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

barrier,andasIhadchancedtobreaktheboneofmylegitwasagreatuneaseformetorideoreventostand.Yet,bythegoodnessofheavenandthepiousintercessionofthevaliantSt.George,IwasabletositmychargerintheruffleofPoictiers,whichwasnoverylongtimeafterwards.Butwhathavewehere?Averyfairandcourtlymaiden,orImistake.” Itwasindeedatallandbuxomcountrylass,withabasketofspinach-leavesuponherhead,andagreatslabofbacontuckedunderonearm.ShebobbedafrightenedcurtseyasSirNigelswepthisvelvethatfromhisheadandreineduphisgreatcharger. “Godbewiththee,fairmaiden!”saidhe. “Godguardthee,mylord!”sheanswered,speakinginthebroadestWestSaxonspeech,andbalancingherselffirstononefootandthenontheotherinherbashfulness. “Fearnot,myfairdamsel,”saidSirNigel,“buttellmeifperchanceapoorandmostunworthyknightcaninanywisebeofservicetoyou.Shoulditchancethatyouhavebeenuseddespitefully,itmaybethatImayobtainjusticeforyou.” “Lawkno,kindsir,”sheanswered,clutchingherbaconthetighter,asthoughsomedesignuponitmightbehidunderthisknightlyoffer.“Ibethemilkingwencho'fairmerArnold,andhebeaskindamaisterasheartcouldwish.” “Itiswell,”saidhe,andwithashakeofthebridlerodeondownthewoodlandpath.“Iwouldhaveyoubearinmind,”hecontinuedtohissquires,“thatgentlecourtesyisnot,asisthebaseuseofsomanyfalseknights,tobeshownonlytomaidensofhighdegree,forthereisnowomansohumblethatatrueknightmaynotlistentohertaleofwrong.Butherecomesacavalierwhoisindeedinhaste.Perchanceitwouldbewellthatweshouldaskhimwhitherherides,foritmaybethatheisonewhodesirestoadvancehimselfinchivalry.” Thebleak,hard,wind-sweptroaddippeddowninfrontofthemintoalittlevalley,andthen,writhinguptheheathyslopeupontheotherside,lostitselfamongthegauntpine-trees.FarawaybetweentheblacklinesoftrunksthequickglitterofsteelmarkedwheretheCompanypursueditsway.Tothenorthstretchedthetreecountry,buttothesouth,betweentwoswellingdowns,aglimpsemightbecaughtofthecoldgrayshimmerofthesea,withthewhitefleckofagalleysailuponthedistantsky-line.Justinfrontofthetravellersahorsemanwasurginghissteeduptheslope,drivingitonwithwhipandspurasonewhoridesforasetpurpose.Asheclatteredup,Alleynecouldseethattheroanhorsewasgraywithdustandfleckedwithfoam,asthoughithadleftmanyamilebehindit.Theriderwasastern-facedman,hardofmouthanddryofeye,withaheavyswordclankingathisside,andastiffwhitebundleswathedinlinenbalancedacrossthepommelofhissaddle. “Theking'smessenger,”hebawledashecameuptothem.“Themessengeroftheking.Clearthecausewayfortheking'sownman.” “Notsoloudly,friend,”quoththelittleknight,reininghishorsehalfroundtobarthepath.“Ihavemyselfbeentheking'smanforthirtyyearsormore,butIhavenotbeenwonttohallooaboutitonapeacefulhighway.” “Irideinhisservice,”criedtheother,“andIcarrythatwhichbelongstohim.Youbarmypathatyourperil.” “YetIhaveknowntheking'senemiesclaimtorideinhissame,”saidSirNigel.“Thefoulfiendmaylurkbeneathagarmentoflight.Wemusthavesomesignorwarrantofyourmission.” “ThenmustIhewapassage,”criedthestranger,withhisshoulderbracedroundandhishanduponhishilt.“Iamnottobestoppedontheking'sservicebyeverygadabout.” “Shouldyoubeagentlemanofquarteringsandcoat-armor,”lispedSirNigel,“Ishallbeveryblithetogofurtherintothematterwithyou.Ifnot,Ihavethreeveryworthysquires,anyoneofwhomwouldtakethethinguponhimself,anddebateitwithyouinaveryhonorableway.” Themanscowledfromonetotheother,andhishandstoleawayfromhissword. “Youaskmeforasign,”hesaid.“Hereisasignforyou,sinceyoumusthaveone.”Ashespokehewhirledthecoveringfromtheobjectinfrontofhimandshowedtotheirhorrorthatitwasanewly-severedhumanleg.“ByGod'stooth!”hecontinued,withabrutallaugh,“youaskmeifIamamanofquarterings,anditisevenso,f