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screamed and waved more madly than before。 Aylward cast many a
glance at them over his shoulder。
〃Yet a little farther！ Yet a little farther still！〃 he muttered。
〃The wind is towards them and the fools have forgot that I can
overshoot them by fifty paces。 Now； my good lord； I pray you for
one instant to hold the horses； for my weapon is of more avail
this day； than thine can be。 They may make sorry cheer ere they
gain the shelter of the wood once more。〃
He had sprung from his horse； and with a downward wrench of his
arm and a push with his knee he slipped the string into the upper
nock of his mighty war…bow。 Then in a flash he notched his shaft
and drew it to the pile； his keen blue eyes glowing fiercely
behind it from under his knotted brows。 With thick legs planted
sturdily apart； his body laid to the bow； his left arm motionless
as wood； his right bunched into a double curve of swelling muscles
as he stretched the white well…waxed string； he looked so keen and
fierce a fighter that the advancing line stopped for an instant at
the sight of him。 Two or three loosed off their arrows； but the
shafts flew heavily against the head wind； and snaked along the
hard turf some score of paces short of the mark。 One only； a
short bandy…legged man； whose squat figure spoke of enormous
muscular strength； ran swiftly in and then drew so strong a bow
that the arrow quivered in the ground at Aylward's very feet。
〃It is Black Will of Lynchmere；〃 said the bowman。 〃Many a match
have I shot with him； and I know well that no other man on the
Surrey marches could have sped such a shaft。 I trust that you are
houseled and shriven； Will； for I have known you so long that I
would not have your damnation upon my soul。〃
He raised his bow as he spoke； and the string twanged with a rich
deep musical note。 Aylward leaned upon his bow…stave as he keenly
watched the long swift flight of his shaft； skimming smoothly down
the wind。
〃On him； on him！ No； over him； by my hilt！〃 he cried。 〃There is
more wind than I had thought。 Nay； nay； friend； now that I have
the length of you； you can scarce hope to loose again。〃
Black Will had notched an arrow and was raising his bow when
Aylward's second shaft passed through the shoulder of his drawing
arm。 With a shout of anger and pain he dropped his weapon； and
dancing in his fury he shook his fist and roared curses at his
rival。
〃I could slay him； but I will not； for good bowmen are not so
common；〃 said Aylward。 〃And now； fair sir； we must on； for they
are spreading round on either side； and if once they get behind
us； then indeed our journey has come to a sudden end。 But ere we
go I would send a shaft through yonder horseman who leads them
on。〃
〃Nay； Aylward； I pray you to leave him；〃 said Nigel。 〃Villain as
he is； he is none the less a gentleman of coat…armor； and should
die by some other weapon than thine。〃
〃As you will；〃 said Aylward； with a clouded brow。 〃I have been
told that in the late wars many a French prince and baron has not
been too proud to take his death wound from an English yeoman's
shaft； and that nobles of England have been glad enough to stand
by and see it done。〃
Nigel shook his head sadly。 〃It is sooth you say； archer； and
indeed it is no new thing； for that good knight Richard of the
Lion Heart met his end in such a lowly fashion； and so also did
Harold the Saxon。 But this is a private matter； and I would not
have you draw your bow against him。 Neither can I ride at him
myself； for he is weak in body； though dangerous in spirit。
Therefore； we will go upon our way； since there is neither profit
nor honor to be gained； nor any hope of advancement。〃
Aylward； having unstrung his bow； had remounted his horse during
this conversation； and the two rode swiftly past the little squat
Chapel of the Martyr and over the brow of the hill。 From the
summit they looked back。 The injured archer lay upon the ground；
with several of his comrades gathered in a knot around him。
Others ran aimlessly up the hill； but were already far behind。
The leader sat motionless upon his horse； and as he saw them look
back he raised his hand and shrieked his curses at them。 An
instant later the curve of the ground had hid them from view。 So；
amid love and hate； Nigel bade adieu to the home of his youth。
And now the comrades were journeying upon that old； old road which
runs across the south of England and yet never turns toward
London； for the good reason that the place was a poor hamlet when
first the road was laid。 From Winchester； the Saxon capital； to
Canterbury； the holy city of Kent； ran that ancient highway； and
on from Canterbury to the narrow straits where； on a clear day；
the farther shore can be seen。 Along this track as far back as
history can trace the metals of the west have been carried and
passed the pack…horses which bore the goods which Gaul sent in
exchange。 Older than the Christian faith and older than the
Romans； is the old road。 North and south are the woods and the
marshes； so that only on the high dry turf of the chalk land could
a clear track be found。 The Pilgrim's Way； it still is called；
but the pilgrims were the last who ever trod it； for it was
already of immemorial age before the death of Thomas a Becket gave
a new reason why folk should journey to the scene of his murder。
》From the hill of Weston Wood the travelers could see the long
white band which dipped and curved and rose over the green
downland； its course marked even in the hollows by the line of the
old yew…trees which flanked it。 Neither Nigel nor Aylward had
wandered far from their own country； and now they rode with light
hearts and eager eyes taking note of all the varied pictures of
nature and of man which passed before them。 To their left was a
hilly country； a land of rolling heaths and woods； broken here and
there into open spaces round the occasional farm…house of a
franklin。 Hackhurst Down； Dunley Hill； and Ranmore Common swelled
and sank； each merging into the other。 But on the right； after
passing the village of Shere and the old church of Gomshall； the
whole south country lay like a map at their feet。 There was the
huge wood of the Weald； one unbroken forest of oak…trees
stretching away to the South Downs； which rose olive…green against
the deep blue sky。 Under this great canopy of trees strange folk
lived and evil deeds were done。 In its recesses were wild tribes；
little changed from their heathen ancestors； who danced round the
altar of Thor； and well was it for the peaceful traveler that he
could tread the high open road of the chalk land with no need to
wander into so dangerous a tract； where soft clay； tangled forest
and wild men all barred his progress。
But apart from the rolling country upon the left and the great
forest…hidden plain upon the right； there was much upon the road
itself to engage the attention of the wayfarers。 It was crowded
with people。 As far as their eyes could carry they could see the
black dots scattered thickly upon the thin white band； sometimes
single； sometimes several abreast； sometimes in moving crowds；
where a drove of p