CHAPTER XXXV. HOW SIR NIGEL HAWKED AT AN EAGLE.

urbody.” “BySt.James!itwerebettersothantobepollutedbyhistouch,”answeredtheSpaniard,withhisblackeyessparklingwithrageandhatred.“ItrustthatIamnowtheprisonerofsomehonorableknightorgentleman.” “Youaretheprisonerofthemanwhotookyou,SirDiego,”answeredSirNigel.“AndImaytellyouthatbettermenthaneitheryouorIhavefoundthemselvesbeforenowprisonersinthehandsofarchersofEngland.” “Whatransom,then,doeshedemand?”askedtheSpaniard. BigJohnscratchedhisredheadandgrinnedinhighdelightwhenthequestionwaspropoundedtohim.“Tellhim,”saidhe,“thatIshallhavetencowsandabulltoo,ifitbebutalittleone.AlsoadressofbluesendallformotherandaredoneforJoanwithfiveacresofpasture-land,twoscythes,andafinenewgrindstone.Likewiseasmallhouse,withstallsforthecows,andthirty-sixgallonsofbeerforthethirstyweather.” “Tut,tut!”criedSirNigel,laughing.“AllthesethingsmaybehadformoneyandIthink,DonDiego,thatfivethousandcrownsisnottoomuchforsorenownedaknight.” “Itshallbedulypaidhim.” “ForsomedayswemustkeepyouwithusandImustcraveleavealsotouseyourshield,yourarmor,andyourhorse.” “Myharnessisyoursbythelawofarms,”saidtheSpaniard,gloomily. “Idobutasktheloanofit.Ihaveneedofitthisday,butitshallbedulyreturnedtoyou.Setguards,Aylward,witharrowonstring,ateitherendofthepassforitmayhappenthatsomeothercavaliersmayvisituserethetimebecome.”AlldaythelittlebandofEnglishmenlayintheshelteredgorge,lookingdownuponthevasthostoftheirunconsciousenemies.Shortlyaftermid-day,agreatuproarofshoutingandcheeringbrokeoutinthecamp,withmusteringofmenandcallingofbugles.Clamberingupamongtherocks,thecompanionssawalongrollingcloudofdustalongthewholeeasternsky-line,withtheglintofspearsandtheflutterofpennons,whichannouncedtheapproachofalargebodyofcavalry.Foramomentawildhopecameuponthemthatperhapstheprincehadmovedmoreswiftlythanhadbeenplanned,thathehadcrossedtheEbro,andthatthiswashisvanguardsweepingtotheattack. “SurelyIseetheredpileofChandosattheheadofyondersquadron!”criedSirRichardCauston,shadinghiseyeswithhishand. “Notso,”answeredSirSimonBurley,whohadwatchedtheapproachinghostwithadarkeningface.“ItisevenasIfeared.ThatisthedoubleeagleofDuGuesclin.” “Yousayverytruly,”criedtheEarlofAngus.“ThesearetheleviesofFrance,forIcanseetheensignsoftheMarshald'Andreghen,withthatoftheLordofAntoingandofBriseuil,andofmanyanotherfromBrittanyandAnjou.” “BySt.Paul!Iamverygladofit,”saidSirNigel.“OftheseSpaniardsIknownothingbuttheFrenchareveryworthygentlemen,andwilldowhattheycanforouradvancement.” “Thereareattheleastfourthousandofthem,andallmen-at-arms,”criedSirWilliamFelton.“See,thereisBertrandhimself,besidehisbanner,andthereisKingHenry,whoridestowelcomehim.Nowtheyallturnandcomeintothecamptogether.” Ashespoke,thevastthrongofSpaniardsandofFrenchmentroopedacrosstheplain,withbrandishedarmsandtossingbanners.AlldaylongthesoundofrevelryandofrejoicingfromthecrowdedcampswelleduptotheearsoftheEnglishmen,andtheycouldseethesoldiersofthetwonationsthrowingthemselvesintoeachother'sarmsanddancinghand-in-handroundtheblazingfires.Thesunhadsunkbehindacloud-bankinthewestbeforeSirNigelatlastgavewordthatthemenshouldresumetheirarmsandhavetheirhorsesready.Hehadhimselfthrownoffhisarmor,andhaddressedhimselffromheadtofootintheharnessofthecapturedSpaniard. “SirWilliam,”saidhe,“itismyintentiontoattemptasmalldeed,andIaskyouthereforethatyouwillleadthisoutfalluponthecamp.Forme,Iwillrideintotheircampwithmysquireandtwoarchers.Iprayyoutowatchme,andtorideforthwhenIamcomeamongthetents.Youwillleavetwentymenbehindhere,asweplannedthismorning,andyouwillridebackhereafteryouhaveventuredasfarasseemsgoodtoyou.” “Iwilldoasyouorder,Nigelbutwhatisitthatyouproposetodo?” “Youwillseeanon,andindeeditisbutatriflingmatter.Alleyne,youwillcomewithme,andleadasparehorsebythebridle.IwillhavethetwoarcherswhorodewithusthroughFrance,fortheyaretrustymenandofstoutheart.Letthemridebehindus,andletthemleavetheirbowshereamongthebushesforitisnotmywishthattheyshouldknowthatweareEnglishmen.Saynowordtoanywhomwemaymeet,and,ifanyspeaktoyou,passonasthoughyouheardthemnot.Areyouready?” “Iamready,myfairlord,”saidAlleyne. “AndI,”“AndI,”criedAylwardandJohn. “ThentherestIleavetoyourwisdom,SirWilliamandifGodsendsusfortuneweshallmeetyouagaininthisgorgeereitbedark.” Sosaying,SirNigelmountedthewhitehorseoftheSpanishcavalier,androdequietlyforthfromhisconcealmentwithhisthreecompanionsbehindhim,Alleyneleadinghismaster'sownsteedbythebridle.SomanysmallpartiesofFrenchandSpanishhorseweresweepinghitherandthitherthatthesmallbandattractedlittlenotice,andmaki