CHAPTER XXXII. HOW THE COMPANY TOOK COUNSEL ROUND THE FALLEN TREE.

“WhereisSirClaudeLatour?”askedSirNigel,ashisfeettouchedground. “Heisincamp,nearMontpezat,twohours'marchfromhere,myfairlord,”saidJohnston,thegrizzledbowmanwhocommandedthearchers. “Thenweshallmarchthither,forIwouldfainhaveyouallbackatDaxintimetobeintheprince'svanguard.” “Mylord,”criedAlleyne,joyfully,“hereareourchargersinthefield,andIseeyourharnessamidtheplunderwhichtheserogueshaveleftbehindthem.” “BySaintIves!youspeaksooth,youngsquire,”saidDuGuesclin.“Thereismyhorseandmylady'sjennet.Theknavesledthemfromthestables,butfledwithoutthem.Now,Nigel,itisgreatjoytometohaveseenoneofwhomIhaveoftenheard.Yetwemustleaveyounow,forImustbewiththeKingofSpainereyourarmycrossesthemountains.” “IhadthoughtthatyouwereinSpainwiththevaliantHenryofTrastamare.” “Ihavebeenthere,butIcametoFrancetoraisesuccorforhim.Ishallrideback,Nigel,withfourthousandofthebestlancesofFranceatmyback,sothatyourprincemayfindhehathataskwhichisworthyofhim.Godbewithyou,friend,andmaywemeetagaininbettertimes!” “Idonotthink,”saidSirNigel,ashestoodbyAlleyne'ssidelookingaftertheFrenchknightandhislady,“thatinallChristendomyouwillmeetwithamorestout-heartedmanorafairerandsweeterdame.Butyourfaceispaleandsad,Alleyne!Haveyouperchancemetwithsomehurtduringtheruffle?” “Nay,myfairlord,IwasbutthinkingofmyfriendFord,andhowhesatuponmycouchnolaterthanyesternight.” SirNigelshookhisheadsadly.“TwobravesquireshaveIlost,”saidhe.“Iknownotwhytheyoungshootsshouldbeplucked,andanoldweedleftstanding,yetcertestheremustbesomegoodreason,sinceGodhathsoplannedit.Didyounotnote,Alleyne,thattheLadyTiphainedidgiveuswarninglastnightthatdangerwascominguponus?” “Shedid,mylord.” “BySaintPaul!mymindmisgivesmeastowhatshesawatTwynhamCastle.AndyetIcannotthinkthatanyScottishorFrenchroverscouldlandinsuchforceastobeleaguerthefortalice.CalltheCompanytogether,Aylwardandletuson,foritwillbeshametousifwearenotatDaxuponthetrystingday.” Thearchershadspreadthemselvesovertheruins,butablastuponabuglebroughtthemallbacktomuster,withsuchbootyastheycouldbearwiththemstuffedintotheirpouchesorslungovertheirshoulders.Astheyformedintoranks,eachmandroppingsilentlyintohisplace,SirNigelranaquestioningeyeoverthem,andasmileofpleasureplayedoverhisface.Tallandsinewy,andbrown,clear-eyed,hard-featured,withthesternandpromptbearingofexperiencedsoldiers,itwouldbehardindeedforaleadertoseekforachoicerfollowing.HereandthereintherankswereoldsoldiersoftheFrenchwars,grizzledandlean,withfierce,puckeredfeaturesandshaggy,bristlingbrows.Themost,however,wereyoungan