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I might gain it。 I had reached it when you were driven back； so I
hid behind it in the water and said my prayers as I have not said
them for many a day。 Then you came again； and no one had an eye
for me； so I clambered into it； cut the rope； took the oars which
I found there and brought her back for more men。〃
〃By Saint Paul！ you have acted very wisely and well；〃 said Nigel；
〃and I think that of all of us it is you who have won most honor
this day。 But of all these men dead and alive I see none who
resembles that Red Ferret whom my Lord Chandos has described and
who has worked such despite upon us in the past： It would indeed
be an evil chance if he has in spite of all our pains made his way
to France in some other boat。〃
〃That we shall soon find out；〃 said Badding。 〃Come with me and we
will search the ship from truck to keel ere he escapes us。〃
There was a scuttle at the base of the mast which led down into
the body of the vessel； and the Englishmen were approaching this
when a strange sight brought them to a stand。 A round brazen head
had appeared in the square dark opening。 An instant afterward a
pair of shining shoulders followed。 Then slowly the whole figure
of a man in complete plate…armor emerged on the deck。 In his
gauntleted hand he carried a heavy steel mace。 With this uplifted
he moved toward his enemies； silent save for the ponderous clank
of his footfall。 It was an inhuman； machine…like figure； menacing
and terrible； devoid of all expression； slow…moving； inexorable
and awesome。
A sudden wave of terror passed over the English seamen。 One of
them tried to pass and get behind the brazen man； but he was
pinned against the side by a quick movement and his brains dashed
out by a smashing blow from the heavy mace。 Wild panic seized the
others； and they rushed back to the boat。 Aylward strung an
arrow； but his bowstring was damp and the shaft rang loudly upon
the shining breast…plate and glanced off into the sea。 Masters
struck the brazen head with a sword； but the blade snapped without
injuring the helmet； and an instant later the bowman was stretched
senseless on the deck。 The seamen shrank from this terrible
silent creature and huddled in the stern； all the fight gone out
of them。
Again he raised his mace and was advancing on the helpless crowd
where the brave were encumbered and hampered by the weaklings；
when Nigel shook himself clear and bounded forward into the open；
his sword in his hand and a smile of welcome upon his lips。
The sun had set； and one long mauve gash across the western
Channel was closing swiftly into the dull grays of early night。
Above； a few stars began to faintly twinkle； yet the twilight was
still bright enough for an observer to see every detail of the
scene： the Marie Rose； dipping and rising on the long rollers
astern； the broad French boat with its white deck blotched with
blood and littered with bodies； the group of men in the stern；
some trying to advance and some seeking to escape … all a
confused； disorderly； struggling rabble。
Then betwixt them and the mast the two figures： the armed shining
man of metal； with hand upraised； watchful； silent； motionless；
and Nigel； bareheaded and crouching； with quick foot； eager eyes
and fearless happy face； moving this way and that； in and out； his
sword flashing like a gleam of light as he sought at all points
for some opening in the brazen shell before him。
It was clear to the man in armor that if he could but pen his
antagonist in a corner he would beat him down without fail。 But
it was not to be done。 The unhampered man had the advantage of
speed。 With a few quick steps he could always glide to either
side and escape the clumsy rush。 Aylward and Badding had sprung
out to Nigel's assistance； but he shouted to them to stand back；
with such authority and anger in his voice that their weapons
dropped to their sides。 With staring eyes and set features they
stood watching that unequal fight。
Once it seemed that all was over with the Squire； for in springing
back from his enemy he tripped over one of the bodies which
strewed the deck and fell flat upon his back； but with a swift
wriggle he escaped the heavy blow which thundered down upon him；
and springing to his feet he bit deeply into the Frenchman's
helmet with a sweeping cut in return。 Again the mace fell； and
this time Nigel had not quite cleared himself。 His sword was
beaten down and the blow fell partly upon his left shoulder。 He
staggered； and once more the iron club whirled upward to dash him
to the ground。
Quick as a flash it passed through his mind that he could not leap
beyond its reach。 But he might get within it。 In an instant he
had dropped his sword； and springing in he had seized the brazen
man round the waist。 The mace was shortened and the handle jobbed
down once upon the bare flaxen head。 'Then； with a sonorous
clang； and a yell of delight from the spectators； Nigel with one
mighty wrench tore his enemy from the deck and hurled him down
upon his back。 His own head was whirling and he felt that his
senses were slipping away； but already his hunting…knife was out
and pointing through the slit in the brazen helmet。
〃Give yourself up； fair sir！〃 said he。
〃 Never to fishermen and to archers！ I am a gentleman of coat…
armor。 Kill me！〃
〃I also am a gentleman of coat…armor。 I promise you quarter。〃
〃Then； sir； I surrender myself to you。〃
The dagger tinkled down upon the deck。 Seamen and archers ran
forward； to find Nigel half senseless upon his face。 They drew
him off； and a few deft blows struck off the helmet of his enemy。
A head； sharp…featured； freckled and foxy…red； disclosed itself
beneath it。 Nigel raised himself on his elbow for an instant。
〃You are the Red Ferret？〃 said he。
〃So my enemies call me；〃 said the Frenchman； with a smile。 〃I
rejoice； sir； that I have fallen to so valiant and honorable a
gentleman。〃
〃 I thank you； fair sir；〃 said Nigel feebly。 〃 I also rejoice
that I have encountered so debonair a person； and I shall ever
bear in mind the pleasure which I have had from our meeting。〃
So saying； he laid his bleeding head upon his enemy's brazen front
and sank into a dead faint。
XV。 HOW THE RED FERRET CAME TO COSFORD
The old chronicler in his 〃Gestes du Sieur Nigel〃 has bewailed his
broken narrative； which rose from the fact that out of thirty…one
years of warfare no less than seven were spent by his hero at one
time or another in the recovery from his wounds or from those
illnesses which arose from privation and fatigue。 Here at the
very threshold of his career； on the eve of a great enterprise；
this very fate befell him。
Stretched upon a couch in a low…roofed and ill…furnished chamber；
which looks down from under the machicolated corner turret upon
the inner court of the Castle of Calais； he lay half…unconscious
and impotent； while great deeds were doing under his window。
Wounded in three places； and with his head splintered by the sharp
pommel of the Ferret's mace； he hovered betwixt life and death；
his shattered body drawing him downward； his youthful spirit
plucking him