CHAPTER XXXIII. HOW THE ARMY MADE THE PASSAGE OF RONCESVALLES.

ThewholevastplainofGasconyandofLanguedocisanaridandprofitlessexpanseinwintersavewheretheswift-flowingAdourandhersnow-fedtributaries,theLouts,theOloronandthePau,rundowntotheseaofBiscay.SouthoftheAdourthejaggedlineofmountainswhichfringethesky-linesendoutlonggraniteclaws,runningdownintothelowlandsanddividingtheminto“gaves”orstretchesofvalley.Hillocksgrowintohills,andhillsintomountains,eachrangeoverlyingitsneighbor,untiltheysoarupinthegiantchainwhichraisesitsspotlessanduntroddenpeaks,whiteanddazzling,againstthepalebluewintrysky. Aquietlandisthis—alandwheretheslow-movingBasque,withhisflatbiretta-cap,hisredsashandhishempensandals,tillshisscantyfarmordriveshisleanflocktotheirhill-sidepastures.Itisthecountryofthewolfandtheisard,ofthebrownbearandthemountain-goat,alandofbarerockandofrushingwater.YethereitwasthatthewillofagreatprincehadnowassembledagallantarmysothatfromtheAdourtothepassesofNavarrethebarrenvalleysandwind-sweptwasteswerepopulouswithsoldiersandloudwiththeshoutingofordersandtheneighingofhorses.Forthebannersofwarhadbeenflungtothewindoncemore,andoverthoseglisteningpeakswasthehighwayalongwhichHonorpointedinanagewhenmenhadchosenherastheirguide. Andnowallwasreadyfortheenterprise.FromDaxtoSt.JeanPied-du-PortthecountrywasmottledwiththewhitetentsofGascons,AquitaniansandEnglish,alleagerfortheadvance.Fromallsidesthefreecompanionshadtroopedin,untilnotlessthantwelvethousandoftheseveterantroopswerecantonedalongthefrontiersofNavarre.FromEnglandhadarrivedtheprince'sbrother,theDukeofLancaster,withfourhundredknightsinhistrainandastrongcompanyofarchers.Aboveall,anheirtothethronehadbeenborninBordeaux,andtheprincemightleavehisspousewithaneasymind,forallwaswellwithmotherandwithchild. ThekeysofthemountainpassesstilllayinthehandsoftheshiftyandignobleCharlesofNavarre,whohadchafferedandbargainedbothwiththeEnglishandwiththeSpanish,takingmoneyfromtheonesidetoholdthemopenandfromtheothertokeepthemsealed.ThemallethandofEdward,however,hadshatteredalltheschemesandwilesoftheplotter.NeitherentreatynorcourtlyremonstrancecamefromtheEnglishprincebutSirHughCalverleypassedsilentlyovertheborderwithhiscompany,andtheblazingwallsofthetwocitiesofMirandaandPuentadelaReynawarnedtheunfaithfulmonarchthattherewereothermetalsbesidesgold,andthathewasdealingwithamantowhomitwasunsafetolie.Hispricewaspaid,hisobjectionssilenced,andthemountaingorgeslayopentotheinvaders.FromtheFeastoftheEpiphanytherewasmusteringandmassing,until,inthefirstweekofFebruary—threedaysaftertheWhiteCompanyjoinedthearmy—thewordwasgivenforageneraladvancethroughthedefileofRoncesvalles.Atfiveinthecoldwinter'smorningthebugleswereblowinginthehamletofSt.JeanPied-du-Port,andbysixSirNigel'sCompany,threehundredstrong,wereontheirwayforthedefile,pushingswiftlyinthedimlightupthe