CHAPTER XIV. HOW SIR NIGEL SOUGHT FOR A WAYSIDE VENTURE.

ForatimeSirNigelwasverymoodyanddowncast,withbentbrowsandeyesuponthepommelofhissaddle.EdricsonandTerlakerodebehindhiminlittlebettercase,whileFord,acarelessandlight-heartedyouth,grinnedatthemelancholyofhiscompanions,andflourishedhislord'sheavyspear,makingapointtorightandapointtoleft,asthoughhewereapaladincontendingagainstahostofassailants.SirNigelhappened,however,toturnhimselfinhissaddle—Fordinstantlybecameasstiffandasrigidasthoughhehadbeenstruckwithapalsy.Thefourrodealone,forthearchershadpassedacurveintheroad,thoughAlleynecouldstillheartheheavyclump,clumpoftheirmarching,orcatchaglimpseofthesparkleofsteelthroughthetangleofleaflessbranches. “Ridebymyside,friends,Ientreatofyou,”saidtheknight,reininginhissteedthattheymightcomeabreastofhim.“For,sinceithathpleasedyoutofollowmetothewars,itwerewellthatyoushouldknowhowyoumaybestserveme.Idoubtnot,Terlake,thatyouwillshowyourselfaworthysonofavaliantfatherandyou,Ford,ofyoursandyou,Edricson,thatyouaremindfuloftheold-timehousefromwhichallmenknowthatyouaresprung.AndfirstIwouldhaveyoubearverysteadfastlyinmindthatoursettingforthisbynomeansforthepurposeofgainingspoilorexactingransom,thoughitmaywellhappenthatsuchmaycometousalso.WegotoFrance,andfromthenceItrusttoSpain,inhumblesearchofafieldinwhichwemaywinadvancementandperchancesomesmallshareofglory.ForthispurposeIwouldhaveyouknowthatitisnotmywonttoletanyoccasionpasswhereitisinanywaypossiblethathonormaybegained.Iwouldhaveyoubearthisinmind,andgivegreatheedtoitthatyoumaybringmewordofallcartels,challenges,wrongs,tyrannies,infamies,andwrongingofdamsels.Norisanyoccasiontoosmalltotakenoteof,forIhaveknownsuchtriflesasthedroppingofagauntlet,ortheflickingofabreadcrumb,whenwellandproperlyfollowedup,leadtoamostnoblespear-running.But,Edricson,doInotseeacavalierwhoridesdownyonderroadamongstthenethershaw?Itwouldbewell,perchance,thatyoushouldgivehimgreetingfromme.And,shouldhebeofgentleblooditmaybethathewouldcaretoexchangethrustswithme.” “Why,mylord,”quothFord,standinginhisstirrupsandshadinghiseyes,“itisoldHobDavidson,thefatmillerofMilton!” “Ah,soitis,indeed,”saidSirNigel,puckeringhischeeks“butwaysideventuresarenottobescorned,forIhaveseennofinerpassagesthanaretobehadfromsuchchancemeetings,whencavaliersarewillingtoadvancethemselves.IcanwellrememberthattwoleaguesfromthetownofRheimsImetaveryvaliantandcourteouscavalierofFrance,withwhomIhadgentleandmosthonorablecontentionforupwardsofanhour.IthathevergrievedmethatIhadnothisname,forhesmoteuponmewithamaceandwentuponhiswayereIwasinconditiontohavemuchspeechwithhimbuthisarmswereanallurioninchiefaboveafessazure.IwasalsoonsuchanoccasionthrustthroughtheshoulderbyLyondeMontcourt,whomImetonthehighroadbetwixtLibourneandBordeaux.Imethimbuttheonce,butIhaveneverseenamanforwhomIbearagreaterloveandesteem.AndsoalsowiththesquireLeBourgCapillet,whowouldhavebeenaveryvaliantcaptainhadhelived.” “Heisdeadthen?”askedAlleyneEdricson. “Alas!itwasmyillfatetoslayhiminabickeringwhichbrokeoutinafieldnearthetownshipofTarbes.Icannotcalltomindhowthethingcameabout,foritwasintheyearofthePrince'sridethroughLanguedoc,whentherewasmuchfineskirmishingtobehadatbarriers.BySt.Paul!IdonotthinkthatanyhonorablecavaliercouldaskforbetterchanceofadvancementthanmightbehadbyspurringforthbeforethearmyandridingtothegatewaysofNarbonne,orBergeracorMontGiscar,wheresomecourteousgentlemanwouldeverbeatwaittodowhathemighttomeetyourwishoreaseyouofyourvow.SuchaoneatVentadourranthreecourseswithmebetwixtdaybreakandsunrise,tothegreatexaltationofhislady.” “Anddidyouslayhimalso,mylord?”askedFordwithreverence. “Icouldneverlearn,forhewascarriedwithinthe