CHAPTER XXXIV. HOW THE COMPANY MADE SPORT IN THE VALE OF PAMPELUNA.

WhilstthecouncilwassittinginPampelunatheWhiteCompany,havingencampedinaneighboringvalley,closetothecompaniesofLaNuitandofBlackOrtingo,wereamusingthemselveswithsword-play,wrestling,andshootingattheshields,whichtheyhadplaceduponthehillsidetoservethemasbutts.Theyoungerarchers,withtheircoatsofmailthrownaside,theirbrownorflaxenhairtossinginthewind,andtheirjerkinsturnedbacktogivefreeplaytotheirbrawnychestsandarms,stoodinlines,eachloosinghisshaftinturn,whileJohnston,Aylward,BlackSimon,andhalf-a-scoreoftheeldersloungedupanddownwithcriticaleyes,andawordofroughpraiseorofcurtcensureforthemarksmen.BehindstoodknotsofGasconandBrabantcrossbowmenfromthecompaniesofOrtingoandofLaNuit,leaningupontheirunsightlyweaponsandwatchingthepracticeoftheEnglishmen. “Agoodshot,Hewett,agoodshot!”saidoldJohnstontoayoungbowman,whostoodwithhisbowinhislefthand,gazingwithpartedlipsafterhisflyingshaft.“Yousee,shefindsthering,asIknewshewouldfromthemomentthatyourstringtwanged.” “Looseiteasy,steady,andyetsharp,”saidAylward.“Bymyhilt!mongar.,itisverywellwhenyoudobutshootatashield,butwhenthereisamanbehindtheshield,andheridesatyouwithwaveofswordandglintofeyesfrombehindhisvizor,youmayfindhimalesseasymark.” “ItisamarkthatIhavefoundbeforenow,”answeredtheyoungbowman. “Andshallagain,camarade,Idoubtnot.Buthola!Johnston,whoisthiswhoholdshisbowlikeacrow-keeper?” “ItisSilasPeterson,ofHorsham.Donotwinkwithoneeyeandlookwiththeother,Silas,anddonothopanddanceafteryoushoot,withyourtongueout,forthatwillnotspeedituponitsway.Standstraightandfirm,asGodmadeyou.Movenotthebowarm,andsteadywiththedrawinghand!” “I'faith,”saidBlackSimon,“Iamaspearmanmyself,andammorefittedforhand-strokesthanforsuchworkasthis.YetIhavespentmydaysamongbowmen,andIhaveseenmanyabraveshaftsped.Iwillnotsaybutthatwehavesomegoodmarksmenhere,andthatthisCompanywouldbeaccountedafinebodyofarchersatanytimeorplace.YetIdonotseeanymenwhobendsostrongaboworshootastrueashaftasthosewhomIhaveknown.” “Yousaysooth,”saidJohnston,turninghisseamedandgrizzledfaceupontheman-at-arms.“Seeyonder,”headded,pointingtoabombardwhichlaywithinthecamp:“thereiswhathathdonescathtogoodbowmanship,withitsfilthysootandfoolishroaringmouth.Iwonderthatatrueknight,likeourprince,shouldcarrysuchascurvythinginhistrain.Robin,thoured-headedlurden,howoftmustItelltheenottoshootstraightwithaquarter-windblowingacrossthemark?” “Bythesetenfinger-bones!thereweresomefinebowmenattheintakingofCalais,”saidAylward.“Iwellrememberthat,onoccasionofanoutfall,aGenoanraisedhisarmoverhismantlet,andshookitatus,ahundredpacesfromourline.Thereweretwentywholoosedshaftsathim,andwhenthemanwasafterwardsslainitwasfoundthathehadtakeneighteenthroughhisforearm.” “AndIcancalltomind,”remarkedJohnston,“thatwhenthegreatcog'Christopher,'whichtheFrenchhadtakenfromus,wasmooredtwohundredpacesfromtheshore,twoarchers,littleRobinWithstaffandEliasBaddlesmere,infourshotseachcuteverystrandofherhempenanchor-cord,sothatshewell-nighcameupontherocks.” “Goodshooting,i'faithrareshooting!”saidBlackSimon.“ButIhaveseenyou,Johnston,andyou,SamkinAylward,andoneortwootherswhoarestillwithus,shootaswellasthebest.Wasitnotyou,Johnston,whotookthefatoxatFinsburybuttsagainstthepickofLondontown?” Asunburntandblack-eyedBrabanterhadstoodneartheoldarchers,leaninguponalargecrossbowandlisteningtotheirtalk,whichhadbeencarriedoninthathybridcampdialectwhichbothnationscouldunderstand.Hewasasquat,bu