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

kingupatthem,“Ithinkthatwehavemuchtohopeforfromthesecavaliers,fortheyclusterverythicklyuponourflanks.Passwordtothemen,Aylward,thattheyunslingtheirbows,forIhavenodoubtthattherearesomeveryworthygentlemenyonderwhomaygiveussomeopportunityforhonorableadvancement.” “IhearthattheprincehaththeKingofNavarreashostage,”saidAlleyne,“anditissaidthathehathsworntoputhimtodeathiftherebeanyattackuponus.” “ItwasnotsothatwarwasmadewhengoodKingEdwardfirstturnedhishandtoit,”saidSirNigelsadly.“Ah!Alleyne,Ifearthatyouwillneverlivetoseesuchthings,forthemindsofmenaremoresetuponmoneyandgainthanofold.BySaintPaul!itwasanoblesightwhentwogreatarmieswoulddrawtogetheruponacertainday,andallwhohadavowwouldrideforthtodischargethemselvesofit.Whatnoblespear-runningshaveInotseen,andeveninanhumblewayhadapartin,whencavalierswouldrunacoursefortheeasingoftheirsoulsandfortheloveoftheirladies!NeverabadwordhaveIfortheFrench,for,thoughIhaveriddentwentytimesuptotheirarray,Ihaveneveryetfailedtofindsomeverygentleandworthyknightorsquirewhowaswillingtodowhathemighttoenablemetoattemptsomesmallfeatofarms.Then,whenallcavaliershadbeensatisfied,thetwoarmieswouldcometohand-strokes,andfightrightmerrilyuntiloneorotherhadthevantage.BySaintPaul!itwasnotourwontinthosedaystopaygoldfortheopeningofpasses,norwouldweholdakingashostagelesthispeoplecometothrustswithus.Ingoodsooth,ifthewaristobecarriedoutinsuchafashion,thenitisgrieftomethatIevercameawayfromCastleTwynham,forIwouldnothaveleftmysweetladyhadInotthoughtthatthereweredeedsofarmstobedone.” “Butsurely,myfairlord,”saidAlleyne,“youhavedonesomegreatfeatsofarmssincewelefttheLadyLoring.” “Icannotcallanytomind,”answeredSirNigel. “Therewasthetakingofthesea-rovers,andtheholdingofthekeepagainsttheJacks.” “Nay,nay,”saidtheknight,“thesewerenotfeatsofarms,butmerewaysideventuresandthechancesoftravel.BySaintPaul!ifitwerenotthatthesehillsareover-steepforPommers,IwouldridetothesecavaliersofNavarreandseeiftherewerenotsomeamongthemwhowouldhelpmetotakethispatchfrommineeye.Itisasadsighttoseethisveryfinepass,whichmyownCompanyherecouldholdagainstanarmy,andyettoridethroughitwithaslittleprofitasthoughitwerethelanefrommykennelstotheAvon.” AllmorningSirNigelrodeinaveryill-humor,withhisCompanytrampingbehindhim.Itwasatoilsomemarchoverbrokengroundandthroughsnow,whichcameoftenashighastheknee,yeterethesunhadbeguntosinktheyhadreachedthespotwherethegorgeopensoutontotheuplandsofNavarre,andcouldseethetowersofPampelunajuttingupagainstthesouthernsky-line.HeretheCompanywerequarteredinascatteredmountainhamlet,andAlleynespentthedaylookingdownupontheswarmingarmywhichpouredwithgleamofspearsandflauntofstandardsthroughthenarrowpass. “Hola,mongar.,”saidAylward,seatinghimselfuponaboulderbyhisside.“Thisisindeedafinesightuponwhich