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

ll-neckedman,cladintheironhelmet,mailtunic,andwoollengambessonofhisclass.Ajacketwithhangingsleeves,slashedwithvelvetattheneckandwrists,showedthathewasamanofsomeconsideration,anunder-officer,orfile-leaderofhiscompany. “Icannotthink,”saidhe,“whyyouEnglishshouldbesofondofyoursix-footstick.Ifitamuseyoutobendit,wellandgoodbutwhyshouldIstrainandpull,whenmylittlemoulinetwilldoallforme,andbetterthanIcandoitformyself?” “Ihaveseengoodshootingwiththeprodandwiththelatch,”saidAylward,“but,bymyhilt!camarade,withallrespecttoyouandtoyourbow,Ithinkthatisbutawoman'sweapon,whichawomancanpointandlooseaseasilyasaman.” “Iknownotaboutthat,”answeredtheBrabanter,“butthisIknow,thatthoughIhaveservedforfourteenyears,IhaveneveryetseenanEnglishmandoaughtwiththelong-bowwhichIcouldnotdobetterwithmyarbalest.Bythethreekings!Iwouldevengofurther,andsaythatIhavedonethingswithmyarbalestwhichnoEnglishmancoulddowithhislong-bow.” “Wellsaid,mongar.,”criedAylward.“Agoodcockhaseverabravecall.Now,Ihaveshotlittleoflate,butthereisJohnstonherewhowilltryaroundwithyouforthehonoroftheCompany.” “AndIwilllayagallonofJuranconwineuponthelong-bow,”saidBlackSimon,“thoughIhadrather,formyowndrinking,thatitwereaquartofTwynhamale.” “Itakebothyourchallengeandyourwager,”saidthemanofBrabant,throwingoffhisjacketandglancingkeenlyabouthimwithhisblack,twinklingeyes.“Icannotseeanyfittingmark,forIcarenottowasteaboltupontheseshields,whichadrunkenboorcouldnotmissatavillagekermesse.” “Thisisaperilousman,”whisperedanEnglishman-at-arms,pluckingatAylward'ssleeve.“HeisthebestmarksmanofallthecrossbowcompaniesanditwashewhobroughtdowntheConstabledeBourbonatBrignais.Ifearthatyourmanwillcomebylittlehonorwithhim.” “YetIhaveseenJohnstonshootthesetwentyyears,andIwillnotflinchfromit.Howsayyou,oldwar-hound,willyounothaveaflightshotortwowiththisspringald?” “Tut,tut,Aylward,”saidtheoldbowman.“Mydayispast,anditisfortheyoungeronestoholdwhatwehavegained.Itakeitunkindlyofthee,Samkin,thatthoushouldstcallalleyesthusuponabrokenbowmanwhocouldonceshootafairshaft.Letmefeelthatbow,Wilkins!ItisaScotchbow,Isee,fortheuppernockiswithoutandthelowerwithin.Bytheblackrood!itisagoodpieceofyew,wellnocked,wellstrung,wellwaxed,andveryjoyfultothefeel.IthinkevennowthatImighthitanylargeandgoodlymarkwithabowlikethis.Turnthyquivertome,Aylward.Iloveanasharrowpiercedwithcornel-woodforarovingshaft.” “Bymyhilt!andsodoI,”criedAylward.“Thesethreegander-wingedshaftsaresuch.” “SoIsee,comrade.Ithasbeenmywonttochooseasaddle-backedfeatherforadeadshaft,andaswine-backedforasmoothflier.Iwilltakethetwoofthem.Ah!Samkin,lad,theeyegrowsdimandthehandlessfirmastheyearspass.” “Comethen,areyounotready?”saidtheBrabanter,whohadwatchedwithill-concealedimpatiencetheslowandmethodicmovementsofhisantagonist. “Iwillventurearoverwithyou,ortrylong-buttsorhoyles,”saidoldJohnston.“Tomymindthelong-bowisabetterweaponthanthearbalest,butitmaybeillformetoproveit.” “SoIthink,”quoththeotherwithasneer.Hedrewhismoulinetfromhisgirdle,andfixingittothewindlass,hedrewbackthepowerfuldoublecorduntilithadclickedintothecatch.Thenfromhisquiverhedrewashort,thickquarrel,whichheplacedwiththeutmostcareuponthegroove.Wordhadspreadofwhatwasgoingforward,andtherivalswerealreadysurrounded,notonlybytheEnglisharchersoftheCompany,butbyhundredsofarbalestiersandmen-at-armsfromthebandsofOrtingoandLaNuit,tothelatterofwhichtheBrabanterbelonged. “Thereisam