CHAPTER XXXV. HOW SIR NIGEL HAWKED AT AN EAGLE.

TothesouthofPampelunainthekingdomofNavarretherestretchedahightable-land,risingintobare,sterilehills,brownorgrayincolor,andstrewnwithhugebouldersofgranite.OntheGasconsideofthegreatmountainstherehadbeenrunningstreams,meadows,forests,andlittlenestlingvillages.Here,onthecontrary,werenothingbutnakedrocks,poorpasture,andsavage,stone-strewnwastes.Gloomydefilesorbarrancasintersectedthiswildcountrywithmountaintorrentsdashingandfoamingbetweentheirruggedsides.Theclatterofwaters,thescreamoftheeagle,andthehowlingofwolvestheonlysoundswhichbrokeuponthesilenceinthatdrearyandinhospitableregion. ThroughthiswildcountryitwasthatSirNigelandhisCompanypushedtheirway,ridingattimesthroughvastdefileswherethebrown,gnarledcliffsshotuponeithersideofthem,andtheskywasbutalongwindingblueslitbetweentheclusteringlinesofboxwhichfringedthelipsoftheprecipicesor,againleadingtheirhorsesalongthenarrowandrockypathswornbythemuleteersupontheedgesofthechasm,whereundertheirveryelbowstheycouldseethewhitestreakwhichmarkedthegavewhichfoamedathousandfeetbelowthem.SofortwodaystheypushedtheirwaythroughthewildplacesofNavarre,pastFuente,overtherapidEga,throughEstella,untiluponawinter'seveningthemountainsfellawayfrominfrontofthem,andtheysawthebroadblueEbrocurvingbetwixtitsdoublelineofhomesteadsandofvillages.ThefishersofVianawerearousedthatnightbyroughvoicesspeakinginastrangetongue,anderemorningSirNigelandhismenhadferriedtheriverandweresafeuponthelandofSpain. AllthenextdaytheylayinapinewoodneartothetownofLogrono,restingtheirhorsesandtakingcounselastowhattheyshoulddo.SirNigelhadwithhimSirWilliamFelton,SirOliverButtesthorn,stoutoldSirSimonBurley,theScotchknight-errant,theEarlofAngus,andSirRichardCauston,allaccountedamongthebravestknightsinthearmy,togetherwithsixtyveteranmen-at-arms,andthreehundredandtwentyarchers.Spieshadbeensentoutinthemorning,andreturnedafternightfalltosaythattheKingofSpainwasencampedsomefourteenmilesoffinthedirectionofBurgos,havingwithhimtwentythousandhorseandforty-fivethousandfoot. Adry-woodfirehadbeenlit,androundthistheleaderscrouched,theglarebeatingupontheirruggedfaces,whilethehardyarchersloungedandchattedamidthetetheredhorses,whiletheymunchedtheirscantyprovisions. “Formypart,”saidSirSimonBurley,“Iamofopinionthatwehavealreadydonethatwhichwehavecomefor.Fordowenotnowknowwherethekingis,andhowgreatafollowinghehath,whichwastheendofourjourney.” “True,”answeredSirWilliamFelton,“butIhavecomeonthisventurebecauseitisalongtimesinceIhavebrokenaspearinwar,and,certes,IshallnotgobackuntilIhaverunacoursewithsomecavalierofSpain.Letthosegobackwhowill,butImustseemoreoftheseSpaniardsereIturn.” “Iwillnotleaveyou,SirWilliam,”returnedSirSimonBurley“andyet,asanoldsoldierandonewhohathseenmuchofwar,Icannotbutthinkthatitisanillthingforfourhundredmentofindthemselvesbetweenanarmyofsixtythousandontheonesideandabroadriverontheother.” “Yet,”saidSirRichardCauston,“wecannotforthehonorofEnglandgobackwithoutablowstruck.” “NorforthehonorofScotlandeither,”criedtheEarlofAngus.“BySaintAndrew!IwishthatImayneverseteyesuponthewaterofLeithagain,ifIpluckmyhorse'sbridleereIhaveseenthiscampoftheirs.” “BySaintPaul!youhavespokenverywell,”saidSirNigel,“andIhavealwaysheardthattherewereveryworthygentlemenamongtheScots,andfineskirmishingtobehadupontheirborder.Bethinkyou,SirSimon,thatwehavethisnewsfromthelipsofcommonspies,whocanscarcetellusasmuchoftheenemyandofhisforcesastheprincewouldwishtohear.” “Youaretheleaderinthisventure,SirNigel,”theotheranswered,“andIdobutrideunderyourbanner.” “YetIwouldfainhaveyourredeandcounsel,SirSimon.But,touchingwhatyousayoftheriver,wecantakeheedthatweshallnothaveitatthebackofus,fortheprincehathnowadvancedtoSalvatierra,andthencetoVittoria,sothatifwecomeupontheircampfromthefurthersidewecanmakegoodourretreat.” “Whatthenwouldyoupropose?”askedSirSimon,shakinghisgrizzledheadasonewhoisbuthalfconvinced. “Thatwerideforwarderethenewsreachthemthatwehavecrossedtheriver.Inthiswaywemayhavesightoftheirarmy,andperchanceevenfindoccasionforsomesmalldeedagainstthem.” “Sobeit,then,”saidSirSimonBurleyandtherestofthecouncilhavingapproved,ascantymealwashurriedlysnatched,andtheadvanceresumedunderthecoverofthedarkness.Allnighttheyledtheirhorses,stumblingandgropingthroughwilddefilesandruggedvalleys,followingtheguidanceofafrightenedpeasantwhowasstrappedbythewristtoBlackSimon'sstirrup-leather.Withtheearlydawntheyfoundthemselvesinablackravine,withothersslopingawayfromitoneitherside,andthebarebrowncragsrisinginlongbleakterracesallroundthe