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moment Raoul sank with a gasp at his feet； a bolt driven to its
socket through the links of the camail which guarded his neck。
Some of the archers； seeing that certain death awaited them； were
already running back to escape from the fatal passage。
〃By Saint Paul！〃 cried Nigel hotly。 〃Would you leave our wounded
where this butcher may lay his hands upon them？ Let the archers
shoot inwards and hold them back from the slits。 Now let each man
raise one of our comrades； lest we leave our honor in the gate of
this castle。〃
With a mighty effort he had raised Raoul upon his shoulders and
staggered with him to the edge of the ditch。 Several men were
waiting below where the steep bank shield them from the arrows；
and to them Nigel handed down his wounded friend； and each archer
in turn did the same。 Again and again Nigel went back until no
one lay in the tunnel save seven who had died there。 Thirteen
wounded were laid in the shelter of the ditch； and there they must
remain until night came to cover them。 Meanwhile the bowmen on
the farther side protected them from attack； and also prevented
the enemy from all attempts to build up the outer gate。 The
gaping smoke…blackened arch was all that they could show for a
loss of thirty men； but that at least Knolles was determined to
keep。
Burned and bruised； but unconscious of either pain or fatigue for
the turmoil of his spirit within him； Nigel knelt by the Frenchman
and loosened his helmet。 The girlish face of the young Squire was
white as chalk； and the haze of death was gathering over his
violet eyes； but a faint smile played round his lips as he looked
up at his English comrade。
〃I shall never see Beatrice again；〃 he whispered。 〃I pray you；
Nigel； that when there is a truce you will journey as far as my
father's chateau and tell him how his son died。 Young Gaston will
rejoice； for to him come the land and the coat； the war…cry and
the profit。 See them； Nigel； and tell them that I was as forward
as the others。〃
〃Indeed Raoul； no man could have carried himself with more honor
or won more worship than you have done this day。 I will do your
behest when the time comes。〃
〃Surely you are happy； Nigel；〃 the dying Squire murmured； 〃for
this day has given you one more deed which you may lay at the feet
of your lady…love。〃
〃It might have been so had we carried the gate；〃 Nigel answered
sadly； 〃but by Saint Paul！ I cannot count it a deed where I have
come back with my purpose unfulfilled。 But this is no time；
Raoul； to talk of my small affairs。 If we take the castle and I
bear a good part in it； then perchance all this may indeed avail。〃
The Frenchman sat up with that strange energy which comes often as
the harbinger of death。 〃You will win your Lady Mary； Nigel； and
your great deeds will be not three but a score； so that in all
Christendom there shall be no man of blood and coat…armor who has
not heard your name and your fame。 This I tell you … I； Raoul de
la Roche Pierre de Bras； dying upon the field of honor。 And now
kiss me； sweet friend； and lay me back； for the mists close round
me and I am gone！〃
With tender hands the Squire lowered his comrade's head； but even
as he did so there came a choking rush of blood； and the soul had
passed。 So died a gallant cavalier of France； and Nigel as he
knelt in the ditch beside him prayed that his own end might be as
noble and as debonair。
XXI。 HOW THE SECOND MESSENGER WENT TO COSFORD
Under cover of night the wounded men were lifted from the ditch
and carried back； whilst pickets of archers were advanced to the
very gate so that none should rebuild it。 Nigel； sick at heart
over his own failure； the death of his prisoner and his fears for
Aylward； crept back into the camp； but his cup was not yet full；
for Knolles was waiting for him with a tongue which cut like a
whip…lash。 Who was he； a raw squire； that he should lead an
attack without orders？ See what his crazy knight errantry had
brought about。 Twenty men had been destroyed by it and nothing
gained。 Their blood was on his head。 Chandos should hear of his
conduct。 He should be sent back to England when the castle had
fallen。
Such were the bitter words of Knolles； the more bitter because
Nigel felt in his heart that he had indeed done wrong； and that
Chandos would have said the same though； perchance； in kinder
words。 He listened in silent respect； as his duty was； and then
having saluted his leader he withdrew apart； threw himself down
amongst the bushes； and wept the hottest tears of his life；
sobbing bitterly with his face between his hands。 He had striven
hard； and yet everything had gone wrong with him。 He was bruised；
burned and aching from head to foot。 Yet so high is the spirit
above the body that all was nothing compared to the sorrow and
shame which racked his soul。
But a little thing changed the current of his thoughts and brought
some peace to his mind。 He had slipped off his mail gauntlets；
and as he did so his fingers lighted upon the tiny bangle which
Mary had fastened there when they stood together upon St。
Catharine's Hill on the Guildford Road。 He remembered the motto
curiously worked in filigree of gold。 It ran： 〃Fais ce que dois；
adviegne que pourra … c'est commande au chevalier。〃
The words rang in his weary brain。 He had done what seemed right；
come what might。 It had gone awry； it is true； but all things
human may do that。 If he had carried the castle； he felt that
Knolles would have forgiven and forgotten all else。 If he had not
carried it； it was no fault of his。 No man could have done more。
If Mary could see she would surely have approved。 Dropping into
sleep； he saw her dark face； shining with pride and with pity；
stooping over him as he lay。 She stretched out her hand in his
dream and touched him on the shoulder。 He sprang up and rubbed
his eyes； for fact had woven itself into dream in the strange way
that it does； and some one was indeed leaning over him in the
gloom； and shaking him from his slumbers。 But the gentle voice
and soft touch of the Lady Mary had changed suddenly to the harsh
accents and rough grip of Black Simon； the fierce Norfolk
man…at…arms。
〃Surely you are the Squire Loring；〃 he said； peering close to his
face in the darkness。
〃I am he。 What then？〃
〃I have searched through the camp for you； but when I saw the
great horse tethered near these bushes； I thought you would be
found hard by。 I would have a word with you。〃
〃Speak on。〃
〃This man Aylward the bowman was my friend； and it is the nature
that God has given me to love my friends even as I hate my foes。
He is also thy servant； and it has seemed to me that you love him
also。〃
〃I have good cause so to do。〃
〃Then you and I； Squire Loring； have more reason to strive on his
behalf than any of these others； who think more of taking the
castle than of saving those who are captives within。 Do you not
see that such a man as this robber lord would； when all else had
failed him； most surely cut the throats of his prisoners at the
last instant before the castle fell； knowing well that come what
might he would ha