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

d,bythesetenfinger-bones!ifhegoalone,oldSamkinAylwardwillwalkbesideit.” ThesewordsfromamanaspopularasAylwarddecidedmanyofthewaverers,andashoutofapprovalburstfromhisaudience. “Farbeitfromme,”saidSirClaudeLatoursuavely,“topersuadeyouagainstthisworthyarcher,oragainstSirNigelLoringyetwehavebeentogetherinmanyventures,andperchanceitmaynotbeamissifIsaytoyouwhatIthinkuponthematter.” “PeaceforthelittleGascon!”criedthearchers.“Leteverymanhavehisword.Shootstraightforthemark,lad,andfairplayforall.” “Bethinkyou,then,”saidSirClaude,“thatyougounderahardrule,withneitherfreedomnorpleasure—andforwhat?Forsixpenceaday,atthemostwhilenowyoumaywalkacrossthecountryandstretchouteitherhandtogatherinwhateveryouhaveamindfor.WhatdowenothearofourcomradeswhohavegonewithSirJohnHawkwoodtoItaly?InonenighttheyhaveheldtoransomsixhundredoftherichestnoblemenofMantua.Theycampbeforeagreatcity,andthebaseburgherscomeforthwiththekeys,andthentheymakegreatspoilor,ifitpleasethembetter,theytakesomanyhorse-loadsofsilverasacompositionandsotheyjourneyonfromstatetostate,richandfreeandfearedbyall.Now,isnotthattheproperlifeforasoldier?” “Theproperlifeforarobber!”roaredHordleJohn,inhisthunderingvoice. “AndyetthereismuchinwhattheGasconsays,”saidaswarthyfellowinaweather-staineddoublet“andIforonewouldratherprosperinItalythanstarveinSpain.” “Youwerealwaysacurandatraitor,MarkShaw,”criedAylward.“Bymyhilt!ifyouwillstandforthanddrawyourswordIwillwarrantyouthatyouwillseeneitheronenortheother.” “Nay,Aylward,”saidSirNigel,“wecannotmendthematterbybroiling.SirClaude,Ithinkthatwhatyouhavesaiddoesyoulittlehonor,andifmywordsaggrieveyouIameverreadytogodeeperintothematterwithyou.Butyoushallhavesuchmenaswillfollowyou,andyoumaygowhereyouwill,sothatyoucomenotwithus.Letallwholovetheirprinceandcountrystandfast,whilethosewhothinkmoreofawell-linedpursestepforthuponthefartherside.” Thirteenbowmen,withhungheadsandsheepishfaces,steppedforwardwithMarkShawandrangedthemselvesbehindSirClaude.Amidthehootingsandhissingsoftheircomrades,theymarchedofftogethertotheGascon'shut,whilethemainbodybrokeuptheirmeetingandsetcheerilytoworkpackingtheirpossessions,furbishingtheirweapons,andpreparingforthemarchwhichlaybeforethem.OvertheTarnandtheGaronne,throughthevastquagmiresofArmagnac,pasttheswift-flowingLosse,andsodownthelongvalleyoftheAdour,therewasmanyalongleaguetobecrossederetheycouldjointhemselvestothatdarkwar-cloudwhichwasdriftingslowlysouthwardstothelineofthesnowypeaks,beyondwhichthebannerofEnglandhadneveryetbeenseen.