CHAPTER VI. HOW SAMKIN AYLWARD WAGERED HIS FEATHER-BED.

eorge,andthemoresoifSirNigelLoring,ofChristchurch,shoulddonhauberkoncemoreandtaketheleadofus.” “Ah,youwouldindeedbeinluckthen,”quothawoodman“foritissaidthat,settingasidetheprince,andmayhapgoodoldSirJohnChandos,therewasnotinthewholearmyamanofsuchtriedcourage.” “Itissooth,everywordofit,”thearcheranswered.“Ihaveseenhimwiththesetwoeyesinastrickenfield,andneverdidmancarryhimselfbetter.MonDieu!yes,yewouldnotcreditittolookathim,ortohearkentohissoftvoice,butfromthesailingfromOrwelldowntotheforaytoParis,andthatiscleartwentyyears,therewasnotaskirmish,onfall,sally,bushment,escaladoorbattle,butSirNigelwasintheheartofit.IgonowtoChristchurchwithalettertohimfromSirClaudeLatourtoaskhimifhewilltaketheplaceofSirJohnHawkwoodandthereisthemorechancethathewillifIbringoneortwolikelymenatmyheels.Whatsayyou,woodman:wiltleavethebuckstolooseashaftatanoblermark?” Theforestershookhishead.“IhavewifeandchildatEmeryDown,”quothhe“Iwouldnotleavethemforsuchaventure.” “You,then,youngsir?”askedthearcher. “Nay,Iamamanofpeace,”saidAlleyneEdricson.“Besides,Ihaveotherworktodo.” “Peste!”growledthesoldier,strikinghisflagonontheboarduntilthedishesdancedagain.“What,inthenameofthedevil,hathcomeoverthefolk?Whysityeallmopingbythefireside,likecrowsroundadeadhorse,whenthereisman'sworktobedonewithinafewshortleaguesofye?Outuponyouall,asasetoflaggardsandhang-backs!BymyhiltIbelievethatthemenofEnglandareallinFrancealready,andthatwhatisleftbehindareinsooththewomendressedupintheirpaltocksandhosen.” “Archer,”quothHordleJohn,“youhaveliedmorethanonceandmorethantwiceforwhich,andalsobecauseIseemuchinyoutodislike,Iamsorelytemptedtolayyouuponyourback.” “Bymyhilt!then,Ihavefoundamanatlast!”shoutedthebowman.“And,'foreGod,youareabettermanthanItakeyouforifyoucanlaymeonmyback,mongarcon.Ihavewontherammoretimesthantherearetoestomyfeet,andforsevenlongyearsIhavefoundnomanintheCompanywhocouldmakemyjerkindusty.” “Wehavehadenoughbobanceandboasting,”saidHordleJohn,risingandthrowingoffhisdoublet.“IwillshowyouthattherearebettermenleftinEnglandthaneverwentthievingtoFrance.” “PasquesDieu!”criedthearcher,looseninghisjerkin,andeyeinghisfoemanoverwiththekeenglanceofonewhoisajudgeofmanhood.“Ihaveonlyoncebeforeseensuchabodyofaman.Byyourleave,myred-headedfriend,IshouldberightsorrytoexchangebuffetswithyouandIwillallowthatthereisnomanintheCompanywhowouldpullagainstyouonaropesoletthatbeasalvetoyourpride.OntheotherhandIshouldjudgethatyouhaveledalifeofeaseforsomemonthsback,andthatmymuscleisharderthanyourown.Iamreadytowageruponmyselfagainstyouifyouarenotafeard.” “Afeard,thoulurden!”growledbigJohn.“IneversawthefaceyetofthemanthatIwasafeardof.Comeout,andweshallseewhoisthebetterman.” “Butthewager?” “Ihavenoughttowager.Comeoutfortheloveandthelustofthething.” “Noughttowager!”criedthesoldier.“Why,youhavethatwhichIcovetaboveallthings.ItisthatbigbodyofthinethatIamafter.See,now,mongarcon.IhaveaFrenchfeather-bedthere,whichIhavebeenatpainstokeeptheseyearsback.IhaditatthesackingofIssodun,andtheKinghimselfhathnotsuchabed.Ifyouthrowme,itisthinebut,ifIthrowyou,thenyouareunderavowtotakebowandbillandhiewithmetoFrance,theretoserveintheWhiteCompanyaslongaswebeenrolled.” “Afairwager!”criedallthetravellers,movingbacktheirbenchesandtrestles,soastogivefairfieldforthewrestlers. “Thenyoumaybidfarewelltoyourbed,soldier,”saidHordleJohn. “NayIshallkeepthebed,andIshallhaveyoutoFranceinspiteofyourteeth,andyoushalllivetothankmeforit.Howshallitbe,then,monenfant?Collarandelbow,orclose-lock,orcatchhowyoucan?” “Tothedevilwithyourtricks,”saidJohn,openingandshuttinghisgreatredhands.“Standforth,andletmeclipthee.” “Shaltclipmeasbestyoucanthen,”quoththearcher,movingoutintotheopenspace,andkeepingamostwaryeyeuponhisopponent.Hehadthrownoffhisgreenjerkin,andhischestwascoveredonlybyapinksilkjupon,orundershirt,cutlowintheneckandsleeveless.HordleJohnwasstrippedfromhiswaistupwards,andhishugebody,withhisgreatmusclesswellingoutlikethegnarledrootsofa