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

tleftforus.” “Onthecontrary,”quothSirNigel,“thereismuchlefttous,forthereisaveryhonorablecontentionbeforeus,andafairladyforwhomtogiveourlives.Therearemanywaysinwhichamanmightdie,butnonebetterthanthis.” “Youcantellus,Godfrey,”saidDuGuesclintotheFrenchsquire:“howcamethesemenintothecastle,andwhatsuccorscanwecountupon?BySt.Ives!ifwecomenotquicklytosomecounselweshallbeburnedlikeyoungrooksinanest.” Thesquire,adark,slenderstripling,spokefirmlyandquickly,asonewhowastrainedtoswiftaction.“Thereisapassageundertheearthintothecastle,”saidhe,“andthroughitsomeoftheJacksmadetheirway,castingopenthegatesfortheothers.Theyhavehadhelpfromwithinthewalls,andthemen-at-armswereheavywithwine:theymusthavebeenslainintheirbeds,forthesedevilscreptfromroomtoroomwithsoftstepandreadyknife.SirAmorytheHospitallerwasstruckdownwithanaxeasherushedbeforeusfromhissleeping-chamber.Saveonlyourselves,Idonotthinkthatthereareanyleftalive.” “What,then,wouldyoucounsel?” “Thatwemakeforthekeep.Itisunused,saveintimeofwar,andthekeyhangsfrommypoorlordandmaster'sbelt.” “Therearetwokeysthere.” “Itisthelarger.Oncethere,wemightholdthenarrowstairandatleast,asthewallsareofagreaterthickness,itwouldbelongereretheycouldburnthem.Couldwebutcarrytheladyacrossthebailey,allmightbewellwithus.” “Naytheladyhathseensomethingoftheworkofwar,”saidTiphainecomingforth,aswhite,asgrave,andasunmovedasever.“Iwouldnotbeahampertoyou,mydearspouseandgallantfriend.Restassuredofthis,thatifallelsefailIhavealwaysasafeguardhere”—drawingasmallsilver-hiltedponiardfromherbosom—“whichsetsmebeyondthefearofthesevileandblood-stainedwretches.” “Tiphaine,”criedDuGuesclin,“Ihavealwayslovedyouandnow,byOurLadyofRennes!Iloveyoumorethanever.DidInotknowthatyourhandwillbeasreadyasyourwordsIwouldmyselfturnmylastblowuponyou,ereyoushouldfallintotheirhands.Leadon,Godfrey!AnewgoldenpyxwillshineintheminsterofDinanifwecomesafelythroughwithit.” Theattentionoftheinsurgentshadbeendrawnawayfrommurdertoplunder,andalloverthecastlemightbeheardtheircriesandwhoopsofdelightastheydraggedforththerichtapestries,thesilverflagons,andthecarvedfurniture.Downinthecourtyardhalf-cladwretches,theirbarelimbsallmottledwithblood-stains,struttedaboutwithplumedhelmetsupontheirheads,orwiththeLadyRochefort'ssilkengownsgirtroundtheirloinsandtrailingonthegroundbehindthem.Casksofchoicewinehadbeenrolledoutfromthecellars,andstarvingpeasantssquatted,gobletinhand,drainingoffvintageswhichDeRocheforthadsetasidefornobleandroyalguests.Others,withslabsofbaconandjointsofdriedmeatupontheendsoftheirpikes,heldthemuptotheblazeortoreatthemravenouslywiththeirteeth.Yetallorderhadnotbeenlostamongstthem,forsomehundredsofthebetterarmedstoodtogetherinasilentgroup,leaningupontheirrudeweaponsandlookingupatthefire,whichhadspreadsorapidlyastoinvolveonewholesideofthecastle.AlreadyAlleynecouldhearthecracklingandroaringoftheflames,whiletheairwasheavywithheatandfullofthepungentwhiffofburningwood.