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you see aught strange about this town。〃
Nigel looked down at the noble straight street； at the Roundel
Tower； at the fine church of Saint Thomas； and the other fair
buildings of Winchelsea。 〃It is all new；〃 said he … 〃church；
castle； houses； all are new。〃
〃You are right； fair son。 My grandfather can call to mind the
time when only the conies lived upon this rock。 The town was down
yonder by the sea； until one night the waves rose upon it and not
a house was left。 See； yonder is Rye； huddling also on a hill；
the two towns like poor sheep when the waters are out。 But down
there under the blue water and below the Camber Sand lies the true
Winchelsea … tower； cathedral； walls and all； even as my
grandfather knew it； when the first Edward was young upon the
throne。〃
For an hour or more Chandos paced upon the ramparts with his young
Squire at his elbow and talked to him of his duties and of the
secrets and craft of warfare； Nigel drinking in and storing in his
memory every word from so revered a teacher。 Many a time in after
life； in stress and in danger； he strengthened himself by the
memory of that slow walk with the blue sea on one side and the
fair town on the other； when the wise soldier and noble…hearted
knight poured forth his precept and advice as the master workman
to the apprentice。
〃Perhaps； fair son；〃 said he； 〃you are like so many other lads who
ride to the wars； and know so much already that it is waste of
breath to advise them？〃
〃Nay； my fair lord； I know nothing save that I would fain do my
duty and either win honorable advancement or die worshipful on the
field。〃
〃You are wise to be humble；〃 said Chandos； 〃for indeed he who
knows most of war knows best that there is much to learn。 As
there is a mystery of the rivers and a mystery of woodcraft； even
so there is a mystery of warfare by which battles may be lost and
gained； for all nations are brave； and where the brave meets the
brave it is he who is crafty and war…wise who will win the day。
The best hound will run at fault if he be ill laid on； and the
best hawk will fly at check if he be badly loosed； and even so the
bravest army may go awry if it be ill handled。 There are not in
Christendom better knights and squires than those of the French；
and yet we have had the better of them； for in our Scottish Wars
and elsewhere we have learned more of this same mystery of which I
speak。〃
〃And wherein lies our wisdom； honored sir？〃 asked Nigel。 〃I also
would fain be war…wise and learn to fight with my wits as well as
with my sword。〃
Chandos shook his head and smiled。 〃It is in the forest and on
the down that you learn to fly the hawk and loose the hound；〃 said
he。 〃So also it is in camp and on the field that the mystery of
war can be learned。 There only has every great captain come to be
its master。 To start he must have a cool head； quick to think；
soft as wax before his purpose is formed； hard as steel when once
he sees it before him。 Ever alert he must be； and cautious also；
but with judgment to turn his caution into rashness where a large
gain may be put against a small stake。 An eye for country also；
for the trend of the rivers； the slope of the hills； the cover of
the woods； and the light green of the bog…land。〃
Poor Nigel； who had trusted to his lance and to Pommers to break
his path to glory； stood aghast at this list of needs。 〃Alas！〃 he
cried。 〃How am I to gain all this？ … I； who could scarce learn
to read or write though the good Father Matthew broke a hazel
stick a day across my shoulders？ 〃
〃You will gain it； fair son； where others have gained it before
you。 You have that which is the first thing of all； a heart of
fire from which other colder hearts may catch a spark。 But you
must have knowledge also of that which warfare has taught us in
olden times。 We know； par exemple； that horsemen alone cannot
hope to win against good foot…soldiers。 Has it not been tried at
Courtrai； at Stirling； and again under my own eyes at Crecy； where
the chivalry of France went down before our bowmen？〃
Nigel stared at him； with a perplexed brow。 〃Fair sir； my heart
grows heavy as I hear you。 Do you then say that our chivalry can
make no head against archers； billmen and the like？〃
〃Nay； Nigel； for it has also been very clearly shown that the best
foot…soldiers unsupported cannot hold their own against the mailed
horsemen。〃
〃To whom then is the victory？〃 asked Nigel。
〃To him who can mix his horse and foot； using each to strengthen
the other。 Apart they are weak。 Together they are strong。 The
archer who can weaken the enemy's line； the horseman who can break
it when it is weakened； as was done at Falkirk and Duplin； there
is the secret of our strength。 Now touching this same battle of
Falkirk； I pray you for one instant to give it your attention。〃
With his whip he began to trace a plan of the Scottish battle upon
the dust； and Nigel with knitted brows was trying hard to muster
his small stock of brains and to profit by the lecture； when their
conversation was interrupted by a strange new arrival。
It was a very stout little man； wheezy and purple with haste； who
scudded down the rampart as if he were blown by the wind； his
grizzled hair flying and his long black gown floating behind him。
He was clad in the dress of a respectable citizen； a black jerkin
trimmed with sable； a black…velvet beaver hat and a white feather。
At the sight of Chandos he gave a cry of joy and quickened his
pace so that when he did at last reach him he could only stand
gasping and waving his hands。
〃Give yourself time； good Master Wintersole； give yourself time！〃
said Chandos in a soothing voice。
〃The papers！〃 gasped the little man。 〃Oh； my Lord Chandos； the
papers … 〃
〃What of the papers； my worthy sir？〃
〃I swear by our good patron Saint Leonard； it is no fault of mine！
I had locked them in my coffer。 But the lock was forced and the
coffer rifled。〃
A shadow of anger passed over the soldier's keen face。
〃How now； Master Mayor？ Pull your wits together and do not stand
there babbling like a three…year child。 Do you say that some one
hath taken the papers？〃
〃It is sooth； fair sir！ Thrice I have been Mayor of the town； and
fifteen years burgess and jurat； but never once has any public
matter gone awry through me。 Only last month there came an order
from Windsor on a Tuesday for a Friday banquet； a thousand soles；
four thousand plaice； two thousand mackerel； five hundred crabs； a
thousand lobsters； five thousand whiting … 〃
〃I doubt not； Master Mayor； that you are an excellent fishmonger；
but the matter concerns the papers I gave into your keeping。
Where are they？〃
〃Taken； fair sir…gone！〃
〃And who hath dared to take them？〃
〃Alas！ I know not。 It was but for as long as you would say an
angelus that I left the chamber； and when I came back there was
the coffer； broken and empty； upon my table。〃
〃Do you suspect no one？〃
〃There was a varlet who hath come with the last few days into my
employ。 He is not to be found； and I have sent horsemen along
both the Udimore road and that to Rye； that they may seize him。
B