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

ischargerbehindthecamp,camecanteringdowntothem.Hewasadapper,briskman,veryrichlyclad,witharound,clean-shavenface,andverybrightblackeyes,whichdancedandsparkledwithexcitement. “SirNigel!”hecried.“SirNigelLoring,atlast!Bymysoulwehaveawaitedyouthismonthpast.Rightwelcome,SirNigel!Youhavehadmyletter?” “Itwasthatwhichbroughtmehere,”saidSirNigel.“Butindeed,SirClaudeLatour,itisagreatwondertomethatyoudidnotyourselfleadthesebowmen,forsurelytheycouldhavefoundnobetterleader?” “None,none,bytheVirginofL'Esparre!”hecried,speakinginthestrange,thickGasconspeechwhichturnseveryvintoab.“Butyouknowwhattheseislandersofyoursare,SirNigel.Theywillnotbeledbyanysavetheirownbloodandrace.Thereisnopersuadingthem.NotevenI,ClaudeLatourSeigneurofMontchateau,masterofthehighjustice,themiddleandthelow,couldgaintheirfavor.Theymustneedsholdacouncilandputtheirtwohundredthickheadstogether,andthentherecomesthisfellowAylwardandanother,astheirspokesmen,tosaythattheywilldisbandunlessanEnglishmanofgoodnamebesetoverthem.Therearemanyofthem,asIunderstand,whocomefromsomegreatforestwhichliesinHampi,orHampti—Icannotlaymytonguetothename.Yourdwellingisinthoseparts,andsotheirthoughtsturnedtoyouastheirleader.Butwehadhopedthatyouwouldbringahundredmenwithyou.” “TheyarealreadyatDax,whereweshalljointhem,”saidSirNigel.“Butletthemenbreaktheirfast,andweshallthentakecounselwhattodo.” “Comeintomyhut,”saidSirClaude.“ItisbutpoorfarethatIcanlaybeforeyou—milk,cheese,wine,andbacon—yetyoursquireandyourselfwilldoubtlessexcuseit.Thisismyhousewherethepennonfliesbeforethedoor—asmallresidencetocontaintheLordofMontchateau.” SirNigelsatsilentanddistraitathismeal,whileAlleynehearkenedtotheclatteringtongueoftheGascon,andtohistalkofthegloriesofhisownestate,hissuccessesinlove,andhistriumphsinwar. “Andnowthatyouarehere,SirNigel,”hesaidatlast,“Ihavemanyfineventuresallreadyforus.IhaveheardthatMontpezatisofnogreatstrength,andthattherearetwohundredthousandcrownsinthecastle.AtCastelnaualsothereisacobblerwhoisinmypay,andwhowillthrowusaropeanydarknightfromhishousebythetownwall.Ipromiseyouthatyoushallthrustyourarmselbow-deepamonggoodsilverpieceserethenightsaremoonlessagainforoneveryhandofusarefairwomen,richwine,andgoodplunder,asmuchasheartcouldwish.” “Ihaveotherplans,”answeredSirNigelcurtly“forIhavecomehithertoleadthesebowmentothehelpoftheprince,ourmaster,whomayhavesoreneedofthemerehesetPedrouponthethroneofSpain.ItismypurposetostartthisverydayforDaxupontheAdour,wherehehathnowpitchedhiscamp.” ThefaceoftheGasc