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behind him he was as safe as a rabbit at the mouth of his burrow。
In the joy of his heart he must needs dance in derision and snap
his fingers at the foolish men who had let him slip。 He threw
back his head； howling at them like a dog； and at the instant an
arrow struck him full in the throat and laid him dead among the
bracken。 There was a hush of surprised silence and then a loud
cheer burst from the archers。
〃By the rood of Beverley！〃 cried old Wat； 〃I have not seen a finer
roving shaft this many a year。 In my own best day I could not
have bettered it。 Which of you loosed it？〃
〃It was Aylward of Tilford … Samkin Aylward；〃 cried a score of
voices； and the bowman； flushed at his own fame； was pushed to the
front。
〃Indeed I would that it had been at a nobler mark；〃 said he。 〃He
might have gone free for me； but I could not keep my fingers from
the string when he turned to jeer at us。〃
〃I see well that you are indeed a master…bowman；〃 said old Wat；
〃and it is comfort to my soul to think that if I fall I leave such
a man behind me to hold high the credit of our craft。 Now gather
your shafts and on； for Sir Robert awaits us on the brow of the
hill。〃
All day Knolles and his men marched through the same wild and
deserted country； inhabited only by these furtive creatures； hares
to the strong and wolves to the weak； who hovered in the shadows
of the wood。 Ever and anon upon the tops of the hills they caught
a glimpse of horsemen who watched them from a distance and
vanished when approached。 Sometimes bells rang an alarm from
villages amongst the hills； and twice they passed castles which
drew up their drawbridges at their approach and lined their walls
with hooting soldiers as they passed。 The Englishmen gathered a
few oxen and sheep from the pastures of each； but Knolles had no
mind to break his strength upon stone walls； and so he went upon
his way。
Once at St。 Meen they passed a great nunnery； girt with a high
gray lichened wall； an oasis of peace in this desert of war； the
black…robed nuns basking in the sun or working in the gardens；
with the strong gentle hand of Holy Church shielding them ever
from evil。 The archers doffed caps to them as they passed； for
the boldest and roughest dared not cross that line guarded by the
dire ban and blight which was the one only force in the whole
steel…ridden earth which could stand betwixt the weakling and the
spoiler。
The little army halted at St。 Meen and cooked its midday meal。 It
had gathered into its ranks again and was about to start； when
Knolles drew Nigel to one side。
〃Nigel；〃 said he； 〃it seems to me that I have seldom set eyes upon
a horse which hath more power and promise of speed than this great
beast of thine。〃
〃It is indeed a noble steed； fair sir；〃 said Nigel。 Betwixt him
and his young leader there had sprung up great affection and
respect since the day that they set foot in the Basilisk。
〃It will be the better if you stretch his limbs； for he grows
overheavy；〃 said the knight。 〃Now mark me； Nigel！ Yonder betwixt
the ash…tree and the red rock what do you see on the side of the
far hill？〃
〃There is a white dot upon it。 Surely it is a horse。〃
〃I have marked it all morning； Nigel。 This horseman has kept ever
upon our flank； spying upon us or waiting to make some attempt
upon us。 Now I should be right glad to have a prisoner； for it is
my wish to know something of this country…side； and these peasants
can speak neither French nor English。 I would have you linger
here in hiding when we go forward。 This man will still follow us。
When he does so； yonder wood will lie betwixt you and him。 Do you
ride round it and come upon him from behind。 There is broad plain
upon his left； and we will cut him off upon the right。 If your
horse be indeed the swifter； then you cannot fail to take him。〃
Nigel had already sprung down and was tightening Pommers' girth。
〃Nay； there is no need of haste； for you cannot start until we are
two miles upon our way。 And above all I pray you； Nigel； none of
your knight…errant ways。 It is this roan that I want； him and the
news that he can bring me。 Think little of your own advancement
and much of the needs of the army。 When you get him； ride
westwards upon the sun； and you cannot fail to find the road。〃
Nigel waited with Pommers under the shadow of the nunnery wall；
horse and man chafing with impatience； whilst above them six
round…eyed innocent nun…faces looked down on this strange and
disturbing vision from the outer world。 At last the long column
wound itself out of sight round a curve of the road； and the white
dot was gone from the bare green flank of the hill。 Nigel bowed
his steel head to the nuns； gave his bridle a shake； and bounded
off upon his welcome mission。 The round…eyed sisters saw yellow
horse and twinkling man sweep round the skirt of the wood； caught
a last glimmer of him through the tree…trunks； and paced slowly
back to their pruning and their planting； their minds filled with
the beauty and the terror of that outer world beyond the high gray
lichen…mottled wall。
Everything fell out even as Knolles had planned。 As Nigel rounded
the oak forest； there upon the farther side of it； with only good
greensward between； was the rider upon the white horse。 Already
he was so near that Nigel could see him clearly； a young cavalier；
proud in his bearing； clad in purple silk tunic with a red curling
feather in his low black cap。 He wore no armor； but his sword
gleamed at his side。 He rode easily and carelessly； as one who
cares for no man； and his eyes were forever fixed upon the English
soldiers on the road。 So intent was he upon them that he gave no
thought to his own safety； and it was only when the low thunder of
the great horse's hoofs broke upon his ears that he turned in his
saddle； looked very coolly and steadily at Nigel； then gave his
own bridle a shake and darted off； swift as a hawk； toward the
hills upon the left。
Pommers had met his match that day。 The white horse； two parts
Arab； bore the lighter weight； since Nigel was clad in full armor。
For five miles over the open neither gained a hundred yards upon
the other。 They had topped the hill and flew down the farther
side； the stranger continually turning in his saddle to have a
look at his pursuer。 There was no panic in his flight； but rather
the amused rivalry with which a good horseman who is proud of his
mount contends with one who has challenged him。 Below the hill
was a marshy plain； studded with great Druidic stones； some
prostrate； some erect； some bearing others across their tops like
the huge doors of some vanished building。 A path ran through the
marsh with green rushes as a danger signal on either side of it。
Across this path many of the huge stones were lying； but the white
horse cleared them in its stride and Pommers followed close upon
his heels。 Then came a mile of soft ground where the lighter
weight again drew to the front； but it ended in a dry upland and
once again Nigel gained。 A sunken road crossed it； but the white
cleared it with a mighty spring； and again the yellow followed。
Two smal