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

ddandyarchers,withfreshEnglishfaces,theirbeardscombedout,theirhaircurlingfromundertheirclosesteelhufkens,withgoldorjewelledearringsgleamingintheirears,whiletheirgold-spangledbaldrics,theirsilkenbelts,andthechainswhichmanyofthemworeroundtheirthickbrownnecks,allspokeofthebravetimeswhichtheyhadhadasfreecompanions.Eachhadayeworhazelstaveslungoverhisshoulder,plainandserviceablewiththeoldermen,butgaudilypaintedandcarvedateitherendwiththeothers.Steelcaps,mailbrigandines,whitesurcoatswiththeredlionofSt.George,andswordorbattle-axeswingingfromtheirbelts,completedthisequipment,whileinsomecasesthemurderousmauleorfive-footmalletwashungacrossthebowstave,beingfastenedtotheirleathernshoulder-beltbyahookinthecentreofthehandle.SirNigel'sheartbeathighashelookedupontheirfreebearingandfearlessfaces. Fortwohourstheymarchedthroughforestandmarshland,alongtheleftbankoftheriverAveyronSirNigelridingbehindhisCompany,withAlleyneathisrighthand,andJohnston,theoldmasterbowman,walkingbyhisleftstirrup.Eretheyhadreachedtheirjourney'sendtheknighthadlearnedallthathewouldknowofhismen,theirdoingsandtheirintentions.Once,astheymarched,theysawuponthefurtherbankoftheriverabodyofFrenchmen-at-arms,ridingveryswiftlyinthedirectionofVillefranche. “ItistheSeneschalofToulouse,withhisfollowing,”saidJohnston,shadinghiseyeswithhishand.“Hadhebeenonthissideofthewaterhemighthaveattemptedsomethinguponus.” “Ithinkthatitwouldbewellthatweshouldcross,”saidSirNigel.“Itwerepitytobalkthisworthyseneschal,shouldhedesiretotrysomesmallfeatofarms.” “Nay,thereisnofordnearerthanTourville,”answeredtheoldarcher.“HeisonhiswaytoVillefranche,andshortwillbetheshriftofanyJackswhocomeintohishands,forheisamanofshortspeech.ItwasheandtheSeneschalofBeaucairewhohungPeterWilkins,oftheCompany,lastLammastideforwhich,bytheblackroodofWaltham!theyshallhangthemselves,ifevertheycomeintoourpower.Buthereareourcomrades,SirNigel,andhereisourcamp.” Ashespoke,theforestpathwayalongwhichtheymarchedopenedoutintoagreenglade,whichslopeddowntowardstheriver.High,leaflesstreesgirtitinonthreesides,withathickundergrowthofhollybetweentheirtrunks.Atthefartherendofthisforestclearingtherestoodfortyorfiftyhuts,builtveryneatlyfromwoodandclay,withthebluesmokecurlingoutfromtheroofs.Adozentetheredhorsesandmulesgrazedaroundtheencampment,whileanumberofarchersloungedabout:someshootingatmarks,whileothersbuiltupgreatwoodenfiresintheopen,andhungtheircookingkettlesabovethem.Atthesightoftheirreturningcomradestherewasashoutofwelcome,andahorseman,whohadbeenexercisingh