CHAPTER XXX. HOW THE BRUSHWOOD MEN CAME TO THE CHATEAU OF VILLEFRANCHE.

tsorecentlyuponhisowncouch.WithacryofhorrorAlleynesprangfromhisbedandrushedtothecasement,whilethetwoarchers,arousedbythesound,seizedtheirweaponsandstaredabouttheminbewilderment.OneglancewasenoughtoshowEdricsonthathisfearswerebuttootrue.Foullymurdered,withascoreofwoundsuponhimandaroperoundhisneck,hispoorfriendhadbeencastfromtheupperwindowandswungslowlyinthenightwind,hisbodyraspingagainstthewallandhisdisfiguredfaceuponalevelwiththecasement. “MyGod!”criedAlleyne,shakingineverylimb.“Whathascomeuponus?Whatdevil'sdeedisthis?” “Hereisflintandsteel,”saidJohnstolidly.“Thelamp,Aylward!Thismoonshinesoftensaman'sheart.NowwemayusetheeyeswhichGodhathgivenus.” “Bymyhilt!”criedAylward,astheyellowflameflickeredup,“itisindeedyoungmasterFord,andIthinkthatthisseneschalisablackvillain,whodarenotfaceusinthedaybutwouldmurtherusinoursleep.Bythetwangofstring!ifIdonotsoakagoose'sfeatherwithhisheart'sblood,itwillbenofaultofSamkinAylwardoftheWhiteCompany.” “But,Aylward,thinkofthemenwhomIsawyesternight,”saidAlleyne.“Itmaynotbetheseneschal.Itmaybethatothershavecomeintothecastle.ImusttoSirNigelereitbetoolate.Letmego,Aylward,formyplaceisbyhisside.” “Onemoment,mongar.Putthatsteelhead-pieceontheendofmyyew-stave.So!Iwillputitfirstthroughthedoorforitisilltocomeoutwhenyoucanneitherseenorguardyourself.Now,camarades,outswordsandstandready!Hola,bymyhilt!itistimethatwewerestirring!” Ashespoke,asuddenshoutingbrokeforthinthecastle,withthescreamofawomanandtherushofmanyfeet.Thencamethesharpclinkofclashingsteel,andaroarlikethatofanangrylion—“NotreDameDuGuesclin!St.Ives!St.Ives!”Thebow-manpulledbacktheboltofthedoor,andthrustouttheheadpieceattheendofthebow.Aclash,theclatterofthesteel-capupontheground,and,erethemanwhostruckcouldheaveupforanotherblow,thearcherhadpassedhisswordthroughhisbody.“On,camarades,on!”hecriedand,breakingfiercelypasttwomenwhothrewthemselvesinhisway,hespeddownthebroadcorridorinthedirectionoftheshouting. Asharpturning,andthenasecondone,broughtthemtotheheadofashortstair,fromwhichtheylookedstraightdownuponthesceneoftheuproar.Asquareoak-flooredhalllaybeneaththem,fromwhichopenedthedoorsoftheprincipalguest-chambers.Thishallwasaslightasday,fortorchesburnedinnumeroussconcesuponthewalls,throwingstrangeshadowsfromthetuskedorantleredheadswhichornamentedthem.Attheveryfootofthestair,closetotheopendooroftheirchamber,laytheseneschalandhiswife:shewithherheadshornfromhershoulders,hethrustthroughwithasharpenedstake,whichstillprotrudedfromeithersideofhisbody.Threeservantsofthecastlelaydeadbesidethem,alltornanddraggled,asthoughapackofwolveshadbeenuponthem.Infrontofthecentralguest-chamberstoodDuGuesclinandSirNigel,half-cladandunarmored,withthemadjoyofbattlegleamingintheireyes.Theirheadswerethrownback,theirlipscompressed,theirblood-stainedswordspoisedovertheirrightshoulders,andtheirleftfeetthrownout.Threedeadmenlayhuddledtogetherinfrontofthem:whileafourth,withthebloodsquirtingfromaseveredves