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

ondarkened,andhiseyesflashedwithresentment.“Forme,”hesaid,“Icarelittleforthiswar,andIfindthelifewhichIleadaveryjoyousandpleasantone.IwillnotgotoDax.” “Nay,thinkagain,SirClaude,”saidSirNigelgently“foryouhaveeverhadthenameofatrueandloyalknight.Surelyyouwillnotholdbacknowwhenyourmasterhathneedofyou.” “IwillnotgotoDax,”theothershouted. “Butyourdevoir—youroathoffealty?” “IsaythatIwillnotgo.” “Then,SirClaude,ImustleadtheCompanywithoutyou.” “Iftheywillfollow,”criedtheGasconwithasneer.“Thesearenothiredslaves,butfreecompanions,whowilldonothingsavebytheirowngoodwills.Inverysooth,myLordLoring,theyareillmentotriflewith,anditwereeasiertopluckabonefromahungrybearthantoleadabowmanoutofalandofplentyandofpleasure.” “ThenIprayyoutogatherthemtogether,”saidSirNigel,“andIwilltellthemwhatisinmymindforifIamtheirleadertheymusttoDax,andifIamnotthenIknownotwhatIamdoinginAuvergne.Havemyhorseready,Alleynefor,bySt.Paul!comewhatmay,Imustbeuponthehomewardroaderemid-day.” Ablastuponthebuglesummonedthebowmentocounsel,andtheygatheredinlittleknotsandgroupsaroundagreatfallentreewhichlayathwarttheglade.SirNigelspranglightlyuponthetrunk,andstoodwithblinkingeyeandfirmlipslookingdownattheringofupturnedwarlikefaces. “Theytellme,bowmen,”saidhe,“thatyehavegrownsofondofeaseandplunderandhighlivingthatyearenottobemovedfromthispleasantcountry.But,bySaintPaul!Iwillbelievenosuchthingofyou,forIcanreadilyseethatyouareallveryvaliantmen,whowouldscorntolivehereinpeacewhenyourprincehathsogreataventurebeforehim.Yehavechosenmeasaleader,andaleaderIwillbeifyecomewithmetoSpainandIvowtoyouthatmypennonofthefiverosesshall,ifGodgivemestrengthandlife,beeverwherethereismosthonortobegained.Butifitbeyourwishtolollandloiterintheseglades,barteringgloryandrenownforvilegoldandill-gottenriches,thenyemustfindanotherleaderforIhavelivedinhonor,andinhonorItrustthatIshalldie.IftherebeforestmenorHampshiremenamongstye,IcalluponthemtosaywhethertheywillfollowthebannerofLoring.” “Here'saRomseymanforyou!”criedayoungbowmanwithasprigofevergreensetinhishelmet. “AndaladfromAlresford!”shoutedanother. “AndfromMilton!” “AndfromBurley!” “AndfromLymington!” “AndalittleonefromBrockenhurst!”shoutedahuge-limbedfellowwhosprawledbeneathatree. “Bymyhilt!lads,”criedAylward,jumpinguponthefallentrunk,“Ithinkthatwecouldnotlookthegirlsintheeyesifwelettheprincecrossthemountainsanddidnotpullstringtoclearapathforhim.Itisverywellintimeofpeacetoleadsuchalifeaswehavehadtogether,butnowthewar-bannerisinthewindoncemore,an