Bretons； breathing hard； gathered again in
their own quarter。 At the same instant the three prisoners picked
up such weapons as were scattered upon the grass and ran over to
join their own party。
〃Nay； nay！〃 cried Knolles； raising his visor and advancing。 〃This
may not be。 You have been held to mercy when we might have slain
you； and by the Virgin I will hold you dishonored； all three； if
you stand not back。〃
〃Say not so； Robert Knolles；〃 Evan Cheruel answered。 〃Never yet
has the word dishonor been breathed with my name； but I should
count myself faineant if I did not fight beside my comrades when
chance has made it right and proper that I should do so。〃
〃By Saint Cadoc！ he speaks truly；〃 croaked Beaumanoir； advancing
in front of his men。 〃You are well aware； Robert； that it is the
law of war and the usage of chivalry that if the knight to whom
you have surrendered is himself slain the prisoners thereby become
released。〃
There was no answer to this and Knolles； weary and spent； returned
to his comrades。 〃 I would that we had slain them；〃 said he。 〃We
have lost our leader and they have gained three men by the same
stroke。〃
〃If any more lay down their arms it is my order that you slay them
forthwith；〃 said Croquart； whose bent sword and bloody armor
showed how manfully he had borne himself in the fray。 〃And now；
comrades； do not be heavy…hearted because we have lost our leader。
Indeed； his rhymes of Merlin have availed him little。 By the
three kings of Almain！ I can teach you what is better than an old
woman's prophecies； and that is that you should keep your
shoulders together and your shields so close that none can break
between them。 Then you will know what is on either side of you；
and you can fix your eyes upon the front。 Also； if any be so weak
or wounded that he must sink his hands his comrades on right and
left can bear him up。 Now advance all together in God's name； for
the battle is still ours if we bear ourselves like men。〃
In a solid line the English advanced； while the Bretons ran
forward as before to meet them。 The swiftest of these was a
certain Squire； Geoffrey Poulart； who bore a helmet which was
fashioned as a cock's head； with high comb above； and long pointed
beak in front pierced with the breathing…holes。 He thrust with
his sword at Calverly； but Belford who was the next in the line
raised his giant club and struck him a crushing blow from the
side。 He staggered； and then pushing forth from the crowd； he ran
round and round in circles as one whose brain is stricken； the
blood dripping from the holes of his brazen beak。 So for a long
time he ran； the crowd laughing and cock…crowing at the sight；
until at last he stumbled and fell stone…dead upon his face。 But
the fighters had seen nothing of his fate； for desperate and
unceasing was the rush of the Bretons and the steady advance of
the English line：
For a time it seemed as if nothing would break it； but gap…toothed
Beaumanoir was a general as well as a warrior。 Whilst his weary；
bleeding； hard…breathing men still flung themselves upon the front
of the line； he himself with Raguenel； Tentiniac； Alain de
Karanais； and Dubois rushed round the flank and attacked the
English with fury from behind。 There was a long and desperate
melee until once more the heralds； seeing the combatants stand
gasping and unable to strike a blow； rode in and called yet
another interval of truce。
But in those few minutes whilst they had been assaulted upon both
sides； the losses of the English party had been heavy。 The
Anglo…Breton D'Ardaine had fallen before Beaumanoir's sword； but
not before he had cut deeply into his enemy's shoulder。 Sir
Thomas Walton； Richard of Ireland one of the Squires； and Hulbitee
the big peasant had all fallen before the mace of the dwarf
Raguenel or the swords of his companions。 Some twenty men were
still left standing upon either side； but all were in the last
state of exhaustion； gasping； reeling； hardly capable of striking
a blow。
It was strange to see them as they staggered with many a lurch and
stumble toward each other once again； for they moved like drunken
men； and the scales of their neck…armor and joints were as red as
fishes' gills when they raised them They left foul wet footprints
behind them on the green grass as they moved forward once more to
their endless contest。
Beaumanoir； faint with the drain of his blood and with a tongue of
leather； paused as he advanced。 〃I am fainting； comrades；〃 he
cried。 〃I must drink。〃
〃Drink your own blood； Beaumanoir！〃 cried Dubois； and the weary
men all croaked together in dreadful laughter。
But now the English had learned from experience； and under the
guidance of Croquart they fought no longer in a straight line； but
in one so bent that at last it became a circle。 As the Bretons
still pushed and staggered against it they thrust it back on every
side； until they had turned it into the most dangerous formation
of all； a solid block of men； their faces turned outward； their
weapons bristling forth to meet every attack。 Thus the English
stood； and no assault could move them。 They could lean against
each other back to back while they waited and allowed their foemen
to tire themselves out。 Again and again the gallant Bretons tried
to make a way through。 Again and again they were beaten back by a
shower of blows。
Beaumanoir； his head giddy with fatigue； opened his helmet and
gazed in despair at this terrible； unbreakable circle。 Only too
clearly he could see the inevitable result。 His men were wearing
themselves out。 Already many of them could scarce stir hand or
foot； and might be dead for any aid which they could give him in
winning the fight。 Soon all would be in the same plight。 Then
these cursed English would break their circle to swarm over his
helpless men and to strike them down。 Do what he might； he could
see no way by which such an end might be prevented。 He cast his
eyes round in his agony； and there was one of his Bretons slinking
away to the side of the lists。 He could scarce credit his senses
when he saw by the scarlet and silver that the deserter was his
own well…tried squire； William of M