The White Company

and west-he might turn where he would, but all was equally chill and cheerless. The Abbot had rolled ten silver crowns in a lettuce-leaf and hid them away in the bottom of his scrip, but that would

walked fast he might yet overtake his friends ere they reached their destination. He pushed on therefore, now walking and now running.

Mark Ash with its giant beech-trees, and on through the Knightwood groves, where the giant oak was already a great tree, but only one of many comely brothers. They plodded along together, the woodman and Alleyne, with little talk on either side, for their thoughts were as far asunder as the poles. The peasant's gossip had been of the hunt, of the bracken, of the gray-headed kites that had nested in Wood Fidley, and of the grea

clumps of trees, and topping each other in long, low curves up to the dark lines of forest in the furthest distance. Clouds of insects danced and buzzed in the golden autumn light, and the air was full of the piping of the song-birds. Long, glinting dragonflies shot across the path, or hung tremul

black-bearded man, mounted on a brown horse, with a rosary in his right hand and a long two-handed sword jangling against his stirrup-iron. By his black robe and the eight-pointed cross upon his sleeve, Alleyne recognized him as one of the Knights Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem, whose presbytery was at Baddesley. He held up two fingers as he passed, with a "Benedic, fili mi!" whereat Alleyne doffed hat and bent knee, looking with much reverence at one who had devoted his life to the overthrow of the infidel. Poor simple lad! he had not learned yet that what men are and what men profess to be

d out beneath that no house could have been drier. Under this canopy of green two men were already squatted, who waved their hands to Alleyne that he should join them. As he approached he saw that they had five dried herrings laid out in front of them, with a great hunch of wheaten bread and a leathern flask full of milk, but instead of setting to at their food they appeared to have forgot all ab

puer. Heed not the face of my good coz here. Foenum habet in cor

d: Loquaces si sapiat--How doth it run? The English o't being that a man of sense should ever avoi

er argumentum, that I am a talker, then the true reasoning runs that since all men of sense should avoid me, and thou hast not avoided me, but art at the present moment eating her

ill-wheel. Sit down here, friend, and partake of this herring. Underst

humor of the twain, "that a tranchoir of bread

und me; it is an aura. I tell you, coz, that no man can come within seventeen feet of me without catching a spark. Look at your own case. A duller man never steppe

you shall have and the bread also, friend, together wit

he fat man. "But I pray you, good youth, to tell us whether you are a lea

ing at his herring, "but I have been at neither of these plac

both together. "What sort

git adire Corinthu

no call to side with either of us. Now, attention, friend, and let your ears work as well as your nether jaw. Judex damnatur-you know the ol

the crack-brained fantasies of the muddy Scotchman, who hath hid such little wit as he has under so vast a pile of words, tha

hat subtle essence which we call thought. For I hold with the learned Scotus that thought is in very truth a thing, even as vapor or fumes, or many other substances which our gross bodily eyes are blind to. For, look

en thought is gone I prythee where are the things then? Here are trees about us, and I see them because I think I see them, but if I have swoone

syllogism, attack and refutation. Question clattered upon answer like a sword on a buckler. The ancients, the fathers of the Church, the moderns, the Scriptures, the Arabians, were each sent hurtling against the other, while the rain still dripped and the dark holly-leaves glistened with the moisture. At l

u have eaten my herrings, and I w

ratio, as the orators have it. For, coz, since all thoughts are things, you have but to t

ng forward, he caught his comrade a rousing smack across his rosy cheek. "Nay, take it not amiss,"

ood was so light and rotten that it went to a thousand splinters, but Alleyne thought it best to leave the twain to settle the matter at their leisure, the more so as the sun was shining brightly once more. Looking bac

k dark column of smoke marked their position and hinted at the coarse plenty within. By these signs Alleyne knew that he was on the very fringe of the forest, and therefore no great way from Christchurch. The sun was lying low in the west and shooting its level rays across the long sweep of rich green country, glinting on the white-fleeced sheep and throwing long shadows from the red kine who waded knee-deep in the juicy clover. Right glad was the traveller to see the high tower of Christchurch Priory gleaming in

ad I such cursed luck. A murrain on the bones! I have not thrown a go

his great fingers, "that makes seven. Ho, archer,

ow, by my ten finger bones! this is a rare sight to mine eyes." He sprang up and threw his arms round Alleyne's neck, while John, no less pleased, but more b

patting Alleyne all over in his delig

, with a pringling in the e

nd the devil may fly away with the Abbot of Beaulieu! But your feet and h

ght of the king, his coming upon his brother, with all the tale of the black welcome and of the fair damsel. They strode on either side, each with an ear slanting towards

ne, trotting after him a

for Minst

in the nam

What! hale a demoiselle against her will, and

and entreaties, they got his head round for Christchurch once more. Yet he walked with his chin upon his should

you also. Why should not the workman carry his tools? W

riend Aylward hath be

fallen into the hands of the tardvenus. But, by my hilt! you must render them back to me, camar

did but wish to learn the feel of them, since I am like to ha

d indeed it gives me unease not to feel my yew-stave tapping against my leg bone. But see, mes garcons, on this side of the church rises th

is more than I could vouch. How black is the great tower, and how bright the

; for it is likely that Sir Nigel, being so renowned a soldier, may keep hard discipline within the walls, and let no man enter after sundown." So saying, he q

und, boar-hound, blood-hound, wolf-hound, mastiff, alaun, talbot, lurcher, terrier, spaniel-snapping, yelling and whining, with score of lolling tongues and waving tails, came surging down the narrow lane which leads from the Twynham kennels to the bank of Avon. Two russet-clad varlets, with loud halloo and cracking whips, walked thigh-deep amid the swarm, guiding, controlling, and urging. Behind came Sir Nigel hims

distance he seemed to have the slight limbs and swift grace of a boy. His face, however, was tanned of a dull yellow tint, with a leathery, poreless look, which spoke of rough outdoor doings, and the little pointed beard which he wore, in deference to the prevailing fashion, was streaked and shot with gray. His features were small, delicate, and regular, with clear-cut, curving nose, and eyes which jutted forward from the lids. His dress was simple and yet spruce. A Flandrish hat of beevor, bearing in the band the token of Our Lady of Embrun, was drawn low upon the left side to hide that ear which had been

d ungraceful outlines of her figure. It was the age of martial women. The deeds of black Agnes of Dunbar, of Lady Salisbury and of the Countess of Montfort, were still fresh in the public minds. With such examples before them the wives of the English captains had become as warlike as their mates, and ordered their castles in their absence with the prudence and discipline of veteran seneschals. Right easy were the Montacutes of their Castle of Twynham, and l

de Doon de Mayence, as I found her yesternight, pretending sleep, the artful, with the corner of the scroll thrusting forth from under her pillow. Lent her by Father Christo

his gold drageoir. "The maid is like the young filly, which kicks heel

k across my shoulders. Ma foi! I know not what the world is coming to, when young

my own flesh and blood. It was a woman's hand which cast this lime into mine eyes, and though I saw her stoop, and

nching her broad right hand. "I wo

r, in sooth, this peaceful life is not for me, and were it not for your gracious kindness and loving care I could not abide it a week. I hear that there is talk of warlike muster at Bordeau

and riveting of old harness. Consider my sweet lord, that you have already won much honor, that we have seen but little of each other, that you bear up

also seen some bickering and scuffling. Six great land battles I count, with four upon sea, and seven and fifty onfalls, skirmishes and bushments. I have held two and twenty towns, and I have been at the intaking of thirty-one. Surely then it would be bitter shame to me, and also to you, since my fame is yours, that I should now hold back if a man's work is to be done. Besides, bet

, should speed you on to glory and renown, not hold you back when fame is to be won. Yet what can I say, for all men know that your valor needs the curb and not the spur. It goes to my heart

t that, my swee

ttered the crowns among page and archer and varlet, until in a week you had not as much as woul

dross!"

John Chandos, chosen flower of English chivalry, is himself but a humble knight. But meanwhile fret not thyself, my heart's dove, for it is like that there may be no war waged, and

walked a huge red-headed man, with broad smile and merry twinkle, whose clothes seemed to be bursting and splitting at every seam, as though he were some lusty chick who was breaking bravely from his shell. On the other side, with his knotted hand upon the young man's shoulder, came a stout and burly archer, brown and fierce eyed, with sword at belt and long yellow yew-stave

gh in sooth I have seen you oftener in steel than in velvet. I have drawn string besi

ace is known, though mine eyes play such tricks with me that I can scarce be sure of my own squire. Rest awhile, and you shall come to the hall anon and tell us w

. But I bring you this letter from the valiant Gascon knight, Sir Claude Latour. And to you, Lady," he added after a pause, "I bring from hi

lord in the letter, which they held between them, a hand on either corner, spelling it out very slowly, with drawn brows and muttering lips. As they rea

ot leave the old dog in his kennel when the game

have but a good huntsman to halloo them on. Sir, we have been in the wars together, and I have seen many a brave follow

e their messenger, they are indeed men of whom

Hundred of Easebourne an

giant be

a forest man, who hath now t

e to that great stone from the coping which hath fallen upon the bridge. Four of my lazy varlets strove this day to carry it henc

jerkin, but with no very hopeful countenance, for indeed it was a mighty rock. John, however, put him aside with his left hand, and, stooping over the stone, he plucked it single-handed f

!" cried his lady, while John stood laughing

thought of it. This other comrade of mine is a right learned clerk, for all that h

are of the same way of thought as your brothe

t that they have no thought in common; for this very day his br

ed Sir Nigel. "Hast had small experience of w

e," Alleyne answered; "but I am a man of pe

t hinder," qu

monk's gown trussed to his knees, over his sandals in blood in the fore-front of the battle. Yet, ere the last string had twanged, he would be down on his four bones among the stricken

r's romance. I remember well that, at the siege of Retters, there was a little, sleek, fat clerk of the name of Chaucer, who was so apt at rondel, sirvente, or tonson, that no man dare give back a foot from the walls, lest he find it all set down in his rhymes and sung by e

dropped behind and followed: Aylward much the lighter for having accomplished his mission, Alleyne full of wonderment at th

man?" asked Ayl

ned and bejaped,"

ir Samson t

Balaam the f

yet I hold converse with the very creature that spake to

me under a leader who was second to none in all England for valor? Yet here you bring me to a shred of a man, peaky and ill-no

ughed aloud. "I will ask you what you think of him three

while close behind came lumbering a huge black bear, with red tongue lolling from his mouth, and a broken chain jangling behind him. To right and left the folk flew for arch and doorway. Hordle John caught up the Lady Loring as though she had been a feather, and sprang with her into an open porch; while Aylward, with a whirl of French oaths, plucked at his quiver and tried to unsling his bow. Alleyne, all unnerved at so strange and unwonted a sight, shrunk up against the wall with his eyes fixed upon the frenzied creature, which came bounding along with ungainly speed, looking the larger in the uncertain light, its huge jaws agape, with blood and slaver trickling to the ground. Sir Nigel alone, unconscious to all appearance of the uni

its path. Most scared of all was he to find that the creature had come nigh to harm the Lord and Lady of the castle, who had power to place him in the stretch-neck or to have the skin scourged from his shoulders. Yet, when he came with bowed hea

e gate, John plucked at Aylward'

a fool not to know that a little rooster may be the gamest.