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pommel of the Ferret's mace； he hovered betwixt life and death；
his shattered body drawing him downward； his youthful spirit
plucking him up。
As in some strange dream he was aware of that deed of arms within
the courtyard below。 Dimly it came back to his memory afterwards
the sudden startled shout； the crash of metal； the slamming of
great gates； the roar of many voices； the clang； clang； clang； as
of fifty lusty smiths upon their anvils； and then at last the
dwindling of the hubbub； the low groans and sudden shrill cries to
the saints； the measured murmur of many voices； the heavy clanking
of armored feet。
Sometime in that fell struggle he must have drawn his weakened
body as far as the narrow window； and hanging to the iron bars
have looked down on the wild scene beneath him。 In the red glare
of torches held from windows and from roof he saw the rush and
swirl of men below； the ruddy light shining back from glowing
brass and gleaming steel。 As a wild vision it came to him
afterward； the beauty and the splendor； the flying lambrequins；
the jeweled crests； the blazonry and richness of surcoat and of
shield； where sable and gules； argent and vair； in every pattern
of saltire； bend or chevron； glowed beneath him like a drift of
many…colored blossoms； tossing； sinking； stooping into shadow；
springing into light。 There glared the blood…red gules of
Chandos； and he saw the tall figure of his master； a thunderbolt
of war； raging in the van。 There too were the three black
chevrons on the golden shield which marked the noble Manny。 That
strong swordsman must surely be the royal Edward himself； since
only he and the black…armored swift…footed youth at his side were
marked by no symbol of heraldry。 〃Manny！ Manny！ George for
England！〃 rose the deep…throated bay； and ever the gallant
counter…cry： 〃A Chargny！ A Chargny！ Saint Denis for France！〃
thundered amid the clash and thudding of the battle。
Such was the vague whirling memory still lingering in Nigel's mind
when at last the mists cleared away from it and he found himself
weak but clear on the low couch in the corner turret。 Beside him；
crushing lavender betwixt his rough fingers and strewing it over
floor and sheets； was Aylward the archer。 His longbow leaned at
the foot of the bed； and his steel cap was balanced on the top of
it； while he himself； sitting in his shirt sleeves； fanned off the
flies and scattered the fragrant herbs over his helpless master。
〃By my hilt！〃 he cried with a sudden shout； every tooth in his
head gleaming with joy； 〃I thank the Virgin and all the saints for
this blessed sight！ I had not dared to go back to Tilford had I
lost you。 Three weeks have you lain there and babbled like a
babe； but now I see in your eyes that you are your own man again。〃
〃I have indeed had some small hurt；〃 said Nigel feebly； 〃but it is
shame and sorrow that I should lie here if there is work for my
hands。 Whither go you； archer？ 〃
〃To tell the good Sir John that you are mending。〃
〃Nay； bide with me a little longer； Aylward。 I can call to mind
all that has passed。 There was a bickering of small boats； was
there not； and I chanced upon a most worthy person and exchanged
handstrokes with him？ He was my prisoner； was he not？〃
〃He was； fair sir。〃
〃And where is he now？〃
〃Below in the castle。〃
A smile stole over Nigel's pale face。 〃I know what I will do with
him；〃 said he。
〃I pray you to rest； fair sir；〃 said Aylward anxiously。 〃The
King's own leech saw you this morning； and he said that if the
bandage was torn from your head you would surely die。〃
〃Nay； good archer； I will not move。 But tell me what befell upon
the boat？〃
〃There is little to tell； fair sir。 Had this Ferret not been his
own squire and taken so long a time to don his harness it is
likely that they would have had the better of us。 He did not
reach the battle till his comrades were on their backs。 Him we
took to the Marie Rose； because he was your man。 The others were
of no worth； so we threw them into the sea。〃
〃The quick and the dead？〃
〃Every man of them。〃
〃It was an evil deed。〃
Aylward shrugged his shoulders。 〃I tried to save one boy；〃 said
he； 〃but Cock Badding would not have it； and he had Black Simon
and the others at his back。 ‘It is the custom of the Narrow
Seas；' said they： ‘Today for them； to…morrow for us。' … Then they
tore him from his hold and cast him screaming over the side。 By
my hilt！ I have no love for the sea and its customs； so I care
not if I never set foot on it again when it has once borne me back
to England。〃
〃Nay； there are great happenings upon the sea； and many worthy
people to be found upon ships；〃 said Nigel。 〃In all parts； if one
goes far enough upon the water； one would find those whom it would
be joy to meet。 If one crosses over the Narrow Sea； as we have
done； we come on the French who are so needful to us； for how else
would we win worship？ Or if you go south； then in time one may
hope to come to the land of the unbelievers； where there is fine
skirmishing and much honor for him who will venture his person。
Bethink you； archer； how fair a life it must be when one can ride
forth in search of advancement with some hope of finding many
debonair cavaliers upon the same quest； and then if one be
overborne one has died for the faith； and the gates of Heaven are
open before you。 So also the sea to the north is a help to him
who seeks honor； for it leads to the country of the Eastlanders
and to those parts where the heathen still dwell who turn their
faces from the blessed Gospel。 There also a man might find some
small deeds to do； and by Saint Paul！ Aylward； if the French hold
the truce and the good Sir John permits us； I would fain go down
into those parts。 The sea is a good friend to the cavalier； for
it takes him where he may fulfil his vows。〃
Aylward shook his head； for his memories were too recent； but he
said nothing； because at this instant the door opened and Chandos
entered。 With joy in his face he stepped forward to the couch and
took Nigel's hand in his。 Then he whispered a word in Aylward's
ear； who hurried from the room。
〃Pardieu！ this is a good sight；〃 said the knight。 〃I trust that
you will soon be on your feet again。〃
〃I crave your pardon； my honored lord； that I have been absent
from your side；〃 said Nigel。
〃In truth my heart was sore for you； Nigel； for you have missed
such a night as comes seldom in any man's life。 All went even as
we had planned。 The postern gate was opened； and a party made
their way in； but we awaited them； and all were taken or slain。
But the greater part of the French had remained without upon the
plain of Nieullet； so we took horse and went out against them。
When we drew near them they were surprised； but they made good
cheer among themselves； calling out to each other： ‘If we fly we
lose all。 It is better to fight on； in the hopes that the day may
be ours。' This was heard by our people in the van； who cried out
to them： ‘By Saint George！ you speak truth。 Evil befall him who
thinks of flying！' So they held their ground like worthy people
for the space