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author: nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> 2025-03-03 05:14:01 -0800
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+<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 37102 ***</div>
+<div class="document" id="cedric-the-forester">
+<h1 class="document-title level-1 pfirst title">CEDRIC, THE FORESTER</h1>
+</div>
+<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em">
+</div>
+<div class="container" id="pg-produced-by">
+<p class="noindent pfirst">Produced by Elizabeth Oscanyan, Suzanne Shell, Eeyore004, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at <a class="reference external" href="http://www.pgdp.net">http://www.pgdp.net</a>.</p>
+<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em">
+</div>
+</div>
+</div>
+<hr class="docutils"/>
+<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="margin-left: 27%; width: 45%" id="figure-19">
+<span id="now-he-raised-himself-on-his-arm-and-claimed-the-victory"/><img style="display: block; margin-left: 0%; width: 100%" alt="images/illus01.png" src="images/illus01.png" width="100%"/>
+<div class="caption italics">
+NOW HE RAISED HIMSELF ON HIS ARM AND CLAIMED THE VICTORY</div>
+</div>
+<div class="center larger line-block noindent outermost">
+<div class="line"> </div>
+<div class="line"> </div>
+<div class="line"> </div>
+<div class="line">CEDRIC THE FORESTER</div>
+<div class="line"> </div>
+<div class="line"> </div>
+<div class="line">BY BERNARD MARSHALL</div>
+<div class="line"> </div>
+<div class="line"> </div>
+</div>
+<div class="align-center figure" style="margin-left: 40%; width: 20%">
+<img style="display: block; width: 100%" alt="images/tplogo.png" src="images/tplogo.png" width="100%"/>
+</div>
+<div class="center line-block noindent outermost">
+<div class="line"> </div>
+<div class="line"> </div>
+<div class="line">D. APPLETON AND COMPANY</div>
+<div class="line">NEW YORK : LONDON : MCMXXVI</div>
+<div class="line"> </div>
+<div class="line"> </div>
+<div class="line"> </div>
+<div class="line"> </div>
+<div class="line">COPYRIGHT, 1921, BY</div>
+<div class="line">D. APPLETON AND COMPANY</div>
+<div class="line"> </div>
+<div class="line">Copyright, 1920-1921, by The Sprague Publishing Company</div>
+<div class="line">PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA</div>
+<div class="line"> </div>
+<div class="line"> </div>
+<div class="line">DP Transcriber’s notes can be found at the end of the book.</div>
+<div class="line"> </div>
+<div class="line"> </div>
+</div>
+<hr class="docutils"/>
+<div class="center line-block noindent outermost x-large">
+<div class="line">CEDRIC THE FORESTER</div>
+</div>
+<hr class="docutils"/>
+<div class="contents level-2 section" id="id1">
+<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title">Contents</h2>
+<ul class="toc-list">
+<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-ithe-siege-of-castle-mountjoy" id="id2">CHAPTER I—THE SIEGE OF CASTLE MOUNTJOY</a></span></li>
+<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-iithe-tapping-on-the-dungeon-wall" id="id3">CHAPTER II—THE TAPPING ON THE DUNGEON WALL</a></span></li>
+<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-iiicedric-the-forester" id="id4">CHAPTER III—CEDRIC THE FORESTER</a></span></li>
+<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-ivthe-champion-of-mountjoy" id="id5">CHAPTER IV—THE CHAMPION OF MOUNTJOY</a></span></li>
+<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-vthe-festival-of-the-archers" id="id6">CHAPTER V—THE FESTIVAL OF THE ARCHERS</a></span></li>
+<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-viwolfs-head-glen" id="id7">CHAPTER VI—WOLF’S HEAD GLEN</a></span></li>
+<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-viithe-outlaws-of-blackpool" id="id8">CHAPTER VII—THE OUTLAWS OF BLACKPOOL</a></span></li>
+<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-viiithe-fortress-of-the-monkslayer" id="id9">CHAPTER VIII—“THE FORTRESS OF THE MONKSLAYER”</a></span></li>
+<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-ixchurl-and-overlord" id="id10">CHAPTER IX—CHURL AND OVERLORD</a></span></li>
+<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-xthe-pass-of-the-eagles" id="id11">CHAPTER X—THE PASS OF THE EAGLES</a></span></li>
+<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-xiby-kimberley-moat" id="id12">CHAPTER XI—BY KIMBERLEY MOAT</a></span></li>
+<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-xiithe-iron-collar" id="id13">CHAPTER XII—THE IRON COLLAR</a></span></li>
+<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#chapter-xiiion-the-road-to-runnymede" id="id14">CHAPTER XIII—ON THE ROAD TO RUNNYMEDE</a></span></li>
+</ul>
+</div>
+<hr class="docutils"/>
+<!-- class: larger -->
+<p class="pfirst"><strong class="bold">ILLUSTRATIONS</strong></p>
+<blockquote><div>
+<div class="line-block outermost">
+<div class="line"> </div>
+<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#now-he-raised-himself-on-his-arm-and-claimed-the-victory">Now he raised himself on his arm and claimed the victory</a></div>
+<div class="line"> </div>
+<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#two-huge-stones-hurled-by-alan-the-armorer-came-down-on-the-heads-of-the-luckless-churls-in-the-moat">Two huge stones, hurled by Alan the Armorer, came  down on the heads of the luckless churls in the moat</a></div>
+<div class="line"> </div>
+<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#dame-franklin-and-the-old-soldier-were-frozen-in-their-places">Dame Franklin and the old soldier were frozen in their  places</a></div>
+<div class="line"> </div>
+<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#the-force-of-my-blow-drove-him-backward-but-my-weapon-pierced-him-not">The force of my blow drove him backward, but my weapon pierced him not</a></div>
+<div class="line"> </div>
+<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#we-had-gone-scarce-half-a-mile-when-twas-plainly-to-be-seen-that-my-little-mare-was-no-match-for-the-long-limbed-steeds-of-the-carletons">We had gone scarce half a mile when ’twas plainly to be seen that my little mare was no match for the long-limbed steeds of the Carletons</a></div>
+<div class="line"> </div>
+<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#while-i-spoke-my-mother-had-grown-pale-as-death">While I spoke my mother had grown pale as death</a></div>
+<div class="line"> </div>
+<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#then-elbert-did-come-to-the-mark-and-with-a-merry-grin-sent-five-arrows-toward-the-target">Then Elbert did come to the mark and, with a merry grin, sent five arrows toward the target</a></div>
+<div class="line"> </div>
+<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#we-made-a-procession-through-the-field-all-the-men-and-maidens-shouting-and-dancing-and-making-a-most-merry-and-heartening-din">We made a procession through the field, all the men and maidens shouting and dancing and making a most merry and heartening din</a></div>
+<div class="line"> </div>
+<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#he-gave-no-inch-of-ground-save-to-leap-from-side-to-side-in-avoiding-my-downward-strokes">He gave no inch of ground save to leap from side to side in avoiding my downward strokes</a></div>
+<div class="line"> </div>
+<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#in-a-twinkling-armed-and-mounted-men-were-all-about-us">In a twinkling armed and mounted men were all about us</a></div>
+<div class="line"> </div>
+<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#old-marvin-had-his-cross-bow-ready-drawn-and-he-shot-young-montalvan-through-the-face-at-the-very-first-onset">Old Marvin had his cross-bow ready drawn, and he shot young Montalvan through the face at the very first onset</a></div>
+<div class="line"> </div>
+<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#hard-we-rode-indeed-and-with-little-mercy-on-our-mounts">Hard we rode, indeed, and with little mercy on our mounts</a></div>
+<div class="line"> </div>
+<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#the-water-at-the-ford-was-filled-with-mounted-men-and-bullock-carts-laden-with-spoil-and-making-their-difficult-way-through-the-swift-flowing-current">The water at the ford was filled with mounted men and bullock carts, laden with spoil and making their difficult way through the swift-flowing current</a></div>
+<div class="line"> </div>
+<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#the-leader-had-his-great-sword-thrust-aside-by-cedrics-bow-then-was-seized-about-the-waist-and-hurled-to-the-rocks-below">The leader had his great sword thrust aside by Cedric’s bow, then was seized about the waist and hurled to the rocks below</a></div>
+<div class="line"> </div>
+<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#both-were-red-of-face-with-hurry-and-their-horses-were-well-lathered-and-breathing-hard">Both were red of face with hurry, and their horses were well lathered and breathing hard</a></div>
+<div class="line"> </div>
+<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#then-with-loud-menaces-i-drove-him-to-the-wall-where-i-made-him-stand-with-hands-above-his-head">Then with loud menaces I drove him to the wall where I made him stand with hands above his head</a></div>
+<div class="line"> </div>
+<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#sir-cedric-rose-to-his-feet-and-for-a-moment-looked-from-one-to-the-other-of-our-company">Sir Cedric rose to his feet and for a moment looked from one to the other of our company</a></div>
+<div class="line"> </div>
+<div class="line"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#with-a-mighty-shout-we-rode-down-upon-the-bridge-trusting-all-to-the-darkness-and-the-fury-of-our-attack">With a mighty shout, we rode down upon the bridge, trusting all to the darkness and the fury of our attack</a></div>
+</div>
+</div></blockquote>
+<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-ithe-siege-of-castle-mountjoy">
+<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id2">CHAPTER I—THE SIEGE OF CASTLE MOUNTJOY</a></h2>
+<p class="pfirst">That was a blithe spring morning when the
+messenger from the King brought to my father
+the order to join the army at Lincoln for the
+great expedition into Scotland. Six armored knights
+with their squires and a hundred men-at-arms made up
+the Mountjoy quota; and these my father, liege lord of
+the domain and loyal subject of the crown, lost no time
+in bringing together.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Messengers, on horseback and afoot hurried out with
+his commands; and at the castle we were all in a pretty
+flurry of making ready.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The armorers were hammering and riveting in the
+courtyard, making a most merry din; the big ox-carts
+lumbered in over the drawbridge, bearing meat and
+grain for my father’s company while on its way to
+the assembly ground and for us who were to remain
+at Mountjoy; and our men in their leathern
+jackets and hoods and with their cross-bows slung on
+their backs were coming in by ones and twos and in
+groups of half a score.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Now my lady mother drew near to Father’s side as
+he watched the labor of the armorers, and I, having
+no will to lose any word of his, came forward also.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“My lord,” she said, “I would speak with thee
+where the noise of these hammers will not deafen our
+ears.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">My father laughed as one laughs at the sorriest jest
+when he is gay.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Gadzooks! my lady,” he said with a curtsy which
+my mother says he learned in Italy, and which, try as
+I may, I cannot copy—“a daughter of the Montmorencys
+should find in the din of armorers’ hammers
+a music far sweeter than that of the lute or viol.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“’Tis well enough,” said my mother, hurriedly,
+“and I should sorrow to live where it never was heard.
+But I have a grave matter upon which to consult thee.
+Hast thou given thought, my lord, to the castle’s defense
+during thine absence and that of the best part
+of our men?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">My father’s brow became furrowed. I opened my
+mouth to speak, but Mother frowned at me so I held
+my peace. Methinks she sometimes thinks of me as
+naught more than a child, forgetting that it was my
+fifteenth birthday that we marked at Candlemas.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Some little I have thought of that,” began my
+father, “and, indeed, Kate, I would not have thee
+think I would leave thee unsecured. Marvin, the old
+cross-bowman who attended me through all my campaigns,
+and whose eye for the homing place of his
+arrow, is, in spite of his years, like that of Robin Hood
+himself, shall be thy right-hand servitor, and with
+him six good serving men, who, like him, are of the
+older day and unfit for the long marches, but who
+can handle the cross-bow or, at need, the spear as well
+as in their best days. These shall be at thy command;
+and will be ample for these quiet times.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Nay, my lord,” she answered, quickly, “these days
+are none so quiet, with the Old Wolf of Carleton
+sharpening his fangs for us and ours.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“The Old Wolf hath his summons to the King’s
+banner as I have mine. Our smaller quarrels must be
+laid aside while the war is on; and if Fortune desert
+me not, I shall return far higher in the favor of the
+King than e’er before. It is this very business, well
+and faithfully done, that shall put an end to Carleton’s
+insolence. The Wolf shall snap his jaws in vain.
+The fat goose of Mountjoy for which he hungers
+shall show itself an eagle with beak and talons.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“I hope it may be as thou sayest, my lord. Still,
+leave with us Old Alan, the armorer. He too is past
+the days of hard campaigns; and thou wilt have the
+young smith, Dickon, for thy work in the camp. Alan
+shall make for us such a store of cross-bow bolts as
+will make Old Marvin and his men seem a score in
+case of need.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“As thou wilt, Kate. I had need of Old Alan’s
+head far more than his hands; but ’tis true enough
+he’s not the man who followed my father to the wars.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Then he turned to me and smiled as on that greeting
+day of his return from the Holy Wars.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“But, Kate,” he cried, “here is the Champion of
+Mountjoy now. We had forgot the chief of our defenders.
+Mayhap Sir Dickon here, if any seek to do
+thee harm, will find better marks for his bolts than
+rooks and hares.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">I knew that he made a jest of me; for he, too, hardly
+knows that I lack but half a foot of being as tall as
+himself and that when I am not put about by hurry
+or the like, my voice is as low a bass. But I answered
+in goodly earnest:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“That I will, Father. An if any varlet throw but
+an unmannerly word at my lady mother, I’ll stop his
+mouth with a good steel bolt. Let but any one—Gray
+Wolf or other—threaten Mountjoy while thou’rt
+away, and come within bow-shot of our walls, and he
+shall rue it well.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Ha! The young eagle tries his wings,” laughed
+my father. “Spoken like a true Mountjoy, Dickon.
+Thou’lt do. Give thee but a few more years and thou’lt
+serve the King like all thy line.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“And like a true Montmorency, my lord,” put in
+my mother. “Forget not that.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“’Pon my soul, ’tis true,” he laughed, “Dickon
+hath as good blood on the distaff side as any his father
+can boast.—But to the matter of the castle’s defense in
+need. Will-o’-the-Wallfield shall stay behind also to
+see that stores of grain and beef are ample. He’s ever
+a good hand with the farmers and as sound as an oak
+staff.” And with a kiss for my mother and a pinch
+o’ the ear for me, he hurried out again to the armorers.</p>
+<p class="pnext">His spirits in good sooth were high that morning,
+as well might they be. It was full two years since
+his return from the Holy Land. I had seen him in
+London, riding in his shining mail with those who
+had helped redeem the Blessed Sepulcher, and he the
+bravest, finest figure of them all. Since that time he
+had stayed here at the castle with naught to do save
+to judge the suits of the countryfolk and now and
+again chase down and hang some forest-lurking robber.
+His comrades in arms and those that knew his
+temper and his deeds were at the Court, a hundred
+miles away; and many a dull day must have seemed a
+week in passing. Here in the West we have no tourneys
+and of travelers from the farther world not many.
+Only lately some little stir of life did we have. The
+Gray Wolf of Carleton from his castle at Teramore,
+three leagues away, had sent to us an insolent demand
+for tribute, claiming forsooth that the Lords of Mountjoy
+were but a younger line of the House of Carleton
+and that we held our fiefs on sufferance and at the
+will of them, our superiors.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Always shall I remember the language of my father’s
+answer. The clerkly knave who brought Lord Carleton’s
+message shrunk and shriveled before it like a
+leaf too near the fire. Just so will I meet all such
+threats and insolence when I have but a few more
+years.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Suzerain of Mountjoy, forsooth! Let the Gray
+Wolf look well to Teramore, lest we of Mountjoy
+smoke him from his lair. Mountjoy banners will dip
+before those of Carleton when England pays tribute
+to the Saracen, and Beelzebub, thy master’s friend,
+sits on the throne.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">The knave slunk back to Teramore; and for some
+weeks the Gray Wolf’s pack had yapped and yowled.
+Two of Lord Carleton’s bailiffs had their heads well
+broken by Mountjoy tenants of whom they demanded
+rental; and an armed party was sent out to avenge
+them. These men-at-arms were even more roughly
+used by some of our Mountjoy cross-bowmen who
+spied the Carleton banner from afar as it entered the
+village.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Real fighting would surely have come of it, and we of
+Mountjoy outnumbered three to one, had not the King
+sent messengers to Teramore and Mountjoy also, commanding
+all of us to cease from any violence in the
+quarrel till his men could report to him the rights
+and wrongs of it.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Now came the King’s call to his vassals, great and
+small, to serve in the Scottish war; and my father was
+gay with the thought of service under his sovereign’s
+banner,—service that might place the name and fame
+of Mountjoy high in his master’s favor, and show what
+manner of man and subject it was whom the Gray
+Wolf would rob of his lands.</p>
+<p class="pnext">A week from that morning my mother had in hand
+a letter brought by a courier from the King’s army
+and bearing my father’s greetings. They were well
+on their way to the north, and believed the Scots would
+soon have reason to repent them of their folly.
+Father had been given a post in the advance guard, and
+was in high feather over rejoining some of his comrades
+of earlier years.</p>
+<p class="pnext">On the same day, and from another source, we
+had news that the Gray Wolf was delayed at Teramore
+by an illness,—the same that had plagued him
+at times since his campaigns in the Holy Land, but
+that he had sent word to the King that he would overtake
+the banners ere they reached the Scottish border.</p>
+<p class="pnext">At seven of the next morning, I stood with Old
+Marvin by the drawbridge wheel. He had seen to its
+lowering, and a wain-load of wheat from the grange at
+the Wallfield was coming slowly into the courtyard.
+Suddenly I espied a body of horsemen approaching
+at a trot half a mile away, at a bend on the wooded
+road from Mannerley. With pointing finger, I
+guided the eyes of Marvin; and for half a minute
+we both stood watching the riders without a word.
+They were soon lost behind the trees, but our old
+archer, with his hand on the wheel, now shifted his
+looks to the road where it came out of the forest, a
+scant bowshot below us.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Now we could hear the hoofbeats and once and
+again the ring of steel. This could be no friendly
+call from our neighboring knights and squires so early
+in the day. Besides, the loyal men of the whole region
+were with the King’s banner. Had the horsemen come
+by the Teramore road, our thoughts would have flown
+at once to the Old Wolf and his designs, and the drawbridge
+had gone up in a twinkling; but these came from
+Mannerley; and I knew well that the good lady of
+Mannerley had days since sent her small quota of
+knights and men-at-arms to Lincoln. We had not long
+to wonder, for now the column came from the wood
+at a swinging trot, and with a tall, gray-bearded knight
+at its head came forward swiftly toward the open
+gate.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Marvin stayed his hand no longer. I seized the
+crank with him; and we swiftly turned it. We drew
+the bridge to a slant, half way to the upright and
+barely in time to halt those riders on the yonder side
+of the moat.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“I know thee, my Lord Carleton,” shouted Marvin,
+“what would’st thou at Mountjoy? Dost think we
+keep no watch and ward?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">The Old Wolf (for verily he was the leader of the
+horsemen) shouted back to us in tones that made my
+ear drums ache:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Lower the bridge, varlet. Know’st thou not I
+am liege lord of Mountjoy, and will hang thee higher
+than Haman if thou stay’st me by so much as an instant.
+Lower the bridge, if thou would’st save thy
+carcass from the crows!”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Before Marvin could say aught in reply he was
+thrust aside, and my mother, the Lady of Mountjoy,
+stood by the sally port. In a moment I stood close
+behind her with cross-bow drawn and bolt in groove.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“My Lord Carleton,” she said, and her voice was
+wonderfully sweet after the rasping tones that had
+been filling our ears, “what dost thou here with three
+score mounted men when the King hath summoned all
+loyal vassals to his banner?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">So evil a face as he made at this greeting I hope
+never to see again.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Ah! ’tis thou, then, Kate of Montmorency. I
+have somewhat pressing business of my own to forward
+ere I send final answer to the King. Now deliver
+to me the keys of this my castle of Mountjoy.
+Or mayhap thou wilt send yonder leather-coated varlet
+to act as thy champion ’gainst one of my kitchen
+knaves. Now lower thy bridge, and all shall be well.
+I will send thee and the boy there with a convoy of
+trusty knights to the Convent of St. Anne. If thou
+hast the folly to attempt to stay me, I will take the
+place by storm; thy varlets shall hang, every one; and
+thine own fate thou canst guess. Come now! which,
+shall it be? I am not accustomed to stay long for
+answers.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Traitor and Hound of Bedlam!” cried my mother
+in such a voice as I knew not she possessed, “thine
+own head with the gray locks thou dishonorest shall
+hang from my battlements ere thou gainest aught by
+this attack on what thou thinkest to be a defenseless
+woman. While my lord fights for his country under
+the banner of the King, thou sendest back lying messengers,
+and arm thy crew for robbing him of his
+lands. Now back, with all thy bloody-handed band,
+or my cross-bowmen shall see if they cannot find with
+their bolts the joints of your harness. I give no more
+time to parley. Back with you!”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Already my cross-bow was leveled at the gray beard
+of the leader on the other side of the moat. I would
+make good my boast made to my father but a week
+since. I was trembling and my hair stood up like that
+of a dog that meets his bitter enemy. Muttering a
+little prayer for the bolt, and closing my eyes with
+a sudden, foolish dread, I pulled the trigger. But
+my mother, just then seeing my design, struck up the
+weapon with one swift blow, so that the bolt sped
+harmlessly over the heads of the horsemen.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Hold thy arrows, boy,” she commanded, “we cannot
+shoot men down at parley, be they never so villainous.
+And we shall have fighting enough ere long.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Lord Carleton made a move of defiance; but he
+wheeled his steed and led his men down the road by
+which they came. In the shadow of the woods they
+halted; and the Gray Wolf called about him three or
+four knights to whom he gave hurried orders. Very
+soon his troop broke into three parties. One rode
+to the right and another to the left, while the third,
+under the old lord’s command, remained opposite the
+main gate and drawbridge. Then our watchers on
+the battlements saw the other parties posted at points
+of vantage around the castle and a young squire riding
+at full gallop along the road to Teramore. The siege
+of Castle Mountjoy had begun.</p>
+<p class="pnext">We passed some weary hours while the Carleton
+knights gave no sign of meaning to attack. The approaches
+to the drawbridge are steep and rocky, and
+the moat is commanded by the cross-bowmen from
+the slits in the towers and from the battlements above.
+I well knew that Carleton was an old and skillful soldier,
+even though a cruel and bloodthirsty one; and
+it was easy to be seen that he had no mind to lose any
+of his armored knights in vain attempts to reach us.
+Now and again a cross-bow bolt sped from our battlements
+toward the besiegers; and some of these rang
+on their helmets or breastplates; but the hounds had
+good Toledo armor, and no bolt found its way to joint
+or visor. I found none to stay me now; and stood
+by a firing slit, sending arrow after arrow at our enemies.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Twice old Marvin had dinted with well-aimed bolts
+the hauberk on which rested the long gray beard of
+the leader of the pack. A younger knight, whom I
+took to be Ronald of Egleston, seemed to beg him to
+take to the shelter of the trees; but the Old Wolf just
+shook his head with impatience, and rode on from one
+to another of the sentry posts.</p>
+<p class="pnext">At noon we could see in the edge of the wood, beneath
+the oak branches not yet clothed with leaves,
+leathern wallets opened and bread and meat passed
+around, this being followed by horns of ale and skins
+of wine from the load of a pack-mule tethered near
+by.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Then my mother, aided by old Dame Franklin, her
+nurse as a child and ever her faithful servitor, and by
+me as the Heir of Mountjoy and the representative of
+my father here, carried to the sentinels on the ramparts
+and at the arrow slits bounteous refreshments of bread
+and cheese and ale, encouraging them the while by
+friendly, confident words and by her dauntless demeanor
+in readiness for the attack which we all well
+knew was to come.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Marvin,” she said, as we came near my old friend
+and worthy teacher of the arts of war, “shall we give
+them as good or better than they can send?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Aye, that we will, Lady,” quoth Marvin with an
+obeisance, losing the while no glance of what might
+be happening in the edge of the wood opposite, “if
+the wind will but ease a thought, and the Gray Wolf
+take not to some shelter, I will land an arrow yet at
+the roots of that beard which flaunts there in the breeze
+like a banner for those robber hounds.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“God speed thy bolt, good Marvin. An thou dost
+that, ’twill be as loyal a service as e’er them did’st the
+House of Mountjoy. His band would not linger long
+to annoy us, I think. And that cottage and half dozen
+acres by the mill shall be thine in fee simple.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Lady Mountjoy,” he said, with another bow, “I
+have served my Lord of Mountjoy and his father before
+him for fifty years. Your bounty is ever welcome,
+but, with it or without, I serve while I live.
+But hold! there’s the Gray Wolf again, looking our
+way with hungry eyes,—”</p>
+<p class="pnext">He took long and careful aim, while I who had often
+seen him bring down a running hare at a greater distance,
+watched him with halted breath. But Fortune
+smiled not on him. A gust of wind came just as he
+drew trigger, and turned his bolt enough in the hundred
+and fifty yards of its flight to make it pass harmlessly
+to one side of our enemy. Old Marvin made
+a bitter groan at this bad hap, and stood looking at
+the knight with grinding teeth.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Better luck and a quieter air next time, good Marvin,”
+quoth mother, “thou’lt wing him yet, be sure.”
+And she passed to another embrasure to greet old
+Alan, the armorer, who was busy with carrying fresh
+supplies of bolts to the archers.</p>
+<p class="pnext">At two o’ the clock a cry came down from our lookouts
+that reënforcements were coming for our enemies.
+My mother and I hurried to the battlements
+and from there descried a motley array of a hundred
+or more men-at-arms, archers and peasants with axes
+and spades, tramping along the road from Teramore.</p>
+<p class="pnext">For a moment we were frightened at what we saw.
+Here was proof indeed that the Old Wolf meant no
+hurried foray but an attack in such force as might be
+expected to gain the castle and the lands of Mountjoy.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Most of its proper defenders were far away, marching
+with other loyal men under the banner of the King;
+and now it was clear that Carleton had let no man go
+forward from all his lands, reserving all for this treacherous
+blow. Armored knights could not swim the
+moat or climb up its steep sides; but the Carleton force
+was now twenty times greater than ours, and the Gray
+Wolf was well skilled in all the arts of attack.</p>
+<p class="pnext">We had not long to wait in suspense. The men-at-arms
+and the peasants turned into the wood before
+coming within range of our archers. Soon after we
+heard the sound of many axes. Before a half hour
+had passed there came from the forest a body which
+seemed like a part of the wood itself. A hundred men
+ran out, clad in leathern jackets or the peasants’ homespun,
+and carrying no weapons save axes or poniards
+stuck in their belts, each bearing before him a great,
+withe-bound armful of branches. Following these
+came a score with planks and beams from a little lodge
+in the wood which they had torn down; then eight
+huge fellows, running with a tree, trimmed of its
+branches and carried butt foremost as a battering ram.
+This was the thing that made me quake for the safety
+of the castle, for it was clear to all of us that if those
+robber beasts could fill the moat with their fascines
+and lumber, they could swarm across, force down the
+drawbridge and with that accursed log break down the
+inner gate. Once inside the courtyard, they would
+hold all in the castle at their mercy.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Surrounding the churls who acted as ram-bearers,
+and running as best they might in their heavy armor,
+was a group of knights and squires, led by the savage
+old graybeard of Carleton. Last of all came a dozen
+cross-bowmen with bows drawn and bolts in groove.</p>
+<p class="pnext">A half dozen of our bolts hummed through the air
+at their on-coming line. I was at one of the arrow
+slits, glad indeed of a fair chance at the Carleton curs,
+and using as best I might the good steel bow which
+my father had brought back from the Crusade. Some
+of our first volley of bolts found their marks, but most
+flew over their heads or buried themselves in the bundles
+of branches which served them well as shields.
+With might and main we loaded and fired again, this
+time with more effect. One of my bolts felled the
+leader of the ram-bearers and threw his fellows into
+confusion. But now the line was at the moat, the
+fascines were hurled into it, the planks and beams
+followed helter skelter, and a few of the boldest of
+their men-at-arms dashed out on the footing thus made.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Now indeed our bolts began doing their work. The
+fascines gone, the leathern jackets were but the sorriest
+protection, and at twenty to forty paces hardly a bolt
+failed to bring down its man. We were firing as fast
+as we could lay the bolts in groove. All their burdens
+were in the ditch, but it was not filled enough to allow
+a crossing. Some of those who had ventured on the
+planks and branches became foot-caught, slipped
+through to the water below and perished miserably
+like thieving rats caught and drowned in a trap of
+meal strewn on the water of a tub.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The Carleton cross-bowmen could do little against
+our stone walls pierced with narrow firing slits. Some
+of their arrows came through, but none of us were
+injured. Two huge stones, hurled by Alan, the armorer,
+from the battlements above, came down on the
+heads of the luckless churls in the moat and helped to
+scatter the scanty footing. Thrice more had old Marvin
+dinted with his bolts the armor of the Gray Wolf,
+who was running up and down behind his men, shouting
+threats and orders; but still the arrows failed in
+drawing blood. Two other knights were not so fortunate,
+for bolts struck them full in the faces, and
+they were borne from the field by their comrades.</p>
+<p class="pnext">In time, mid curses and threats, old Carleton shouted
+an order for retreat. It was none too soon, for already
+half the homespun varlets and men-at-arms,
+seeing no hope of reaching us, and expecting any moment
+the fate which was falling on their comrades,
+were on their way to the shelter of the woods. The
+Carleton crew recrossed the open ground more quickly
+than it had come. Twenty or more of their number
+remained behind, in the ditch or on its bank, and the
+battering ram lay where its bearers had dropped it
+when their comrades broke and ran.</p>
+<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="margin-left: 27%; width: 45%" id="figure-20">
+<span id="two-huge-stones-hurled-by-alan-the-armorer-came-down-on-the-heads-of-the-luckless-churls-in-the-moat"/><img style="display: block; margin-left: 0%; width: 100%" alt="images/illus02.png" src="images/illus02.png" width="100%"/>
+<div class="caption italics">
+TWO HUGE STONES, HURLED BY ALAN THE ARMORER, CAME DOWN
+ON THE HEADS OF THE LUCKLESS CHURLS IN THE MOAT</div>
+</div>
+<p class="pfirst">Hardly had the last of them disappeared under the
+oaks when Marvin and Alan appeared in the moat,
+armed with long-handled pikes. Quickly hauling together
+some of the planks and beams to make a raft,
+they began pulling and pushing apart the rest of the
+matter which had been meant to form a crossing.
+There had not been enough of the brush and lumber
+for the Carleton purpose but could they place as much
+more in the same spot, it might make them a footway.
+We who guarded them from above and stood ready to
+give warning of any new attack were able to tell them
+over and again that none of our enemies were showing
+their heads. So holpen, the old soldiers made a thorough
+piece of work, and in half an hour had hauled
+out all the planks and beams and so scattered the brush
+bundles that they would be of little use to the attackers
+should they find stomachs for another assault.</p>
+<p class="pnext">That night was a weary one for all of us. The
+camp fires of the Carleton robbers made a kind of circle
+about our place and gave us warning of how close they
+made the siege. My mother gave orders that half her
+men should lie down to sleep, though with their arms
+beside them, while she and Marvin often made the
+rounds to be sure of the watchfulness of the others.
+She would have had me go to my bed like a very child;
+but I begged it as a boon to share the watch, to which
+prayer she most unwillingly gave ear. That night I
+could not have slept in the downiest of couches, e’en
+with the softest music of well-played lutes. There was
+men’s work afoot; and ours were all too few. At
+midnight the sleepers were awakened and the watch
+changed; but always we three remained on guard.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The night was quiet, even so; and so was the whole
+of the day that followed. Beyond bowshot on the
+open ground, we could see the groups of our enemies
+and watch the sentries pacing their beats. Nearer at
+hand on the wooded side, we could hear from time to
+time the calls of men and the strokes of axes.</p>
+<p class="pnext">In the afternoon my mother found a few hours for
+sleep, leaving Marvin, who seemed to have no need
+for rest, in charge. Our old soldier and worthy lieutenant
+had told her that the siege might last for weeks,
+and that it would be folly for her to wear out her
+strength in its very beginning. To this good advice
+I made bold to add my urging. Dame Franklin had
+followed her mistress everywhere, bringing her food
+and drink when of herself she would have forgotten,
+and trying always to place herself between Lady
+Mountjoy and her enemies.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The first night had been starlit, but that which now
+came on was cloudy and so dark that one could scarce
+discern an enemy at a dozen paces, and not then unless
+his figure were seen against the sky. None of our
+men were allowed to sleep, for it was felt that the
+Carletons might come at us again at any moment and
+with much better chances for success than before. No
+one in the castle forgot that our enemies outnumbered
+us by almost a score to one or had any doubts as
+to what would come to us if by force or by treachery,
+the Gray Wolf and his pack made their way into our
+courtyard.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Soon after midnight we heard a loud tramp and roar
+of footsteps in the direction of the wood. Arrows
+we sent hap-hazard toward the attack, but in the darkness
+these did little more than tell our enemies that
+the Mountjoy men were at their posts. In a moment
+the other side of the moat was thronged with half-seen
+figures. Cries of command rang out and the waters
+of the ditch splashed high with the strokes of fascines,
+logs and sacks of earth. Now again our archers
+found victims, but in the murk and mid the wild cries
+and running to and fro these were but few. Most
+of our bolts struck harmlessly into the ground or
+the water or rang against the stones of the moat
+wall.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The frontmost of the churls who bore the brush and
+sacks, when they had cast their loads into the ditch,
+turned and ran back to the edge of the wood whence
+they presently returned with fresh supplies. Had it
+not been for the good labors of old Marvin and Alan in
+moving the matter cast down in the first attack a way
+would soon have been laid to the foot of the drawbridge.
+As it was, our ditch was fast filling. There seemed
+to be thousands of the burden bearers, running like
+Imps of Darkness with planks and great bundles; and
+in the pitchy dark of that black night the fire of our
+garrison had no effect.</p>
+<p class="pnext">I was firing as fast as might be from one of the
+arrow-slits; but, like the others, could not tell whether
+any of my bolts were finding victims. Each moment
+the numbers of our enemies increased. The pile of
+planks and brush now reached nearly to the inner wall
+of the moat. My mother ran back and forth behind
+the archers, carrying new supplies of missiles, and
+shouting heartening words. Old Marvin was hurling
+bolts as fast as he could load, and roundly cursing the
+hounds of Carleton and the blackness of the night that
+sheltered them. A moment more and I could hear
+axes ringing against iron. The bloody crew were
+hacking at the fastenings of the chains of the drawbridge.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Suddenly a thought crossed my mind like a shooting
+star; and I sprang away from my firing port.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Mother,” I cried, “we must have light to shoot
+by or we’re undone. Quick! the torches!”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Throwing down my cross-bow, I ran into the great
+hall and caught up a torch from the mantel. Thrusting
+it deeply into the fireplace embers, I quickly kindled
+it; then sped up the stairs toward the battlements.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Not for nothing is my lady mother a Montmorency
+of the old fighting line. In a trice she had understood
+my plan and was following me with a lighted torch.
+Close behind her came old Dame Franklin, bearing
+another. The three of us ran with all our might up
+the crooked stair and the ladders, and came out on
+the battlements, under the black sky.</p>
+<p class="pnext">As if the castle were all aflame, the moat and the
+farther bank were lighted by the glare. In an instant
+the cross-bowmen found their targets among the fascine
+bearers and the men-at-arms who were already
+swarming across. At once we heard their cries of
+rage and pain, and could see corpses rolling down the
+bank into the muddy waters. Alan heaved great stones
+from his supply on the battlements on to the heads
+of the men-at-arms in the ditch who but now had been
+raising a shout of victory. Old Marvin took most
+careful aim at a gray beard which caught the flare of
+light, and sent forth a mighty yell of joy as the knight
+spun around on his heel and fell to the ground.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Oh, the crowding and shouting and trampling under
+foot in the ranks of our enemies! The threats and the
+fear and the curses! Our arrows kept pouring from
+the firing slits. A younger knight caught his chief
+by the shoulders while another seized his legs, and
+they bore him quickly away. There was no need for
+any order to retreat. The whole body was in headlong
+flight in the winking of an eye, pursued by the whizzing
+bolts and the jeering yells of our fellows in the towers.
+On the battlements above stood my lady mother, old
+Dame Franklin and I, holding aloft our flaming
+torches.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Suddenly the old nurse screamed that I was hurt.
+And indeed, I now felt a most sharp pain through my
+shoulder where, it seems, had struck a bolt discharged
+by some Carleton archer. My doublet was covered
+with blood; and I felt a most unmanly giddiness. It
+was over in a flash; but my mother, pale as a ghost
+under the torchlight, had seized me by one arm while
+Dame Franklin grasped the other, fearing forsooth
+lest I fall from the battlements to the moat below. Between
+them, I made my way down to the hall where
+they led me to a couch, they all the while mumbling
+and weeping and forgetting our glorious victory which
+had all my thoughts.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Soon old Marvin had drawn the arrow and dressed
+the hurt with the simples he had at hand. ’Twas my
+first wound, and, truth to tell, as Marvin plucked the
+bolt away my stomach was none too well at ease, and
+the room and all its folk swung slowly round and
+round. Yet when I heard him declare to my lady
+mother that the young master was now a man in his
+own right and a worthy son of the Mountjoys, I closed
+my eyes to the dizzying hall with its dancing armor
+suits and its nodding pictures of my long dead forbears,
+and soon slumbered, well content.</p>
+<p class="pnext">For two hours and more I slept as one drugged.
+When my eyes opened, the hall had ceased its swinging,
+and my mother sat by my couch and did hold my hand
+in both of hers as she was wont to do long, long ago
+when I was but a child. Dame Franklin, in a chair
+near by did slumber deeply and with most comical
+groans and snores. Just then returned old Marvin,
+fresh from new labors in the moat. He and Alan had
+again cleared away all the contrivings of our enemies;
+and he was in high feather at our victory.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Lady Mountjoy,” he said, making due obeisance,
+“we have beaten the wolf-pack full soundly. The
+Old Wolf himself is sore stricken, if not dead; and the
+others will gladly crawl to their holes. Sir Dickon
+will have a merry tale and true to tell my lord when
+he comes from the Scottish war.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Say’st thou so, good Marvin?” quoth my mother
+in reply. “Dost think we have smitten them so they
+will give over all their evil design?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“My word upon it, Lady. We have beaten off all
+their strokes, killed a score and more of their men,
+and gi’en to the Old Wolf himself some measure of
+his just deserts. The morning will show their camp
+fires cold and the woods and fields of Mountjoy deserted
+by the whole wolf-pack. Ere three days have
+passed thou shalt walk abroad with thy women and
+without fear of any Carleton, lord or churl.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">These goodly words were to me better than physic;
+and the smile which my lady mother gave to me was a
+fair guerdon for any service. Soon I slept again and
+dreamed of riding my white mare on the banks of
+Tarleton Water on a day most fair to see. But I
+wakened to a gray and frosty dawn and to things far
+other than my dreams. My mother had just returned
+from the ramparts. The besiegers were still at their
+posts, and their camp fires burned brightly. She had
+made out messengers speeding along the road to Teramore,
+but of a breaking of the siege could see no signs
+around the camps of our enemies.</p>
+<p class="pnext">When she brought this news to me, I spurned the
+quilted robes and the silken coverlet which she had
+laid over me, sat up on the couch and asked for boots
+and cross-bow. She was deeply frightened at this,
+fearing my giddiness had returned and that I knew not
+what I said. But Marvin, coming into the hall just
+then, did say that my wound was too slight a thing to
+keep a fighting man in his bed; and thus aided I had my
+way, and soon was on the ramparts again.</p>
+</div>
+<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-iithe-tapping-on-the-dungeon-wall">
+<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id3">CHAPTER II—THE TAPPING ON THE DUNGEON WALL</a></h2>
+<p class="pfirst">As before, the siege went on, the sole variance
+being the absence of the gray-bearded horseman
+from the groups of knights and squires
+who made the circuit of the sentry-posts. Days and
+weeks went by, and they made no further assaults, but
+so closely were the siege lines drawn that, without
+wings no creature could enter or leave the castle. It
+was evident that the Carleton men hoped to starve us
+into submission. We smiled at this when we thought
+of the loads of grain and salted meats which had been
+brought into the storerooms in the first week of my
+father’s absence, and which would be enough to feed
+all our little garrison for a year. A well of most
+sweet water in the courtyard had never been known
+to run dry; so we had little cause for fear of either
+hunger or thirst.</p>
+<p class="pnext">What with Marvin’s simples, my wound was fast
+healing, and I longed for another fray where I could
+use my bow at close quarters. Scarce a day passed
+without one of my bolts striking the steel harness of
+some Carleton knight; but none found their way to
+armor joints; and the peasants and leather-coated men-at-arms
+kept well beyond a hurtful range.</p>
+<p class="pnext">One dismal morning, when a month had passed, my
+heart sank, as did those of all the Mountjoys, as we
+made out the tall figure in black armor and the long
+gray beard of the Lord of Carleton, again making his
+rounds at the head of a group of knights and squires.
+Plain to see, he had recovered from his wound and was
+as bent as ever on Mountjoy’s fall. The old Gray
+Wolf was hungry not only for the house and lands
+of Mountjoy but also for the vengeance which to him
+would be sweeter than all the lands of England. Now
+might we expect new assaults, planned with their two
+failures in mind, and bringing to bear new plans and
+schemes and all their beastly hate and greed. Some
+of our old serving men shivered as they spoke of the
+devilish deeds of the Gray Wolf, and of the fate in
+store for them if the next assault should win its way.</p>
+<p class="pnext">That night, at something after ten, the weather being
+raw and dismal with a cold spring rain and the spirits
+of all the Mountjoy folk somewhat adroop, one of the
+archers had been sent to the cellars to draw a pitcher
+of ale. In a moment he came up the stairs on the run,
+and burst into the hall with the empty pitcher held in
+shaking hands and with teeth chattering with fright.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Oh, my lady!” he said, catching for his breath,
+“the Evil One hath us now, and all our doings are for
+naught.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“What say’st thou, Gavin?” called his mistress,
+“who tells thee tales of the Evil One?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“’Tis—’Tis the truth,” answered poor Gavin,
+“but now, in the cellars, he goes—<em class="italics">tap tap tap</em> in the
+ground at one’s feet. So has he come to take many
+a poor mortal. We be called for, and all our sins on
+our heads, with no holy man at hand to say him nay
+with book and bell.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Go to. Thou’rt a coward when in the dark by
+thy lone,” said my lady, scornfully, “though thou
+fight’st well and truly with comrades at thy elbow.
+Marvin, if our watchers are to have their sup of ale
+on this raw night, thou must even draw it thyself.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">But our brave old archer, hero of a hundred battles,
+turned pale and answered slowly:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Nay, my lady, it is not well for mortal men, with
+mayhap many a word and deed unconfessed and unpenanced,
+to meddle with the Powers of Darkness.
+For my sins I know them of old, and I dare not face
+them. Show me a mortal man, and I’ll stand before
+him with whatever weapons, but not the spirits that
+thump on the footstones by night or twist the neck
+of a sleeping man with a hand not seen.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">My mother turned pale, and I could see the fringe
+of her sleeve barely aquiver in the candlelight. She
+opened her mouth to speak in reproof of Marvin; but
+found no words, and sat gazing toward him with wide
+and glistening eyes. Truth to tell, it was a fearsome
+thing, and for myself I had but the smallest wish to
+face the dungeon passages on that black night. ’Twas
+not so long since I would not have faced them by my
+lone on the most quiet and peaceful of nights with no
+armed enemies within a day’s journey; and a great
+round lump came up into my throat as I thought of
+it. Yet, even as we sat eying one another in fear, a
+thought came to my mind of the duty of a Mountjoy.
+’Twas but natural that our serving men should fear
+the evil sprites let loose by darkness and troublous times;
+and e’en my mother, a fair and gracious lady, and
+withal none too strong of body, was not made to face
+such things. But I was the Heir of Mountjoy; and
+my father had knelt before a King of France and been
+made Knight of a holy order for his deeds on the Plains
+of Jerusalem. I started up and cried:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Tush! good Marvin. Methought thee far too
+bold for frightening with old wives’ tales. Come!
+I’ll go before thee bearing a candle to fright away thy
+imaginings.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Spoken like a true Montmorency,” said my mother
+with a strange little laugh, “truly, Dickon, thou’lt
+shame us all.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Then she rose and reached to the shelf behind her
+for a candlestick.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Oh, now, my lady!” cried old Dame Franklin.
+“Go not to the dungeons on such a night. The men
+can better want their sup of ale. ’Tis an ill night for
+all uneasy sprites. Bide here by the fire, for soon
+we go to the battlements again.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">But my lady already stood with her hand on the
+great latch of the door at the head of the stairway
+which led to the donjon keep. I took my cross-bow.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“If any of the Imps of Darkness challenge us,” I
+said, “I’ll see whether or no they can stand before a
+good steel bolt.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">But even in the midst of my confident words, I had
+a thought anent the spectral tappings which chilled
+the blood in my veins. Ghostly visitants I was ready
+then to challenge; but I had heard my father tell how
+the Crusaders took one Saracen stronghold by means
+of a mine or tunnel, dug with weeks of toil under the
+walls and into the passages of the ancient keep. Why
+should not the Old Wolf of Carleton have planned a
+like attack? During the weeks when his men had
+seemed so quiet and had given the Mountjoys scarcely
+a chance for a long bowshot, might they not have been
+driving such a tunnel under their very feet? Suppose
+that tapping that Gavin thought the work of the Evil
+One were the sound of the tools of the servants of one
+scarcely less evil and with even more cause to wish us
+ill!</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Come then,” said my mother, her face white but
+firm. Opening the great oak door, she led the way toward
+the dungeons.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Cross-bow in hand, I followed; and just behind me
+came Dame Franklin. As she moved toward the door,
+Old Marvin picked up his cross-bow, made sure of the
+poniard in his belt and followed also, mumbling the
+while, as best he might, the words of a Latin prayer.</p>
+<p class="pnext">We came to pause amid the stillness of the vault
+which was like unto that of the Mountjoy tomb at
+Kirkwald Abbey to which one day, with my hand
+tightly clasping my father’s, I had paid a well remembered
+visit. The candle wavered and guttered in a
+faint draught, and the light gleamed on the wide eyes
+of the old dame and the trembling hands of the archer.
+I was standing full still with my eyes on my mother’s
+face. For long we stood while I could hear no sound
+save the beating strokes beneath my doublet. Then,
+suddenly, from the floor beneath or the solid wall beside
+us,—</p>
+<p class="pnext">Tap, tap—tap—tap tap.</p>
+<p class="pnext">No one spoke. The candle shook in my lady’s hand
+till it threatened to fall and leave us in utter darkness.
+Dame Franklin and the old soldier were frozen in their
+places. Then again:</p>
+<p class="pnext">Tap tap—tap—tap tap.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Oh, Mother,” I whispered, “the passage! The
+secret passage! Our enemies have found it.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">There was another fearsome silence. Then again—Tap
+tap—tap—tap tap.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Then the echoes of the great vault were roused by
+a loud, clear call from my lady mother:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Oh, my lord! My Lord Mountjoy, is it thou?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">There came a muffled voice in reply, and again we
+heard the tapping.</p>
+<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="margin-left: 21%; width: 57%" id="figure-21">
+<span id="dame-franklin-and-the-old-soldier-were-frozen-in-their-places"/><img style="display: block; margin-left: 0%; width: 100%" alt="images/illus03.png" src="images/illus03.png" width="100%"/>
+<div class="caption italics">
+DAME FRANKLIN AND THE OLD SOLDIER WERE FROZEN IN THEIR PLACES</div>
+</div>
+<p class="pfirst">At once she leaped toward the wall with a glad cry:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Oh, my lord, my lord, have patience but a moment.
+I will undo the door.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">She brushed aside some old and mildewed hangings,
+all heavy with dust and grime, and brought to view a
+small iron door. Snatching from her girdle the largest
+key, she fitted it into the lock. Still, try as she
+would, she could not turn it till old Marvin came to
+her help. Then indeed the rusty lock gave way, the
+door swung slowly open, and my father, the Lord of
+Mountjoy, followed by half a score of knights and
+men-at-arms, stepped forth into the candlelight.</p>
+<p class="pnext">When Lady Mountjoy at last was free from my
+father’s embrace, she stood with her hands on his shoulders
+and asked a dozen questions, demanding that he
+answer all at once.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Whence comest thou, my lord? Are the Scots
+beaten? Had’st thou news of the treachery of the
+Old Wolf of Carleton? How many men hast thou?
+Oh! I had forgot this secret passage and the door to
+which thou gavest me the key on our wedding day.
+My foolish men, and almost myself, believed thy signal
+was a ghostly tapping. But Dickon remembered
+the passage; and when I had thrice heard the signal
+I knew it for the knock that thou makest at my door,—the
+signal that means thee and none else in the
+world.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Meanwhile old Marvin had made fast the secret
+door, and we all were moving toward the stairway, my
+father’s arm encased in link armor thrown around
+the waist of the castle’s mistress.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Welladay, my dearest Kate! Not quite so fast
+and I will tell thee. The Scots are beaten; and we
+of Mountjoy had an honorable share in it. The campaign
+goes on, but a loyal youth from Mountjoy village
+found me after the battle and told of the doings
+of the traitor, Carleton. Straightway I took the boy
+before the King. And he being pleased with some
+work I had done that day, did bid me take ten of my
+best men, make my choice of ten horses from his train,
+and ride post haste to the relief of my house and my
+lady. We reached the Tarn Rock, half a league from
+here, at nightfall, and reconnoitered Carleton’s camp.
+He being in greater force than we could cope with
+at once, I bethought me of this old passage from the
+wood two furlongs off. And so I have been tap, tap
+tapping for an hour, hoping at last to get the news
+of my coming to thee. And art thou well, my Kate?
+And have the rascals done aught to harm thee or
+Dickon here?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Not a whit, my lord. Save for an arrow stroke
+our Dickon hath come by in open fight, and which is
+already nearly healed. They have made some mighty
+threats, and would have carried them through with
+right good will could they have reached us; but, thanks
+to Dickon, to old Marvin here and the others, they got
+much worse than they gave. Many a Carleton knave
+will ne’er cut another throat, be it of man or pig; and
+the Old Wolf himself was very near to his just reward
+in the shape of a good steel bolt from Marvin’s bow.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">On the ramparts next morning swung my father’s
+banner of purple and gold. Watching our enemies’
+camp, I could plainly see that the display of this flag,
+which they knew should signify naught else than the
+presence of the head of our house, early brought most
+of them, and finally the Gray Wolf himself, to gaze at
+the flagstaff. They were telling one another, as I
+could well imagine, that this was but a ruse on the part
+of the castle’s mistress, intended to deceive them into
+the belief that Lord Mountjoy had come through their
+lines in the night. What was their surprise therefore,
+when Lord Mountjoy appeared on the battlements in
+full armor and wearing the purple plume he had
+brought from Italy, and yet more when they saw him
+attended and followed as he was. Armored knights,
+in numbers they could not tell, came into sight and
+passed from view on the battlements and at the casements.
+We could fairly see the rumor flying through
+the Carleton camp that Lord Mountjoy had returned
+with all his men and by stealth or by magic had passed
+their sentinels during the night.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The Gray Wolf stared long and viciously at our
+battlements, and called on those with younger eyes
+to make sure of what he saw. Then with oaths and
+curses that made his men quail before him, he gave
+orders to break camp and return to Teramore.</p>
+<p class="pnext">By midday the last signs of the siege were gone,
+the ashes of the circling camp fires were cold, and the
+great drawbridge was down once more. A messenger
+was sent to the Tarn Rock to bring in the horses and
+their guards. In the sunny spring afternoon, when
+we went forth to reconnoiter the deserted camps of
+our enemies, I rode at my father’s side, wearing for
+the first time the gold-hilted sword which had been
+brought from Damascus.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Two months later, the King returning to London,
+confirmed my father in possession of his estates, and
+sent messengers to old Lord Carleton demanding his
+instant attendance at court. Again the Old Wolf
+was ill, too much so to obey the command of his sovereign;
+but this time he was not to rise from his bed
+as soon as the messengers had turned their backs.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The wound in his throat made by Marvin’s bolt had
+never fully healed, and now this, coupled with his old
+distemper, had laid him low. Even while the heralds
+waited, the priest in the great upper chamber was saying
+the prayers for the dying. At sunset on that day,
+I could see from the Tarn Rock the blue and white
+banner of Carleton flying at half mast over the battlements
+of Teramore.</p>
+</div>
+<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-iiicedric-the-forester">
+<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id4">CHAPTER III—CEDRIC THE FORESTER</a></h2>
+<p class="pfirst">It was on a sunny noontide, in fair October, some
+six months after we had driven the hounds of
+Carleton from our castle of Mountjoy, that I
+was riding in the forest, three leagues and more from
+home, on the way to see my cousins of Leicester at
+their manor by the edge of Pelham Wood, and mayhap
+to share with them one of those goodly pasties of
+venison which their table never lacks.</p>
+<p class="pnext">My bonny white mare, Clothilde, did amble along
+the woodland path with dainty and springing steps, as
+though ’twere joy enough to be abroad and lightly
+burdened on such a day; and it seemed to me I felt
+my youth and growing bones and sinews as ne’er before.
+As I passed the Tarleton Water which was
+rippling most sweetly under the sun glints, I was
+minded of a fair dream that had come to me on that
+night we halted the second assault of the Carletons,
+and after old Marvin had bathed and dressed the
+wound I had from a cross-bow bolt. Here was the
+sparkling water, just as I had seen it then, and the
+glimmering of the light on the oak leaves of red and
+brown and gold; and here was I astride the goodly
+mare that I had raised and broken from a colt, and
+on an errand far enough removed from the grim
+business of that dark and dangerous time.</p>
+<p class="pnext">By my side was the gold-hilted sword from Damascus
+which had been mine since the return of my father,
+Lord Mountjoy, from the Scottish war; and I bore
+no other arms nor thought of any need for them. My
+sixteenth birthday would not now be long in coming;
+and already my mark on the lintel post was within a
+handsbreadth of my father’s own. My voice had
+grown more settled of late; and, in the lonely reaches
+of the forest, I was practicing for my own delight
+a sweet ballad which I had often heard him sing, and
+which he had from the minstrels of Provence who had
+journeyed with the armies to the Holy Land.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Suddenly, from the corner of my eye, I marked the
+movement of a bush in a little glade two hundred yards
+to the right of my path. The swing it made was
+none such as are caused by the wind; and indeed at
+the time all the air about was still and warm with the
+quietness of the summer of St. Martin’s. Rather was
+the movement I had scarcely seen the twitch of the
+leafy top of a sapling when its stem is roughly seized
+or when some heavy thing hath fallen against it. To
+me it told, plainly and well, that either was a deer grazing
+in that thicket or that some man, mayhap with
+good reason for not wishing to be seen, was hiding
+there.</p>
+<p class="pnext">In a moment I had turned Clothilde’s head from the
+path and was riding through the light underbrush with
+my eyes fixed on the ferny glade. Soon I broke
+through the bushes that screened it and saw a youth
+in the Lincoln green of a forester, stripping the hide
+from a fine antlered buck. There had been, in the
+troublous times of the past year and more, while most
+of the knights and gentlemen of the countryside were
+with the King’s banner in Scotland, far too much of
+lawless slaying of deer by poaching villains and forest
+hiding thieves. Twice had I, in the thick of the
+woods, come on the half-flayed and mangled carcasses
+which had been left to waste or to feed the wolves
+after tenderloins and haunches had been cut away.
+Now my choler quickly rose within me, and I called
+out, full rough and loud:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“How now! Thou deer-stealing varlet! I have
+thee red-handed. By my faith, thou shalt smart well
+for this.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">The poacher sprang up and faced me; and I saw that
+he was a youth of not more than my own time, though
+perhaps a thought broader of the shoulders and hips.
+He seemed not like a forest lurker either, for he had
+a good and open English face with the wide blue eyes
+that low-hearted knaves but seldom have. Now, however,
+he answered my threatening looks with a stare
+as bold as that of Robin Hood, and flung back at me
+in snarling tones:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“I steal no deer. I am the son of Elbert the forester
+of Pelham. My lord of Pelham allows us four
+good deer in each twelve-month; and this is but the
+third we have taken.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Thou liest, scurvy knave,” I shouted, drawing my
+sword and making it whistle through the air about my
+head, “leave that carcass and walk before me to Pelham
+Manor; and we shall see what Lord Pelham says
+to this pretty tale of thine.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">For answer the forester leaned forward and seized
+his cross-bow which was leaning, ready drawn and
+with bolt in groove, against the bole of a sapling near
+at hand. Leveling the piece at my throat, he growled,
+full surlily:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Now, Sir Dickon of Mountjoy, turn thy horse
+and betake thee from here as fast as may be. I have
+spoken truth, as you may learn full easily if you ride
+to Pelham; but never will I, who go about my lawful
+business, consent to walk as your prisoner like a stealer
+of sheep. Get thee gone now, for truly my finger
+itches at the trigger.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">His blue eyes blazed at me with a menace not to be
+gainsaid. Here was no crouching knave who might
+receive a buffet for his insolence, but one full capable
+of making good his word. I was looking straight
+down the cross-bow groove at the steel bolt which another
+threat from me would send flying into my face.
+The knave was well beyond the reach of my sword, and
+could kill me as easily as he had the great buck that
+lay at his feet. I wheeled the mare and rode away
+out of the thicket, throwing over my shoulder the
+while a string of threats of the punishment his acts
+should bring down on his head when I had but
+spoken with his master of Pelham. To all these the
+young forester answered never a word, but stood with
+leveled weapon till I had passed from sight and hearing.</p>
+<p class="pnext">In the midst of my wrath at being thus balked
+I could not but admit that he bore himself well and
+truly. And I thought of a saying of my father’s that
+the greatness of England in battle was not the work
+of her armored horsemen or even of her stout men-at-arms,
+but of these same yeomen of the field and forest,
+who on many a hard-fought field had stood in
+leathern coats or homespun smocks like the oaks of
+their native woods and rained their arrows on the
+faces of the enemy spearmen till the lines wavered
+and broke and made way for the charge of the mail-clad
+knights.</p>
+<p class="pnext">I soon regained the pathway, and was riding slowly
+while I meditated the things I should say to Pelham
+of the insolence of his forester,—if indeed the churl
+were the son of Elbert as he claimed. And so were
+my thoughts disturbed that I saw no more the beauty
+of the day in the greenwood nor heard the trills and
+twitterings of the birds overhead. Thus engaged, and
+with my eyes fixed on the track in front, it was with
+surprise that I heard the sound of a horse’s hoofs and
+looked up to see approaching me, and but a hundred
+yards away, a tall young man, dressed in the style more
+affected at the court than in our rough Western land.
+It needed but a second glance for me to name him as
+Lionel, the twenty-years old son of the old Lord of
+Carleton, and the bitterest enemy of our house.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Early in the summer the Old Wolf of Carleton, as
+he was known to the countryside, had died of a wound
+given him two months before by our old Marvin with
+his good cross-bow when the Carletons were carrying
+forward their traitorous assault on the Castle of
+Mountjoy, the while my father with the best part of
+his men were with the King’s banner in Scotland.</p>
+<p class="pnext">For five years Lionel had been absent from Teramore,
+and one of a group of high-born youths who, at
+the great London house of the Duke of Cumberland,
+were being trained as squires-at-arms whilst they
+awaited the day for receiving the order of knighthood.
+At the news of his father’s death he hurried to Teramore
+to join his mother and take charge of the great
+estate.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Often had we heard since then of the dire threats
+that he breathed against the House of Mountjoy and
+all its people; but the King himself had declared our
+quarrel just and affirmed our rights to the lands of
+Mountjoy; and we gave little heed to the mouthings
+of one who had yet his spurs to win and his name to
+make ’mongst fighting men. But now the thought
+came over me of a sudden that I was but half a league
+from Teramore Castle, mounted on a gentle palfrey
+and with no weapon save the good sword at my side.
+If the threats of Lionel of Carleton were aught but
+empty air, he would scarce let slip such an opportunity.</p>
+<p class="pnext">These thoughts were but too well founded. Carleton
+was gazing fiercely at me as he came forward;
+and as his horse came opposite, pulled him up with a
+wrench on the bridle rein so violent that the mettlesome
+steed all but cast himself on his haunches.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Ha! Well met, young Dickon of Mountjoy!”
+he snarled. “By my troth, my good fairy must have
+guided my bridle to-day to give me this chance to say
+my say to this young whelp of a race of dogs! Now
+shalt thou learn what it is to have the Carleton for an
+enemy.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Carleton was taller and longer-limbed than I. He
+wore a stout broadsword and, stuck in his belt on the
+other side, a poniard of most wicked design. He had
+the better of me in respect to four years and more of
+practice of arms; and I knew full well that, were their
+quarrels right or wrong, the Carletons were no weaklings.
+But already I smarted with the affront given
+me by the poaching varlet; and now this insult to the
+honorable name of Mountjoy was not to be borne. I
+threw his words back in his teeth.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Thou Wolf-pup from a race of thieves unhung!”
+I shouted. “Get thee down from yon tall war-horse,
+and draw that sword if thou darest. Thou’lt make
+good thy mighty words or verily thou shalt eat them
+here and now.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">So saying I swung to the ground and drew my
+weapon. Carleton lost no time in doing likewise, and
+came at me with a fury which I had scarce expected.
+I met his thrust with the parry which my father had
+well taught me years agone; and had my enemy not
+sprung aside with the quickness of a cat, my sword in
+return had pierced his neck.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Ha!” growled Carleton between his gritting teeth,
+“so the Mountjoy whelp hath already a trick or two
+of fence. ’Twill make the game the more worth the
+playing. Hast stomach for cold steel? Look now!”</p>
+<p class="pnext">He danced about me, thrusting and slashing wickedly
+with his heavy sword, and displayed not ill the training
+he had had in the halls of Cumberland. But since the
+day I could raise a foil, it had been my dearest plaything;
+and whenever my father had been at home, he
+had made my teaching his special care. Since his return
+from Scotland there had been scarce a day when
+we had not spent a brace of hours with the foils or with
+broadswords and bucklers. Some men are born for
+sword-play, as others, like Old Marvin, for the cross-bow;
+but Lionel of Carleton was not of these. A minute
+had not passed, as we circled and danced about
+one another, with our weapons striking fire in the
+shadow of the wood, before I knew that Carleton, with
+all his added years and training, was no more than a
+match for me, if indeed as much. He panted and
+cursed as each trick of thrust was met by its proper
+parry, and slipped most dangerously on the oak leaves
+underfoot as I stepped aside from his bull-like rushes.
+Presently my sword nicked him fairly on the arm,
+drawing a spurt of blood and a stream of oaths. He
+lunged wildly forward. I parried his thrust and drove
+my sword straight at his breast bone.</p>
+<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="margin-left: 18%; width: 64%" id="figure-22">
+<span id="the-force-of-my-blow-drove-him-backward-but-my-weapon-pierced-him-not"/><img style="display: block; margin-left: 0%; width: 100%" alt="images/illus04.png" src="images/illus04.png" width="100%"/>
+<div class="caption italics">
+THE FORCE OF MY BLOW DROVE HIM BACKWARD, BUT MY WEAPON PIERCED HIM NOT</div>
+</div>
+<p class="pfirst">The force of my blow drove him backward, but my
+weapon pierced him not. Then at once I realized that
+which made my blood turn cold. He was wearing
+beneath his doublet a shirt of linked mail; and I, without
+defense of any sort, was fighting an armored
+enemy.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Ho!” I cried, “so thou gard’st thy coward heart
+with mail, lest peradventure one might fight with thee
+on even terms.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">The wicked look he gave me in reply reminded me,
+even in that moment of peril, of that on the face of
+the Gray Wolf of Carleton when he answered my
+mother’s challenge as to his errand at the gates of
+Mountjoy. But he spent no breath in reply, and
+fought on with fury, bent on pressing his unknightly
+vantage to the utmost. Twice I narrowly escaped his
+blade; then once mine grazed his neck, for that was
+now my mark; and again blood spurted from the
+gash.</p>
+<p class="pnext">At this he lost all caution and rushed upon me as
+a bear upon his foe, getting within my guard by some
+ill chance, and seizing me about the neck and arms.
+Both our swords were dropped in the struggle; and
+we wrestled and fought, not like knights and gentlemen,
+but like drunken lackeys who have fallen out
+over their games of dice. Now, indeed, did Carleton’s
+weight and strength befriend him. I strove for my
+life to topple him beneath me, but all to no purpose.
+In an instant I was whirled through the air, and came
+down with a crash on my back, with Carleton’s knee
+firmly planted on my breast bone.</p>
+<p class="pnext">At once he drew his poniard and pressed the point
+against my throat.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Now yield thee, Whelp of Mountjoy,” he panted,
+“quick, ere thou diest.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Thou hast won,” I answered, “but, fighting thus,
+’twere more to thy honor to have been overcome.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“None of thy insolence,” he snarled, “yield thee
+now as my prisoner and vassal, and say that thou’lt
+ever yield obedience to the Carleton as thy liege lord.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">At this my gorge rose and the world turned black
+about me. “Never,” I groaned, “better far to die
+than suffer such disgrace.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Die then,” he shouted, hideously, and drew back
+his poniard for the thrust.</p>
+<p class="pnext">I closed my eyes, yet blood-red figures swam across
+my vision. In an instant the steel would pierce my
+throat. Then of a sudden the grip of my enemy relaxed,
+and his body rolled heavily from me.</p>
+<p class="pnext">I started up, and saw the Carleton lying face up
+on the oak leaves, his forehead pierced by a cross-bolt.
+Running toward me through the undergrowth was a
+figure in Lincoln green which my staring eyes soon
+told me was the young forester who had defied me in
+the glen but half an hour gone. His cross-bow was
+in his hand, and he panted for breath as he approached
+and called:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Art thou hurt, Master? Has he stabbed thee?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Not a whit,” I answered dazedly, examining my
+limbs and body the while, “I have to thank thee then
+for my life. Thou camest in the nick of time.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“The Saints be thanked,” he answered joyfully.
+“The Carleton there has what he well deserves. I
+heard the sword-play from the glen yonder, and soon
+knew the voice of that black caitiff. I was coming
+softly through the woods, wishing but to see close at
+hand a gallant passage at arms, when he overthrew
+thee and would have foully murdered thee, his prisoner.
+’Twas well my bolt already lay in groove.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Son of Elbert,” I answered, offering him my right
+hand, “thou’rt a ready man and a true, and willing
+I am to call thee friend. But what other name hast
+thou?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">He took my hand in a mighty grip and smiled most
+winsomely. “Cedric,” he replied, “a goodly Saxon
+name, borne by my grandfather before me.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Well then, Cedric, we must bethink us what shall
+be done in this juncture. Yonder horse of the Carleton’s
+is ours by lawful spoil. Mount therefore, and let
+us betake ourselves from here as soon as may be.” I
+took up my sword and my cap from the oak leaves.</p>
+<p class="pnext">He turned toward the horse, and in so doing his
+glance carried far down the pathway which there for a
+quarter mile was straight beneath the oak-trees. Then
+he turned back to me with a cry of alarm.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Mount and quickly. There be a half dozen of the
+Carleton men-at-arms. An they catch us here by the
+body of their master, they will have our blood. Come!
+For our lives!”</p>
+<p class="pnext">With one bound he vaulted to the saddle of the war
+horse. Scarcely knowing what I did, I found myself
+on the mare’s back and spurring away up the forest
+path. Cedric had no spurs, but he quickly urged his
+mount to a gallop by blows of his heels; and we raced
+away at full speed. The Carletonians raised a shout
+as they caught sight of us, and spurred their horses
+in pursuit. Over our shoulders we saw them pause
+for a moment by the body of Lionel; then resume the
+chase with a fury that boded ill for us. I knew full
+well the fate in store should they overtake us; and
+pressed the little mare for all the speed she had. Cedric,
+on the tall war horse, quickly drew ahead, then,
+seeing me losing ground, drew rein till I overtook him.
+Our pursuers were well mounted, and were spurring
+and lashing their horses without mercy. The thunder
+of hoofs along the forest road was like that at a tourney
+or a great race-course.</p>
+<p class="pnext">If I had had but a better mount, we could soon have
+drawn away from them, for the tall steed which Cedric
+bestrode was the best of the Carleton stables, and our
+horses were more lightly burdened than those of our
+pursuers. As it was, we had gone scarce half a mile
+when ’twas plainly to be seen that my little mare was
+no match for the long-limbed steeds of the Carletons.
+Yard by yard we lost ground; and now we could hear
+the clashing of stirrups and scabbards as our enemies
+panted close upon our trail.</p>
+<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="margin-left: 24%; width: 51%" id="figure-23">
+<span id="we-had-gone-scarce-half-a-mile-when-twas-plainly-to-be-seen-that-my-little-mare-was-no-match-for-the-long-limbed-steeds-of-the-carletons"/><img style="display: block; margin-left: 0%; width: 100%" alt="images/illus05.png" src="images/illus05.png" width="100%"/>
+<div class="caption italics">
+WE HAD GONE SCARCE HALF A MILE WHEN ’TWAS PLAINLY TO BE
+SEEN THAT MY LITTLE MARE WAS NO MATCH FOR THE LONG-LIMBED
+STEEDS OF THE CARLETONS</div>
+</div>
+<p class="pfirst">We were going up a slope where the path ran between
+groups of boulders and great rocks. Suddenly
+Cedric drew rein and turned aside behind a sheltering
+ledge. Clothilde was panting hard, and I gladly followed
+him, though knowing naught of what he intended.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Throwing himself from the saddle, the forester
+quickly braced his cross-bow and placed a bolt in
+groove. Resting the weapon on the corner of the
+rock, he took quick aim, and let drive at the leading
+horseman. Instantly the rider fell headlong to the
+ground, and his companions drew rein in confusion.
+With a wondrous deftness, my companion loaded again
+and let fly. This time one of the horses, struck in
+the breast by the bolt, reared up and threw his rider.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Like a flash Cedric leaped again on his horse’s back,
+and signaling me to follow rode straight away into
+the forest. The branches were so low and the undergrowth
+so thick that it would seem that no rider could
+make his way; but we were riding for our lives, and
+knew that the limbs would hold back our enemies even
+more than ourselves. For five minutes we tore wildly
+through the woods, half the time with our faces hidden
+in our horses’ manes to save our eyes from being
+plucked out by the branches. We could hear shouts
+and curses behind us; but these momently grew fainter,
+and then could be heard no more.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Soon we came to the bank of a shallow brook. Into
+this, without stop or parley, plunged Cedric, but instead
+of riding straight across as I had thought, he
+turned his horse’s head up-stream and urged him at a
+trot along its bed. For a quarter of a mile we rode
+thus, then coming to a ford and a half-blind pathway,
+turned aside in the direction away from Teramore, and
+again laying our heads on the necks of our mounts,
+sped through the woods at a ringing gallop. When
+we had covered a mile in this way, the path merged into
+a wider one; and I recognized a little vale to which my
+father and I had once come a-hunting, and which was
+scarce five miles from Mountjoy.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Here for a moment we paused, and Cedric threw
+himself down and placed his ear to the ground. Then
+he rose with a glad smile and shook his head.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Dost hear nothing of hoof-beats?” I questioned.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Not a stroke,” he answered. “I had bethought
+me of a cave hard by here where we might be hidden
+if the hounds were close upon us. There, with the
+cross-bow, we could have stood off a hundred if need
+be, but we must have turned the horses loose, with the
+chance of their being taken.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Nay,” said I, “we’ve shaken them off full well.
+In half an hour or less we can be crossing the drawbridge
+at Mountjoy. That noble steed thou ridest is
+too fine a prize to be left to the Carleton wolves.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Just then something whirred viciously through the
+air between us, and a steel cross-bow bolt half buried
+itself in a tree-trunk close at hand.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Wheeling about toward the place whence came the
+arrow, I saw the steel cap and the ugly face of a Carleton
+man-at-arms over the top of a rock a hundred
+yards away which concealed and sheltered the rest of
+him. Cedric, with a twist of the bridle rein and some
+vicious blows with his heels, urged his horse behind the
+tree which had received the bolt; and I mayhap would
+have shown more wisdom had I done likewise. But
+I saw but the single enemy before me; and for the
+instant his arrow groove was empty. Cedric had already
+taken toll of two of our enemies, while I, the
+heir of our house whose quarrel he had espoused, had
+done naught but fly before their pursuit. With a
+yell, “A Mountjoy, A Mountjoy,” which is the battle
+cry of our people, I set spurs to my horse, and, sword
+in hand, charged straight toward the rock.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The Carleton man was striving sore to draw his bow
+and place another bolt; and had he been but half so
+deft with that goodly weapon as Cedric had twice
+shown himself that day, he might have stopped me in
+full career with an arrow in the breast or face. But
+he fumbled sadly with the string, and ere he could reach
+another bolt from his pouch I was almost upon him.
+In this strait he dropped the bow and, standing erect,
+whisked a broadsword from his belt. The scoundrel
+was tall and long of arm; and now I saw that he wore
+a quilted and steel-braced jacket which none but the
+heaviest blow might pierce. I had already repented
+me of my folly in rushing, for the second time that day,
+into combat so unequal, and was bethinking me what
+trick of fence might serve my turn with this brawny
+and ill-visaged swordsman, when once again the skilled
+and ready hand of my friend of the Lincoln green
+saved me from dire peril. Even as our blades clashed,
+and I felt in his sword-play the firm, sure wrist of my
+enemy, a bolt whizzed past me and pierced his neck,
+just where the quilted jacket lay open at the throat.
+Without a cry, he fell forward on his face.</p>
+<p class="pnext">I looked wildly about, in effort to espy more of the
+men-at-arms, if so be they were awaiting us in ambush.
+But I could see no one; and no more arrows came from
+hidden foes. The woods were as quiet and serene,
+and the westering sun sent its beams as sweetly into the
+bonny glade as though men had never killed one another
+for gain or vengeance. Cedric, on the Carleton
+war-horse, came forward at a canter, with his bow
+made ready for another shot if need were.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Are there more of the hounds?” he called, “if so
+be, we must take shelter.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“I see none,” I answered, “though yonder, midst
+the little birches, is the horse which this one rode.
+Mayhap his comrades have ridden by other roads to
+cut us off.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“’Tis truth,” said Cedric, “yon Jackboots, that lieth
+now so still, did come about by Wareham Road at
+breakneck pace while we made but slow riding through
+the tangle. ’Twas well he had not the skill of a yeoman
+with the cross-bow, else one or both of us would
+ne’er again have seen Mountjoy. But come! Can thy
+little mare hold full stride through the glen and over
+yonder hill? An if she can, we may soon be where
+no Carletons will dare pursue.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">For answer I set spurs to the mare’s sides and led
+the way down the path to the brook at the bottom of
+the valley. In a cloud of spray we forded the stream,
+then drove on without mercy up the long slope of
+Rowan Hill. Soon we were in sight of the towers of
+Mountjoy, and while the sun had yet an hour’s height,
+went safely o’er the drawbridge.</p>
+</div>
+<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-ivthe-champion-of-mountjoy">
+<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id5">CHAPTER IV—THE CHAMPION OF MOUNTJOY</a></h2>
+<p class="pfirst">As Cedric of Pelham Wood rode with me into
+the courtyard, we met my father, the Lord
+of Mountjoy, coming from the stables. His
+favorite steed, a fine black stallion, Cæsar by name, did
+suffer from a sprain he had come by at the tournament
+at Winchester; and my father was much in fear would
+never again be fit to bear him in the lists or to the wars.
+We came forward but slowly; and Lord Mountjoy had
+ample time to note the mud-stained and foam-flecked
+sides of our mounts, the rents in my garments and the
+bloody scratches which the forest boughs had made on
+our faces. Truly, I fear I made but a sorry picture;
+and ’tis little wonder that a frown was on my father’s
+brow and a roughness in his voice as he called to me:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“How now, Sir Dickon! Hast thou ridden thy
+little mare through the Devil’s Brake and foundered
+her once for all? And who is this fellow in rags and
+shreds of Lincoln green that rides at thy side like a
+comrade? Methinks ’twere better if he kept his place,
+an ell or two behind.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Cedric’s face grew red with wrath at these words;
+but I hastened to answer before he could make utterance.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Hold, Father. This is Cedric, a forester of Pelham
+Wood, and our good and true friend. Twice or
+thrice this day hath he with his good cross-bow (of
+which he hath a skill like that of Old Marvin himself)
+saved me from death at the hands of the Carletons.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“By my faith! Say’st thou so, my boy?” exclaimed
+Father, with a wondrous change of countenance.
+Then, turning to Cedric,</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Any who fights the Carleton wolves is a friend to
+all true Mountjoys. Come my lad, thy hand! And
+thy pardon if I did speak a thought rough, not knowing
+thy deserts. Wert thou sore beset? And did
+thy bolts make good men and quiet of some of those
+restless knaves?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Some of them, my lord, will ne’er again rob an
+honest farmer of his stores or burn a woodman’s cottage,”
+said Cedric with a smile.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“By’r Lady! Thou’rt a man, and shall be a Mountjoy,
+if guerdon can keep thee,” cried my father. “But
+hold! Give thy mounts to the grooms, and come to
+the hall. ’Tis ill talking with an empty stomach and a
+dry throttle. And I’ll warrant you’re famished, both.
+There’s a hot pasty and somewhat else to be found,
+I’ll be bound. You shall tell me of this day’s work
+by the board and the fire.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">In the hall we were greeted by my lady mother, who
+had heard somewhat of that which passed in the courtyard.
+Cedric doffed his cap when I presented him
+to her ladyship, and bowed with a grace I looked not
+for. And she did ask most eagerly if aught of harm
+had come to either of us. Being assured that we were
+yet whole of skin save for the woodland boughs, she
+brought with her own hands a bench before the fire,
+and bade Cedric sit as she might have bidden any
+knight or courtier who visited the hall of Mountjoy.
+Then she hurried out and bade the maids bring meat
+and drink of the best for our refreshment.</p>
+<p class="pnext">My father and mother sat down by either side of us
+as we ate; and when our hunger had been something
+dulled, and the maid had been despatched for a jar of
+the Mountjoy honey which my mother so closely
+guards against the coming of noble guests, I began
+the tale of the fortunes of the day.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Thou knowest, Father, that young Lionel of Carleton
+hath often sworn to have the lives of you and me
+for the check the Carletons had in their foray on
+Mountjoy in the spring and for the bolt which came
+from Marvin’s bow which laid low his father, the
+Old Wolf of Carleton.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Full well I know it,” growled my father, “an if
+he were aught but a beardless youth, I would long ago
+have challenged him to the combat. When he hath
+won his spurs, if he be still of the same mind, I’ll meet
+him with whatever weapons he chooses, and trust to
+put an end to his mouthings.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“That thou’lt never do, Father,” I cried, “for Cedric
+here hath come before thee. This day, but half a
+league from Teramore, young Lionel did meet me as I
+went my way alone through the forest; and did curse
+and revile me and all my house, saying that we of
+Mountjoy were a race of dogs. This being more than
+e’en a Mountjoy could bear, I did challenge him to
+mortal fight, and we did meet with swords, on foot
+there in the path. I quickly found that he wore, beneath
+his garment, a coat of linked mail which shielded
+him from all my thrusts. All his strokes I made shift
+to parry, and at last, when he found he could not reach
+me with his sword, he rushed within my guard, seized
+me with a wrestling hold and flung me on my back.
+Then, kneeling on my chest, he placed a poniard at
+my throat and sought to make me swear allegiance to
+the Carleton, acknowledging him as lord and suzerain.
+This I would never do; and truly I thought my last
+hour had come, for he had drawn back his dagger for
+the thrust, when this brave youth, coming through the
+woods with cross-bow drawn, did see the Carleton’s
+murderous aim, and let fly a bolt which struck him
+through the forehead.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">While I spoke my mother had grown pale as death
+and my father red, with blazing eyes and angry clinching
+hands. When I paused my mother cried:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Oh, Dickon! And had’st thou no wound at all?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Not a nick,” I answered, “though ’twas close
+enough, in faith. But we had more to do in no time
+at all, for no sooner had the Carleton breathed his
+last than there came a-riding towards us six stout men-at-arms
+of the Carleton livery. We took horse and
+rode for our lives, Cedric here on the Carleton’s great
+war-horse. But my little Clothilde being no match
+for their long-limbed steeds, we should have been overhauled
+and slain had not Cedric twice turned on them
+with his cross-bow, each time landing a bolt that sent
+one of the robber hounds to earth. With that, and
+with hard riding through the woods where no paths
+were, we at last got safe away.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Ah!” cried my father, joyfully, rising and offering
+his hand again to Cedric, “’twas sweetly done,
+i’faith. Three of the Carleton hounds in one brief
+day! Whose son art thou, my friend? And where
+did’st thou learn such deadly handling of thy
+weapon?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Elbert’s son am I,” answered Cedric, steadily, “he
+is forester to my lord of Pelham; and last year did
+carry away the prize for archery at the Shrewsbury
+tourney. Since I could carry bow, I have shot as he
+did teach me.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“What years hast thou?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Sixteen, come Candlemas.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“The very age of Dickon here,” cried my mother.
+“Cedric, lad, does thy mother live?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Nay, my lady,” quoth he, sadly, “two years agone
+we buried her.”</p>
+<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="margin-left: 24%; width: 51%" id="figure-24">
+<span id="while-i-spoke-my-mother-had-grown-pale-as-death"/><img style="display: block; margin-left: 0%; width: 100%" alt="images/illus06.png" src="images/illus06.png" width="100%"/>
+<div class="caption italics">
+WHILE I SPOKE MY MOTHER HAD GROWN PALE AS DEATH</div>
+</div>
+<p class="pfirst">“Then thou shalt come to live at Mountjoy,” she
+went on with bonny, flushing cheeks and bright and
+eager eyes. “Hast thou learned thy letters? Canst
+thou read prayer book or ballad?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Nay, my lady,” he said again, with a blush. “We
+of the forest know little of letters.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Then I will teach thee. Thou’rt a mannered lad
+and well spoken for one who knows not court or town.
+Thou shalt be a clerk an thou wishest.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“No clerk shall he be,” I cried. “Saving thy pardon,
+good Mother, he shall be my squire-at-arms. A
+man that fights as he shall be no shaven-pate. He
+shall teach me his craft with the bow, and of him I
+will make a bonny swordsman. What say’st thou,
+Father? Have I not the right of it?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">My father did smile somewhat to see me so hot and
+eager in my plans. And truly, I bethought me then
+that this lad whom I was choosing for my comrade-in-arms
+was one whom but three hours gone I had
+never seen, and that now I knew naught of him save
+that he fought well and truly and with a wondrous
+skill of his weapon. Yet, looking at his clear, blue
+eyes and his way of holding up his head as a freeman
+of England, I repented me not of my words.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Cedric was gazing at Lord Mountjoy, and quietly
+awaiting his word, while my lady mother glanced
+quickly from one to another of us. When my father
+began to speak it was slowly and soberly enough.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Not quite so fast, Sir Dickon. There’s many a
+thought to be taken yet anent thy knightly training.
+But now it comes to me that Cedric here e’en must
+remain at Mountjoy for some months at least, if he
+would guard his life and limb. After this day’s work,
+should any of the Carleton men come upon him at a
+vantage, his shrift would be short and no prayers said.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">So was it settled that Cedric should remain with us
+of Mountjoy. The next day a messenger was despatched
+to Elbert, the forester, with the news of his
+son’s brave deeds and his present safety. I lost no
+time in beginning his training for sword-play; and he
+showed himself the best of learners. Within a week,
+moreover, he had shown to me some tricks of the cross-bow
+of which I had never heard, and fairly ’mazed our
+men with the marks he struck at a hundred paces distance.
+Already we planned a match ’twixt Cedric and
+Old Marvin which should be a fête-day for all the
+friends of Mountjoy.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Then came a messenger from Shrewsbury, where
+for the time the King made his seat, bearing a scroll
+addressed to my father and sealed with the sign royal.
+Father read it slowly to himself as he stood with his
+back to the fire in the hall and the King’s messenger
+was quaffing a cup of wine in the courtyard. My
+mother and I waited eagerly to hear its contents. Cedric
+sat in a farther corner, saying over to himself
+the names of the great letters which my mother had
+made for him on a sheet of parchment.</p>
+<p class="pnext">’Twas plain to see that the message was not to my
+father’s liking, for he scowled fearsomely as he conned
+the words. Suddenly he began reading it in a loud
+and wrathful voice; and Cedric dropped his parchment
+to listen.</p>
+<blockquote><div>
+<p class="pfirst">“To Robert, Lord of Mountjoy and Knight of the
+Holy Sepulcher, from Henry, King of England, Duke
+of Normandy and Lord of Anjou, Acquitaine, and
+Gascony, <em class="italics">Greeting</em>.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Know thou that there hath appeared before our
+Court at Shrewsbury, Elizabeth, Lady of Carleton and
+Teramore, and relict of Geoffrey, Lord of Carleton,
+deceased, who hath, on oath, made complaint against
+thee, thy minor son, Richard and a certain yeoman of
+Pelham Forest, Cedric, son of Elbert, and now harbored
+by thee at Mountjoy, as follows:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“That, on Saturday, of October the twenty-second
+day, thy son Richard did ride in the forests of Teramore
+without lawful right and leave from the holders
+thereof; that Lionel of Carleton, son of Geoffrey and
+Elizabeth of Carleton aforesaid, did meet with him and
+order him to leave those lands and return not; that thy
+son Richard did then and there attack Lionel of Carleton;
+and while they did fight, the yeoman, Cedric,
+being a servitor and confederate of Richard of Mountjoy
+did most foully slay Lionel of Carleton by a
+mortal weapon, to wit, a cross-bow bolt discharged
+from a point of hiding; that the servitors of Carleton
+did pursue and endeavor to arrest Richard of Mountjoy
+and the yeoman, Cedric, the which they did resist
+with force and arms, and that the aforesaid Cedric
+did again from hiding strike down and kill two of the
+Carleton retainers, so that he and thy son, Richard, did
+make their way to the Castle of Mountjoy where thou
+hast since harbored and protected them.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Now therefore, know that it is my will that thou
+repair to our Court at Shrewsbury, bringing with thee
+thy son Richard and the yeoman, Cedric, and with not
+more than ten of thy retainers or men-at-arms, that
+fair trial of this cause may be had before our presence,
+on Thursday, of November the second day, at ten of
+the clock.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“And be thou here solemnly charged and commanded
+to desist from all violence and quarrel against
+the family of Elizabeth of Carleton or any of her
+servants and retainers, and to cause all thy family, thy
+servants and retainers to likewise refrain.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Given under our hand and seal, this thirty-first day
+of October.</p>
+<blockquote><div>
+<div class="line-block outermost">
+<div class="line">“<span class="small-caps">Henry</span> (Rex).”</div>
+</div>
+</div></blockquote>
+</div></blockquote>
+<p class="pfirst">When the reading was finished we were silent for
+a space, my father pacing back and forth with roughened
+brow, and Mother gazing anxiously upon him.
+At last he turned and said:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“We must to Shrewsbury. ’Tis the King’s command;
+and the Mountjoys have ever been loyal vassals,
+as none know better than the King himself.
+What say’st thou, Richard? Canst thou tell in open
+court the tale of that day’s work even as we heard it
+here?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“That I can, Father,” I replied, “’tis the truth, and
+I care not who hears it.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“And thou, Cedric,” he said, turning to face the
+forester who had now advanced to my side, “darest
+thou to face thy enemies and ours thus? Remember,
+’twill go hard with thee if we fail to bring the King
+to see the truth o’t. He might order thy hanging
+easily as the whipping of a thief. Shall not I rather
+mount thee on the good horse thou didst win from the
+Carleton, with thy cross-bow on thy back and a bag
+of gold pieces beneath thy coat, and send thee to my
+cousin of Yorkshire, there to bide till this ill wind hath
+overblown?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“My lord,” answered Cedric, proudly, “that were
+to save myself at thy cost. The King hath commanded
+thee to bring me before his court; and if thou fail, he
+will visit his wrath upon thee. I will not fly. Rather
+will I ride the good steed thou speakest of to Shrewsbury
+in thy good company.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Well said and bravely,” said my father, with a
+note in his speaking which I had heard but once, and
+that when an old comrade-in-arms, whom he had
+thought dead in the Holy Land, came in illness and
+want to our castle door. Now he gazed for a moment
+full keenly at the face of Cedric, then turned and hurried
+to the courtyard to give orders for the morrow’s
+journey.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The King’s Court was held in the great hall at
+Shrewsbury, with such a brave array of lords and
+knights and men-at-arms, not to speak of clerks and
+counsellors with their mighty gowns and wigs, as was
+but seldom seen in our Western country. As I gazed
+at the King in his robes of state, seated on the dais
+in the midst, and noted his cold, gray eye and the hard
+lines about his mouth, my heart did somewhat misgive
+me, for all my repeating over and over to myself that
+none could gainsay the justice of our quarrel.</p>
+<p class="pnext">A word overheard as we entered the hall had set me
+thinking deeply; and though I feared not for myself,
+I began to wish that Cedric who now sat so uprightly
+by my side had thought fit to take the hint my father
+gave when first the summons reached us. ’Twas said
+that the King, in his youth, more than thirty years
+agone, had known Elizabeth of Winchester, before
+she was the bride of the Lord of Carleton, that she
+had then been one of the fairest and proudest maidens
+in the kingdom, and Prince Henry had felt for her
+more than a passing fancy. However this had been,
+and whatever its bearing on the day’s fortunes, it was
+now too late to do aught but await the event. The
+herald was announcing the cause against Richard of
+Mountjoy and Cedric, son of Elbert.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Two of the Carleton men-at-arms were sworn as
+witnesses, and told the tale of the killing of Lionel
+much as it had been set forth in the complaint of
+Elizabeth, their mistress. They declared that when
+they first came in sight of us, the Carleton and I were
+fighting with swords and hand to hand, and that I,
+seeming to have the worse of the fray, did shrilly call
+to some one hidden in the tangle behind, whereat a
+cross-bow bolt came from this ambush and slew their
+master. From that time on, their tales of the day’s
+doings kept near the line of truth; and they did
+assert full stoutly their honesty in all this business
+when the King questioned them, making, ’twas plain
+to see, no little impress on his mind. Indeed, ’twas
+possible they believed the tale themselves, it being to
+them most likely from the things that they had seen.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Then was I called upon for my account; and I did
+set forth all the doings of that day from the time the
+Carleton met me in the path, forgetting not the foul
+insults with which Lionel began our quarrel nor the
+hidden coat of mail with which he thought to shield
+him. Cedric, with head held high and wide blue eyes
+gazing straight at the King, next told the tale; and his
+telling was closely like to mine.</p>
+<p class="pnext">When we both had done, the King sat with his eyes
+on the ground before him; and the hall was very still
+till Elizabeth of Carleton, tall, white-haired and
+queenly, in silken robes of black, rose in her place,
+and, stretching forth her hands, addressed the King:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Henry of Anjou,” she cried, “Elizabeth of Winchester,
+in her old age and sorrow, calls to you for
+vengeance for her murdered son.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">More she would have spoken, but bitter tears
+streamed down her face, and her voice was choked with
+sobs.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The King gazed steadily at the weeping lady, and
+made as though to speak when my father started from
+his seat and shouted:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“There was no murder done, my Lord. The
+Carleton brought his death upon himself.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">The King turned upon him a stern and heavy look.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Mountjoy,” he said, “wast thou there in the forest
+when Carleton was slain?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Nay, my lord.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Then knowest thou aught save what thy son tells
+thee of this fray with thy enemies?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Nay, my lord; but ’tis enough. The Mountjoys
+fight their enemies and do not lie about them.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">With a wave of his hand the King bade my father
+be seated. Then he sat motionless and thoughtful for
+long, while none ventured to disturb him. His brow
+was drawn as with pain and he rested his head on his
+hand, the while we of Mountjoy, our enemies of Carleton
+all the members of that brilliant company
+awaited his verdict.</p>
+<p class="pnext">At last he slowly lifted his head and began to speak:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“I find the prisoners guilty of the charge that lies
+against them. To Richard, son of Robert, Lord of
+Mountjoy, I extend my clemency in view of the loyal
+and valiant service rendered by his father to our house,
+commanding only that he desist from bearing arms till
+he receive our permission.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“As for yonder varlet, called Cedric, he shall hang,
+to-morrow at dawn; and his body shall swing from
+Shrewsbury gate as an example to like evil-doers.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Some of the clerks and constables strove to raise
+the shout—“Long live the King”; but all became
+utterly silent when my father sprang from his bench,
+and with a face of fury addressed his sovereign:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Not so, my lord! Not so! By the Holy Sepulcher,
+it shall not be.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">The King sprang to his feet, and his right hand
+went to his sword hilt.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Mountjoy,” he shouted, “thou forget’st thyself.
+Beware lest thou bring down on thy head a wrath more
+terrible than that of any Carleton.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“By Heaven, my lord!” returned the Lord of
+Mountjoy in tones that matched the King’s, “that
+brave youth shall never hang for having done a deed
+that should bring him praise instead. I stand on my
+rights as a freeman of England, and demand the <em class="italics">trial
+by battle</em>. There lies my glove.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Tearing from his hand his leathern gauntlet, he
+dashed it on the floor at the feet of the King.</p>
+<p class="pnext">All the assembled knights and soldiers drew a deep
+breath, as one man. There was a low murmur of applause,
+for the Mountjoys have many friends. The
+King’s hand left his sword, and his face relaxed.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Thou hast the right, Mountjoy,” he said. Then,
+turning to the Carleton benches, went on: “Is there
+any among you who will take up this challenge?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">At this there started forth from a group of knights
+who had been standing a little behind the Lady of
+Carleton, a man of middle age, short of stature and of
+wide-mouthed, ill-favored face, but broad of shoulder
+and with arms so long that his hands reached nearly
+to his knees like those of a great ape I had seen in the
+train of the Cardinal.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“I, Philip, Knight of Latiere in Gascony, am cousin
+of Elizabeth, Lady of Carleton,” he shouted. “I take
+up this glove as her protector and champion.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Then, seizing the glove, he tossed it high in air; and
+while it soared aloft, drew a long and slender blade
+from its scabbard, and as the glove fell, pierced it with
+a flashing thrust so that he held it high where all
+might see it impaled on the point of his sword.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“So let it be,” said the King. “This cause shall
+be tried by wager of battle, here and now. Sir Philip
+De Latiere, the conditions are at your will, so they
+be fair and equal.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Let him take a sword like unto this,” said De
+Latiere, carelessly, “and if he chooses one a handsbreadth
+longer, I care not. Then let him lay aside all
+other weapons, as I do; and I trust, with the favor of
+Heaven, to be the means of affirming the righteousness
+of thy judgment.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">With this speech, he made a low bow to the King and
+another to the assembled knights, and, loosening his
+sword-belt, handed it with his scabbard and his outer
+cloak to a squire.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Then I found voice for a thought that had been boiling
+within me.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“’Twere well, my lord,” I said to the King, “to have
+this champion searched for hidden armor. I have
+grievous knowledge that the Carletons scruple not to
+gain that vantage.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Some of the friends of Mountjoy raised a shout:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Ay! Well spoken! Let him be searched.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">The King quelled the tumult with a royal gesture.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Sir Hugh of Leicester,” he said to an aged knight
+of his train, “make search of both these champions,
+and tell us whether they wear other arms or armor
+than the terms permit.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">In the meantime my father had thrown aside his
+cloak and belt; and his sword being far heavier than
+De Latiere’s, had received the loan of a lighter weapon
+from one of the King’s attendants. Sir Hugh approached
+and lightly struck the shoulders and breast
+and waist of both the combatants, and announced to
+the King that neither carried other weapons of offense
+or defense than the swords in their hands.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Thereupon a space some twelve paces across was
+cleared in the center of the hall, and Sir Philip and
+Lord Mountjoy stood facing one another, awaiting
+the word.</p>
+<p class="pnext">On a signal from the King, the herald shouted, and
+instantly the blades struck fire, and the champions
+whirled about one another in mortal combat. The
+Frenchman danced and dodged with a quickness that
+minded me, even then, of the beast he so resembled.
+My father had much ado to continue facing him; and
+soon ’twas plain to see that the Carleton champion
+was such a master of fence as would find few to equal
+him in all England. His blade so flashed in thrust
+and parry that the eye could not follow its motions;
+and my father, of whom always I had thought as the
+finest of swordsmen, soon had all he could do, and
+more, in defending his breast from the assault, and
+had no instant’s leisure to threaten his enemy.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Half a minute had not passed ere the Frenchman’s
+slashing blade drew blood from the Mountjoy’s arm,
+then from his shoulder; and for one black instant methought
+the blow was mortal. But for minute after
+minute, my father fought on, with lips tight closed
+and eyes that ever followed the hand of his enemy.
+Then I wondered if De Latiere, with all his leaps and
+runs, would not tire himself at the last, and slowing
+in his thrusts, give my father’s slower spent strength
+its chance for victory. But again I saw how fast the
+Mountjoy bled from the two wounds he already had;
+and this hope flitted.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Then truly, in bitterness of spirit, did I perceive how
+false and cruel is our vaunted trial by wager of battle.
+Here was my father, a good man and true, fighting to
+defend the life of an innocent youth; and this dancing
+Frenchman, to whom the sword was as the wand of a
+juggler, would soon kill him before our eyes. That
+Cedric, the forester, was guiltless of the treacherous
+deed with which he stood charged altered not a whit the
+devilish skill of the champion who fought to see him
+hang. And if De Latiere overcame my father at the
+last, and left him dead at the feet of the King, the
+tale that I had told would be no whit less true for
+such an outcome. Verily at that moment my eyes were
+opened, and thoughts came to me that shall remain
+while yet I live.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Now the end fast approached. Blood streamed
+from my father’s wounds, and he breathed fast and
+thickly. He scarce moved from his tracks save ever
+to turn and face his ape-like enemy, whose blade flashed
+as swiftly as ever, and in whose eyes gleamed a look
+of deadly purpose.</p>
+<p class="pnext">My eyes could never follow the stroke which brought
+to a close this desperate, unequal combat. What I
+saw was that the Frenchman’s blade had pierced my
+father’s breast. Then—all the Saints be thanked!—one
+last fierce blow from the Champion of Mountjoy.</p>
+<p class="pnext">This instant was the first since the duel began when
+De Latiere’s matchless guarding had not fenced his
+body from my father’s thrust. As quick as the light’s
+rebound when it strikes the surface of still water was
+the Mountjoy’s return of the stroke he had received.
+The next moment both the champions lay on the floor;
+and King and knights and lords rushed forward to
+their succor.</p>
+<p class="pnext">De Latiere was thrust clean through the body; and
+he never moved nor spoke. But my father’s wound,
+though grievous, it now appeared was far from mortal,
+his enemy’s blade not having deeply pierced him. Now
+he raised himself on his arm and claimed the victory
+for Mountjoy and the right.</p>
+<hr class="docutils"/>
+<p class="pfirst">Ten days thereafter, we bore home the Champion
+of Mountjoy in a sumptuous litter, which had been
+the gift of the King himself. Near the gentle palfrey
+which bore its van, I rode on my faithful little mare,
+for now we had no fear of lurking enemies. By the
+open side of the litter, and oft in gay and heartening
+speech with him who lay on the silken pillows within,
+rode Cedric of Pelham Wood, on the captured war-horse
+of Carleton and wearing, full well and bravely,
+a new-made suit of the Mountjoy purple and gold.</p>
+</div>
+<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-vthe-festival-of-the-archers">
+<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id6">CHAPTER V—THE FESTIVAL OF THE ARCHERS</a></h2>
+<p class="pfirst">Young Cedric, the forester, who was now my
+constant companion, was walking with me
+on the path that led by the Millfield. There,
+since the raising of the siege of Castle Mountjoy, Old
+Marvin, the archer, and his gray-haired dame had had
+their cottage and half dozen acres of mowing and
+tillage. ’Twas on a fair December morning, when
+yet no snow had come. The hoar frost still covered
+all the western slopes, and the wood-smoke that came
+down from a clearing in the forest above did sweeten
+the air more to my liking than all the scents and powders
+that the traders bring from Araby.</p>
+<p class="pnext">We had had an hour at the foils, wherein I was master,
+and another with the cross-bow. And at this
+good sport Cedric did show such skill that once more
+I spoke my wonder at the magic of it. He had no
+more than my own sixteen years; and when ’mongst
+men and soldiers, he but seldom lifted his voice; but
+his handling of this weapon would honor any man
+of middle life who had spent more years with the
+bow in his hands than Cedric could count, all told.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Cedric,” I cried, “methinks Old Marvin himself
+could not best thee; and for thirty years he of all the
+Mountjoy archers hath borne the palm.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Cedric smiled, but shook his head.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Mayhap Old Marvin knoweth a many things anent
+the placing of his bolt that have not yet come to me.
+My father, Elbert of Pelham Wood, who taught me
+what I know, hath often told me that with the long-bow
+one man and one only in all of England could best him,—and
+that one no other than Robin Hood of Sherwood
+Forest; but with the cross-bow, Marvin of Mountjoy
+could ever lesson him. And did not thou tell me that
+’twas Old Marvin who laid low the Gray Wolf of
+Carleton, at the siege? ’Tis one thing to strike a fair
+bull’s-eye on target, in broad daylight and quiet air,
+and another far to strike the throat of one’s enemy
+in battle and by torchlight.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Aye, and ’twas thou, Cedric, who struck down
+young Lionel of Carleton and two of his robber hounds
+of men-at-arms, in our fray in the woods but six weeks
+gone. Thy bolts did not then fly by guess or by luck,
+I trow.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Cedric smiled again, but had no words for this; and
+I went quickly on:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“I tell thee that when thou’rt my squire indeed, and
+I a knight in truth, and not by courtesy only, I’ll have
+thee ever ride beside me with thy bow upon thy back,
+though thou shalt wear garments of velvet instead of
+Lincoln green and a good broadsword shall swing by
+thy side. Then can we strike down any caitiff from
+afar, if need be. And many a night when we make
+bivouac in the forest or on the moorlands we shall
+sup right royally on the hares or moorfowl which thy
+skill will provide, and snap our fingers at the inns and
+all the houses of the towns.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“’Tis a fair thought,” sighed Cedric. “An oak-leaf
+bed in a glade, by a goodly stream, is ever more
+to my liking than any made in a dwelling, save in the
+wet or bitter weather. But, for Old Marvin now—Methinks
+’twould please me well to shoot against him
+at archer match. Were I bested by such as he, ’twould
+be no honor lost.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“By my faith!” I shouted, “such a match we will
+have. ’Twill be a fair sight indeed to see two archers
+such as thou and Marvin at the marks. We’ll have a
+festival for all the friends of Mountjoy, noble and
+simple, and roast an ox for their regalement. Since
+the Shrewsbury court and the battle trial that freed
+thee and me from all charges of foul play in the matter
+of Lionel of Carleton, and now that my father is
+nearly well of his wounds, the Mountjoys have reason
+enough to rejoice. We’ll have a day to be remembered.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Just then Old Marvin, who did chop for firewood
+a fallen yew in the field near by, caught sight of us,
+and, dropping his ax, came forward to greet us.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“A fine morning for the woods, Sir Dickon,” he
+said, doffing his headgear to me and nodding to Cedric.
+“Could not one get the leeward of a buck on
+such a day?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Aye,” I answered, full the while of my new
+thought, “and if either thou or Cedric here did come
+within a hundred paces, we should eat on the morrow
+of a fair pasty of venison. But what say’st thou,
+Marvin to an archer match with Cedric? Thou knowest
+he is newly in our service, but that he hath an eye
+for the homing of his bolt. Of all the Mountjoy men
+he alone is worthy to shoot against thee.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Aye,” cried Marvin, eagerly. “I have heard
+much of his skill. ’Tis said that for such a youth he
+shoots most wondrous well. For twenty years no
+Mountjoy hath striven with me at tourney; and a fair
+day at the marks would like me well. Will there be
+a prize, think’st thou?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Aye, that there will be,” I returned full gaily, for
+now methought the day promised such sport as we
+had not had for years; and I was fair lifted up with
+the picture of it that filled my mind. “I’ll make my
+father give to him who wins the day the best milch cow
+in all the Mountjoy barns. How likest thou that,
+Marvin? Could’st thou use such a beast on thy little
+farm?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Marry! Well could I,” answered Marvin, his
+eyes shining as brightly as a youth’s. “My dame did
+tell me yesterday ’tis what we most do lack.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“And I,” put in Cedric, “should any wondrous
+luck or chance bring the prize to me, could give her
+to my father. He hath a little meadow by his cottage
+in Pelham Wood where a cow could find sweet pasture,
+and, in the cot, three little ones who’d thrive on
+the milk. Marvin, be sure I’ll take the prize from
+thee if ever I can.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“An thou winnest it, thou’lt shoot well, Cedric lad,”
+answered Old Marvin with a grin. “’Tis now full
+many years since I found any man to best me.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">But now I caught sight of my father, Lord Mountjoy,
+astride the palfrey he rode in those days of recovering
+from the hurts he had at Shrewsbury, and
+riding toward the clearing on the hill where the woodmen
+piled the logs for our fireplace burning. I waved
+and beckoned to him till he paused and turned his
+horse’s head toward us. In a moment we three stood
+about him and told of our plans for the archery match.
+Most of the words were mine, but Cedric and Old Marvin
+himself were not a whit less eager. Soon I had
+drawn from Lord Mountjoy the promise that we
+should have our will, and that the archer festival should
+be held in the Mountjoy lands in three days’ time.</p>
+<p class="pnext">But, hot and eager as I was, I noted even then a
+backwardness in my father’s answers that puzzled me.
+’Twas not like him to care for the gift of a cow or a
+colt to any of his faithful retainers; and I knew he
+loved a fair match at the targets as well as any. After
+we had said “good day” to Marvin, and as Cedric
+and I walked down the road toward the wood on either
+side of his horse, Father gave utterance to his worrying
+thought.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Dickon, ’tis but natural at thy years to be eager
+and headlong in thy thinking; but has the thought not
+come to thee at all that this match that thou dost plan
+so joyously may end in sorrow to thy old instructor
+in arms?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“How so?” I questioned,—but even in the saying,
+I saw a glimmer of his meaning.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“For thirty years and more Old Marvin hath been
+leading archer of Mountjoy. He nears three score
+and ten; and may the saints bespeak him many years
+of peace after all the toils and perils he hath undergone
+for our house. Mayhap his eye is as clear and
+his hand as true as ever; but I have seen somewhat of
+the shooting of Cedric here; and it may be that he’ll
+best Old Marvin at the thing which is his dearest pride.
+Should that happen, canst thou warrant Marvin will
+not carry home a bitter heart from thy festival?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Oh, Father! Surely thou dost jest. Marvin is
+no child to grieve at being beaten in fair play, should
+that chance befall him. I warrant we’ll see never a
+sign of it.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“’Tis true enough,” said my father slowly, “we’ll
+never see a sign of it; but the bitterness may be there
+ne’ertheless. But I bethink me now,—get John o’
+the Wallfield or some other Mountjoy archer to make
+a third. Then Marvin can be but second at worst,
+and ’twill make a fairer show for all these friends
+we are to bid come to our fête. John is ever a hopeful
+youth, and will shoot as though his life depended on
+it.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Saying thus, he set spurs to his horse, and, with a
+nod and smile at Cedric, rode away up the forest path.</p>
+<p class="pnext">That afternoon messengers went out from the castle,
+to bid to the festival the tenantry and all the friends
+of Mountjoy for ten miles ’round; and an ox was
+slain for the roasting.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Three days later, on another perfect morn without
+cloud or breath of wind, there assembled in Yew Hedge
+Meadow, a furlong from the Mountjoy gate, a concourse
+which might have graced a tournament. The
+Pelhams were there and the Leicesters and even a half
+dozen of the Montmorencys, my mother’s kin from
+Coventry. The yeomanry of the Mountjoy lands had
+come, e’en to the last man and maid and child, and
+nigh two hundred of the neighbor folk from Pelham
+Manor, Leicester and Mannerley. The gentry were
+gathered on some rows of benches, covered with gay-colored
+robes, which had been placed on a little hillock
+at the left; and the commoners stood or walked about
+on the good brown sward, having many a gay crack
+and jest between them, and enjoying, methought, a
+better view of the archery than their betters on the
+higher ground.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Many of the Mountjoy men had brought their cross-bows;
+and were now taking random shots at the white-centered
+target, a hundred paces down the meadow.
+Others had long-bows and the cloth-yard shafts that
+the forester loves. When Cedric’s father, Elbert of
+Pelham Wood, came on the ground with his long-bow
+in his hand a cry went up for a match with that noble
+weapon to come before the prize shooting of the cross-bow
+men.</p>
+<p class="pnext">My father came and full warmly greeted the Pelham
+forester, and gave his word for the long-bow
+trials. Two of our Mountjoy lads shot each five shafts
+at the three-inch bull’s-eye; and of these Rob of the
+Rowan Grange was in high delight at thrice fairly
+striking it. Then Elbert, with a merry grin that
+showed his toothless jaws, did come to the mark and
+sent five arrows toward the target, suffering none to
+touch them till the last was sped. When he had finished
+there was a shout from all the people, with Rob
+o’ the Rowan’s voice among the loudest, for every
+arrow point had pierced the white.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Now came Marvin, bonnet in hand, before Lord
+Mountjoy; and began to speak with a quickness and
+a shortness of breath that I had ne’er before noted.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“My lord, methinks ’twould better the match for
+those that come to see our archery if we had, besides
+yonder target, a moving mark. What think’st thou
+of the rolling ball such as I used a score of years agone,
+and with which thyself did have much good sport?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Marry! Well bethought, good Marvin!” cried
+Father. “Have the lads bring planks from the courtyard
+and set up the trough as thou bid’st them. We
+have bowling balls enough. Truly, ’twill make the
+match a gayer sight. There are many here that never
+have seen thy skill so displayed.”</p>
+<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="margin-left: 18%; width: 64%" id="figure-25">
+<span id="then-elbert-did-come-to-the-mark-and-with-a-merry-grin-sent-five-arrows-toward-the-target"/><img style="display: block; margin-left: 0%; width: 100%" alt="images/illus07.png" src="images/illus07.png" width="100%"/>
+<div class="caption italics">
+THEN ELBERT DID COME TO THE MARK AND, WITH A MERRY GRIN, SENT FIVE
+ARROWS TOWARD THE TARGET</div>
+</div>
+<p class="pfirst">Marvin turned away full eagerly to give orders for
+the making of the slanting trough of planks down
+which the bowling ball should roll; and as I saw the
+light in his eyes my heart did warm toward our faithful
+and stout-hearted old follower that he should devise
+this play to save his archer fame. For plain it was
+to me that my father had been well pleased at this
+thought of Marvin’s, believing that in this game which
+was his very own, and practiced by none beyond the
+lands of Mountjoy, he would display such mastery as
+would far outweigh any vantage that young Cedric
+might gain at the bull’s-eye shooting.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Many hands made light work of the making ready.
+Soon a trough of planks went up to one side of the
+arrow course, and eighty yards from the mark at which
+the archers stood. One end was raised four yards
+from the earth on a scaffolding on which a lad might
+climb to place the bowling balls in groove. When,
+at the word, he rolled one from him, it dashed down
+the slope and rolled and bounded o’er the sod for thirty
+paces, full like a hare started from his covert by the
+hunters. To strike this ball in full career with cross-bow
+bolt was no child’s play. To this could I well
+swear, for never yet had I succeeded in doing so, when,
+two years agone, Old Marvin had sought to teach me.
+As I recalled my many bootless trials, I laughed to
+think of Cedric and the game Old Marvin now had
+played on him.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Now came the cross-bow men to the mark for the
+target shooting. Old Marvin began, and in high confidence.
+But verily, Fortune frowned on him, for the
+wind that had been but a breath before, sprung up
+just as he laid finger to trigger; and his first two bolts
+missed the white by half an inch. Then came three
+well within the circle; but the old archer’s face bore a
+piteous frown as he made way for Cedric, for he had
+thought to equal the long-bow shooting of his old
+gossip of Pelham Wood.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Cedric quickly sent three bolts to the bull’s-eye.
+Then his hand seemed to tremble; and methought he
+suffered from the eyes of such a crowd of witnesses.
+His fourth bolt struck just outside the black, and the
+fifth went two inches wide.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“What ails thee, lad?” questioned his father, full
+sharply. “Marvin had the wind to fight; but the
+air was quiet for thee. Methinks the fare of Mountjoy
+hall too rich for a plain forester. Thou handled
+thy weapon better on rye bread and pease porridge.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Mayhap thou’rt right, Father,” returned Cedric
+with a laugh. “Or mayhap I grow soft with sleeping
+on so fair a couch of wool. To-day I cannot shoot,
+it seems. Another day may better it.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">John o’ the Wallfield was now making careful sight
+at the bull’s-eye; and all the assembly watched him
+close, for it had been whispered that but the day before
+he had made five bull’s-eye strokes with ne’er a break,
+and at the same distance as now. He had many
+friends among the younger men and maids; and these
+now called to him words of cheer and bade him show
+his mettle. Thus besought, he showed a skill that surprised
+us all and filled me with a worry I could scarce
+suppress. Four of his bolts landed fair within the
+white, and the fifth but barely missed it. At the target
+he was winner; and, a few years back, he had been the
+best of all the Mountjoy archers, save only Marvin
+himself, at striking the rolling ball. It began to seem
+that John o’ the Wallfield who had been brought into
+the match to make a third in the scoring, might end by
+leading off the prize.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Next Marvin came to the mark to shoot at the rolling
+ball. All the yeomanry crowded round for a
+nearer view; and the knights and ladies left their
+benches and came forward that they might miss nothing
+of this strange test of archery. Now indeed did
+Marvin display something of the craft that had made
+him for so many years the leading archer of Mountjoy.
+Four of his bolts struck the swiftly running mark full
+squarely; and the fifth was wondrous close. When
+he had finished all the older yeomen and men-at-arms
+raised the shout of “Marvin! Marvin!” and some
+did already talk of bearing him aloft as winner of the
+day. For never in his life had the old marksman bettered
+the record he had just made at the rolling ball;
+and it was not believed an archer lived who could equal
+it.</p>
+<p class="pnext">’Twas Cedric’s turn to shoot next at this strange
+target. As he came forward he seemed to be more
+wrought upon than ever; and I bethought me that he
+bore but ill the fortunes of the day. He drew his
+bowstring to charge his weapon with a most unseemly
+twitch; and then exclaimed in wrath at a broken cord.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Ho!” he called, “I must lay me a new string, it
+seems. This one was sadly frayed, and now is gone.
+But let me not delay the match. Let John go on in
+my turn while I knot and stretch a stouter one.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Nothing loath, John stepped forward to the mark.
+My father gave the signal, and the ball rolled down
+the incline to the sward. Before it had bounded a
+half dozen paces it was pierced by John’s bolt; and
+there rose a great cry from all the younger men. Next
+came a miss; then another stroke; and the hubbub rose
+again. For the fourth and fifth shots, John aimed full
+carefully along the course the ball should go and before
+the word was given; but all his care availed him
+not, for both the bolts missed clean.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Now again the meadow echoed with the cries of
+“Marvin! Marvin!” Some too did call out a cheer
+for Cedric as he came up with bolt in groove; for the
+young forester was well bethought at Mountjoy, and
+to-day he had not shamed the old-time leader as some
+had thought he might. As soon as the first ball
+touched the sward he pressed trigger; and in a moment
+’twas seen that his bolt had nicked its edge. Then
+twice he missed it fairly; and twice more his bolts
+struck home. With but one more stroke he would
+have equaled Marvin’s score. As it was, his points
+were six, even as those of John o’ the Wallfield, while
+Marvin had thrice struck the bull’s-eye and four times
+the rolling ball.</p>
+<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="margin-left: 27%; width: 45%" id="figure-26">
+<span id="we-made-a-procession-through-the-field-all-the-men-and-maidens-shouting-and-dancing-and-making-a-most-merry-and-heartening-din"/><img style="display: block; margin-left: 0%; width: 100%" alt="images/illus08.png" src="images/illus08.png" width="100%"/>
+<div class="caption italics">
+WE MADE A PROCESSION THROUGH THE FIELDS, ALL THE MEN AND
+MAIDENS SHOUTING AND DANCING AND MAKING A MOST MERRY AND
+HEARTENING DIN</div>
+</div>
+<p class="pfirst">When Lord Mountjoy announced the prize was Marvin’s,
+the elder Mountjoy men broke out afresh with
+cheers; and in these all the company, led by my father
+himself, speedily joined. Two of the stoutest yeomen
+hoisted Marvin to their shoulders; and with them in
+the lead, we made a procession through the fields and
+toward the hall, all the men and maidens shouting and
+dancing and making a most merry and heartening din.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The tables were spread in the courtyard, and already
+were laden with bounteous platters of the roasted beef
+with bread and cakes and ale and goodly Yorkshire
+pudding. The yeomanry here sat them down while
+my father did lead his guests of gentle blood to the
+tables spread in the castle hall. For an hour we feasted
+sumptuously, and many a tale was told of archery and
+of the deer hunting of olden days, when, as I learned
+from the talk of my elders, men were taller and
+stronger and of keener eye than now, and such craft
+of the bow as Elbert and Old Marvin had that day
+displayed was the boast of many archers in any goodly
+company.</p>
+<p class="pnext">In all this talk Cedric, the forester, had no part;
+though he listened full courteously to any who would
+address him. I had been rejoiced at Marvin’s victory;
+but now I bethought me that Cedric might be feeling
+bitterness at his own poor showing. That he should
+strike the rolling ball but thrice in the first five trials
+seemed not strange; but he had done no better at the
+bull’s-eye target; and his father’s words might well
+have cut more deeply than he chose to show. I found
+a place beside him, and, speaking softly so that no
+other might hear, did say:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“’Twas not thy day to-day, Cedric; but mind thee
+not. There’ll be many another match whence thou’lt
+carry off the prize.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Cedric turned to me and smiled, methought a bit
+grimly, and I went on:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“’Twas hardly fair to thee to make thee shoot at
+the rolling ball at a match and for the first time. ’Tis
+Marvin’s own game; and at it he hath always excelled
+all others.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Sir Dickon,” said Cedric, speaking as softly as I,
+“canst thou keep a secret?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Of a certainty,” I answered. “What now hast
+thou to reveal?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“I will show thee something which I would fain
+have thee know, if thou wilt promise me to tell no
+soul whatever nor to give any hint of it.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“’Tis well,” I answered, “I promise it.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Listen!” he whispered, “I go now to the Yew
+Hedge Meadow. After some minutes do thou follow
+me, and speak not to any one.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Speaking thus, he rose and quickly left the tables.
+I was full of a desire to learn his meaning; and did
+wait but the shortest space before following him. I
+found him, with his cross-bow ready drawn, at the
+archers’ mark in the meadow.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Do thou climb upon yon scaffolding,” said Cedric,
+“and roll me a ball that I may try my hand once more
+at this strange game of Marvin’s.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">I did as he did ask; and his bolt struck it fairly in
+mid career.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Well shot!” I cried, “thou’lt yet be Marvin’s
+match at this game too.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Prithee, another ball,” called the forester.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Again I rolled the ball and again ’twas fairly struck.
+A third and fourth and fifth and sixth went down the
+trough; and I grew fairly ’mazed, for Cedric met
+each with a bolt as surely and as easily as if they stood
+stock still. I leaped down from my perch on the
+scaffolding and ran to him.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Cedric!” I cried, “what means this? Thou passest
+Marvin’s self. Did thy hand tremble to-day from
+the gaze of so many onlookers?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Cedric laughed again; and now he wore such a gay,
+light-hearted look as I bethought me had not been on
+his face for three days past.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Hush!” he said, “tell it not so loud lest some may
+hear thee. But was it not the will of my Lord Mountjoy,
+who risked his life for me at Shrewsbury, that Old
+Marvin should win this one last archer match? It cost
+me but a broken bowstring and some little work of
+the head when John o’ the Wallfield seemed like to
+win the day. He needs must shoot before me that I
+might know how to guide my bolts. Had he struck
+the rolling ball with but one more bolt, he would have
+equaled Marvin’s score; and I must have done likewise
+that we three might shoot again. If with two more, he
+would have bested Marvin, and I must take the prize
+from him. But with only two strokes in the five, ’twas
+easy quite; and now Marvin hath the prize that it were
+shame to keep from him.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Then indeed I understood; and I wrung Cedric’s
+hand in gladness.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“My father shall know of this,” I cried; “and he’ll
+give thee a prize also. Another cow, second only to
+the one that Marvin chooses, shall go to thy father’s
+cottage.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">But Cedric’s face, which had been merry, now
+quickly altered; and he shook his head.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Sir Dickon,” he said steadily, “dost thou not recall
+that thou didst promise not to reveal what I did show
+thee?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Why! But of that word thou’lt release me, Cedric.
+’Twas but a notion of thine. Truly, Lord
+Mountjoy should know of this.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">But Cedric still shook his head.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“I told thee not in order that I might gain a prize.
+And for my shooting this day no prize will I take.
+I somehow could not bear that thou should’st think
+me so poor an archer as this day’s work did show; but
+now I hold thee to thy knightly word, well and freely
+given.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">I could think of no word more to say nor any way
+of moving him from his resolve. So we walked slowly
+back to the hall, and in silence, for Cedric was ever
+of few words, and I was thinking deeply on his obstinacy.</p>
+<p class="pnext">In the courtyard and in the hall we found the feast
+was yet in progress. Truly, if our men of England
+do work and fight as valiantly as they eat and drink,
+’tis no wonder that our land grows in power and holds
+up its head among nations. I left Cedric at his former
+seat, and walked straight across the hall to my father.
+Cedric’s eyes followed me, for it was plain that he yet
+feared I might tell Lord Mountjoy how our archery
+meet had been guided. And I cast back at Cedric, as
+I went, a sly and crafty look which did nothing [to] reassure
+him.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Soon I gained the ear of my father; and for half a
+minute did speak to him full earnestly. To which he
+straightway made answer in his strong and goodly
+tones which Cedric and many others might well hear
+above the hum of voices and the clatter of the serving-men:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Marry! Well bethought, Dickon. It were indeed
+a shame to let such archery at our festival go unrewarded.
+’Twill pleasure Cedric also; and, truly, he
+hath borne himself well this day.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Rising, he addressed the company:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Ho! good friends all! Fair ladies and most worshipful
+knights and gentlemen: I go to the courtyard
+to say to our yeomanry assembled there some words
+that you may also wish to hear.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Then he passed out of the hall, and all the lords and
+ladies rose to follow him. Cedric and I were last.
+As we waited for the crowd to pass through the doorway,
+he whispered, sharply:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Hast thou then told Lord Mountjoy after all?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">I smiled in answer.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Contain thyself, good Cedric, and hear what thou
+shalt hear.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">He would have questioned further, but at that moment
+my father’s voice was heard in the courtyard.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Friends and Well Wishers of the House of Mountjoy:
+I know full well, ’twill pleasure you to hear that
+the prize that our good Marvin hath so truly won this
+day is not the sole prize of our festival. The cross-bow
+is a noble weapon, but the long-bow of Merry
+England is no less; and we have seen some archery
+to-day that must not go without a guerdon. Therefore
+to Elbert, Forester of Pelham and father of Cedric,
+now of our house, I give his choice of any cow
+in the Mountjoy herds, saving only that which Marvin
+chooses. To John o’ the Wallfield also I make gift of
+a good steel cross-bow of the sort which Marvin tells
+me he much desires, and with which he may better
+even the archery he hath bravely shown to-day.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Now here’s a health to Merry England and long
+life to her honest yeomanry! So long as they guide
+bolt and shaft as now they’ll confusion bring to all
+of England’s enemies.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">So it befell that in the dusk of that fair day Elbert,
+the forester, did lead home to Pelham Wood a goodly,
+milk-white heifer. A proud man was he of this prize
+of his archery; but, had he known the full tale of the
+day’s doings, he might have been, without vainglory,
+prouder still.</p>
+</div>
+<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-viwolfs-head-glen">
+<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id7">CHAPTER VI—WOLF’S HEAD GLEN</a></h2>
+<p class="pfirst">I think that that spring morning whereon Cedric
+and I set out on the forest road to Coventry
+was the fairest that ever I have seen. The sun
+shone gloriously in the open glades and on the moorlands,
+and white clouds sailed aloft like racing galleons.
+The bird chorus among the little new leaves overhead
+was as the mingled music of harps and lutes and voices
+in the choir at Shrewsbury, and flowerets of blue and
+pink and gold full gallantly bedecked the pathside and
+the brown forest floor. Withal ’twas not a day for
+idleness and dreaming, for a chill air breathed in the
+darker vales, and here and there in the deep woodlands
+and on northern slopes a graying patch of snow yet
+lingered.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Old William, a faithful archer of Mountjoy, rode
+with us as guide and counsellor—this by the insistence
+of my father, Lord Mountjoy, who had a sorry lack
+of faith in the judgment and discretion of what he
+called “two half-broke colts” like Cedric and me.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“I know full well,” he had said when I broached
+the plan of riding the ten leagues to Coventry to pay
+due respects to our kinsfolk of Montmorency,—“that
+Cedric hath a wondrous skill and quickness with his
+cross-bow, and that thou, Dickon, in thy sword-play,
+art not far behind many a man that calls himself
+knight and soldier. You will be mounted well; and
+mayhap, if danger beset, can fight or fly, saving whole
+skins as on that day the Carletons hunted you in the
+woods of Teramore. But all is not done by eyes and
+limbs, be they never so keen and skilled. Your veteran
+of three-score will step softly and dry-shod around the
+quagmire in which your hair-brained youth of sixteen
+plunges head and ears.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Never fear, Father,” I cried, “with William or
+without, we’ll keep whole skins. These are now full
+quiet days, and we ride for pleasure, not for brawling.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“’Tis true,” he answered slowly, “with the hanging
+of Strongbow, we now have the outlaw bands in wholesome
+fear; and the Carletons have raised no battle cry
+since the fall. ’Tis like they have little will for it
+since they were so sorely smitten at the siege and first
+the Old Wolf and later young Lionel received their just
+dues from us and ours. They have no leaders now
+save the widowed lady and a fifteen-years old lad that
+bears his father’s name of Geoffrey and shall be Lord
+of Carleton. Mayhap we have before us some few
+years to build the fortunes of our house without let or
+hindrance from any of that crew at Teramore. But
+William shall go with thee to Coventry, ne’ertheless, to
+see that thou miss not the road and seek no useless
+brawls. Listen well to what he tells thee, and thou’lt
+make a safe return.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Now all three of us had our cross-bows slung upon
+our backs; and I wore at my side the good Damascus
+blade which was my dearest pride. We carried in
+leathern pouches a store of bread and meat for the
+midday meal; and William had made shift to shoot a
+moorfowl that he spied running midst the gorse by the
+wayside.</p>
+<p class="pnext">So, an hour past the noonday, we made camp by a
+fair stream, set a fire alight to roast the bird, and
+feasted right merrily. As we sat about the embers,
+filled with the comfort of hunger well sated, I lifted
+up my voice in a ballad of which I had many times of
+late made secret practice. It went right merrily and
+clear; and when I had once sung it through Cedric and
+old William both urged me on to repeat it. When
+I sang again Cedric surprised me much, seeing the untaught
+forester that he was, by joining me with a sweet,
+high contra-melody that wondrously enhanced the music;
+and old William too, after a few gruff trials, did
+bravely swell the chorus.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Thus pleasantly occupied, and with our carol ringing
+through the vale, we heard no sound of hoofbeats, and
+I looked up with a start to see, passing along the path,
+fifty paces from our camp fire, three armed and mounted
+travelers.</p>
+<p class="pnext">There were two stout men-at-arms, wearing the
+braced and quilted jackets that, against arrows or javelins,
+so well replace breastplates of steel, and armed
+with great two-handed broadswords and poniards.
+Between them, and a little to the fore, on a proudly
+stepping little gelding, rode a youth of somewhat less
+than our own years, wearing an embroidered tunic of
+white and rose and a sword which hung in a scabbard
+rich with gold and gems.</p>
+<p class="pnext">William snatched at the cross-bow which lay on the
+grass beside him; but the strangers paid little heed to
+us, the men-at-arms but glancing surlily in our direction.
+In a moment they had passed from sight, and
+the forest was quiet again. For a little we talked of
+who they might be and what their errand was in these
+parts; but none of us could name any of their party.
+We were now some eight leagues from Castle Mountjoy
+and mayhap three from Mannerley Lodge. It
+seemed not unlikely that the stranger youth might be
+of some party that visited the good lady of Mannerley,
+and that he was now riding abroad under the escort of
+two of her stout retainers.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The passing of the strangers, and the sour looks of
+the two men had driven the carol from our minds;
+and we loosed our horses from the saplings to which
+they had been tied, and soberly remounted to resume
+our journey. It had been ten of the morning ere we
+left Mountjoy, and we had come but slowly along the
+narrow forest paths. Now the sun was well down in
+the West, and clouds were gathering darkly overhead.
+William urged us to make haste lest we be caught in the
+cold rain that he prophesied would be falling ere night.
+So we took the road again, and, after all our good
+cheer and merry chorusing, with our spirits strangely
+adroop.</p>
+<p class="pnext">We rode but slowly, for we had no wish to overtake
+the travelers. On our woodland roads, ’tis well to
+beware of strangers, especially when night approaches
+and one is not yet in sight of friendly castle walls. If
+they too made for Coventry, ’twas well, and we might
+follow them into the town without exchanging words;
+and if their way lay elsewhere, we could willingly spare
+their company.</p>
+<p class="pnext">A mile or so we rode in quietness. Then, coming
+to the top of a rise where the path emerged from the
+woods and half a mile of open moor lay before us, we
+beheld a sight which caused us to draw rein full suddenly
+and to gaze again, under sheltering hands, at
+the place where the road again made into the forest.
+There were our three strangers in desperate fight with
+half a dozen men. The outlaws—for such they
+seemed—were roughly clad in gray homespun and
+Lincoln green, and armed with bows and quarterstaves.
+They did swiftly run and dodge from behind one tree-trunk
+to another, evading the sword strokes of the
+horsemen and sending shaft after shaft against them.
+Even as we gazed, an arrow pierced the quilted jacket
+of one of the men-at-arms, or found a spot uncovered
+at the throat, and brought him heavily to the ground.</p>
+<p class="pnext">For one quick-throbbing moment I looked at Cedric,
+to spell, if I might, his thoughts at this juncture.
+Should we turn back ere the outlaws spied us, and make
+good our ’scape in the forest? The band might be
+far larger than it seemed; often a hundred or more of
+these robbers consorted under the banner of some famous
+outlaw chief. If we went forward, we might
+but add to the number of their victims.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Then came the voice of old William, cracked and
+broken with his fear for our safety, and striving hard
+to stay us from an emprise which seemed certain death:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Turn, Masters! Turn ere they sight us. We are
+too few and too lightly armed to face such numbers.
+An we go forward, they’ll spit us with their shafts
+like a roast at the fire. Come, Sir Dickon! Come, I
+pray thee. My Lord Mountjoy leans upon me to bring
+thee safe through. Back to the greenwood while yet
+there’s time.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">I uttered not a word, and firmly held my restive
+steed; but I saw in Cedric’s face no thought of flight
+nor care for life or limb,—rather the look of a noble
+hound that spies the frothing, tusker boar at slaughter
+of his comrades, and beseeches but the word that looses
+him against the monster’s flank.</p>
+<p class="pnext">And now Cedric’s horse and mine sprang forward
+together. To this day I know naught of any settled
+thought of riding to the attack. Mayhap the limbs
+that came to me as my heritage from a line of fighting
+men that never endured to see foul ambush and treachery
+have their way did move without any guidance
+and set the spurs against my horse’s sides. Cedric
+rode the great war-horse which he had won from the
+Carleton; and though my own mount was a fair tall
+stallion, half of Arab strain, the forester drew ahead
+on the rough pathway e’en while he drew his cross-bow
+cord and fitted bolt to groove. In a moment I had
+charged my weapon also; and then I found old William
+by my side, his cross-bow in his hands and all his protests
+forgotten.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Now the hoofs of our mounts thundered most
+sweetly on the sward, and for all the folly of our venture,
+I felt such an uplifting of the heart as I had
+known but once or twice before in all my life. As we
+neared the fray at the wood’s edge, I shouted the battle
+cry of Mountjoy; and, my two companions joining
+with a will, we came down upon the varlets like a
+troop of armored horse.</p>
+<p class="pnext">As we approached ’twas clear that the outlaws had
+all the better of the fight. One of the men-at-arms
+lay dead on the ground, and the other though still
+fighting blindly had twice been pierced by arrows in
+neck and face. The robbers had a chieftain who carried
+no bow, but a sword only, and who had been ordering
+and cheering on his men while striking no blow
+himself. Now the youth in the white tunic, who had
+received no hurt as yet, dashed toward him and struck
+full bravely with his golden-hilted sword, but wildly
+and in a way unskilled. The robber met the blow
+with a twisting parry that struck the hilt from the
+boy’s hand and sent the blade whirling away into the
+underbrush; then leaping forward he seized the youth’s
+shoulder and pulled him from his horse.</p>
+<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="margin-left: 23%; width: 54%" id="figure-27">
+<span id="he-gave-no-inch-of-ground-save-to-leap-from-side-to-side-in-avoiding-my-downward-strokes"/><img style="display: block; margin-left: 0%; width: 100%" alt="images/illus09.png" src="images/illus09.png" width="100%"/>
+<div class="caption italics">
+HE GAVE NO INCH OF GROUND SAVE TO LEAP FROM SIDE TO SIDE IN
+AVOIDING MY DOWNWARD STROKES</div>
+</div>
+<p class="pfirst">Drawing rein at fifty yards, we all three let fly our
+bolts, Cedric and old William each bringing down his
+man. My own bolt flew wide of the robber captain
+because of my fear of striking the youth who was now
+his prisoner. Then, dropping the bow, I betook me
+to a weapon more natural to my temper, and, sword
+in hand, was instantly in combat with the chief. He
+pushed the boy behind him and gave me blow for blow;
+and, truth to tell, he handled his blade—the weapon
+of a knight and gentleman—with a skill far beyond
+that of any yeoman I had known. Our blades flashed
+merrily in the sunlight that now streamed through a
+rent in the western clouds; and I lost all knowledge of
+the fray around us.</p>
+<p class="pnext">I fought on horseback, and he on foot; but he gave
+no inch of ground save to leap from side to side in
+avoiding my downward strokes. All his thrusts I
+managed to parry; but, somewhat with swordsmanship
+and more with wondrous quickness of foot, he likewise
+foiled mine. Twice had I essayed the best of all
+my tricks of fence only to fail in reaching my tall and
+nimble enemy.</p>
+<p class="pnext">I was gathering my wits for another stratagem, the
+which might take him off his guard, when suddenly,
+and to my great amaze, he leaped aside from my attack
+and sprang behind a tree trunk. From there he
+leaped to another, farther in the forest; and so by
+running and hiding, quickly disappeared in the greenwood.</p>
+<p class="pnext">I looked about me, dizzied with the quickness of that
+which had befallen; and beheld a sight for tears and
+groaning. Both the stranger men-at-arms lay dead on
+the oak leaves amidst the bodies of five of the outlaws
+who had been slain by their swords and our cross-bow
+bolts; and, lying with his shoulders half supported by
+Cedric’s arms, was our faithful old William, his breast
+pierced by a cloth-yard shaft and his eyes just closing
+in death.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Cedric sadly laid down the body of our old retainer;
+and I thought it fitting to make a hasty prayer for his
+soul’s peace. Then, as I rose, the stranger youth came
+forward haltingly. Methought he had a most winsome
+face, with honest eyes of blue and with brown
+and curling hair. I was about to offer some friendly
+greeting when our ears were affrayed by a loud blast
+of a hunting horn which came from a furlong’s distance
+in the wood.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Cedric’s face changed instantly; and he grasped at
+my elbow.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Quick, Sir Dickon!” he cried. “Let us mount and
+away. Yon notes are the call of the robber chief to
+all his band. They’ll be here anon and slay us every
+one if we make not haste.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Come then,” I answered, and, seizing the youth’s
+hand in lieu of other greeting, I drew him swiftly
+toward his horse, and mounting my own, wheeled back
+into the pathway. Cedric, with one bound, was on
+his horse’s back; but the stranger was slower in his
+movements, seeming mazed and like one in a dream
+with the suddenness of these turns of fortune. I
+caught the bridle rein of his horse which had somewhat
+strayed; and then indeed he came quickly forward
+and climbed to the saddle. But a precious moment
+had been lost; and now, just as we emerged on the
+moor, there came a deadly flight of arrows from the
+wood. The archers were yet a hundred paces off; and
+low-hanging boughs did much deflect their shafts; but
+my horse was sorely stricken and reared and flung me
+to the earth. Another arrow struck mortally the
+stranger boy’s bay gelding, and a third pierced my
+doublet sleeve and drew a spurt of blood.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Quick!” shouted Cedric. “Mount with me, both
+of ye. Quick for your lives!”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Reaching down, he fairly lifted the stranger to a
+place in front of him, while I seized his belt and madly
+scrambled up behind. Then the forester set spurs to
+his horse’s sides, and that splendid steed, despite his
+triple burden, was off with a bound.</p>
+<p class="pnext">But now, alas! the outlaws were at the wood’s edge.
+Another flight of arrows whistled about our ears; and
+the stranger, with a groan, clapped his right hand to
+his side and tried manfully to pluck away a shaft which
+was quivering there. His violent clutch served but
+to break the wood, and left the barb embedded in the
+flesh. Cedric threw one arm about him, lest he fall,
+and shouting to me to cling tightly to his waist, spurred
+madly on, blind to all but the path before him.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The robbers came streaming from the wood, and
+seeing that our one remaining horse was now burdened
+with the weight of three riders, dashed after us on foot
+with the hope, not ill-founded, of overtaking and slaying
+us. Some of these men of the greenwood can leap
+and run very like the deer they chase; and, had not our
+horse been the best and strongest that ever I bestrode,
+they might have gained upon us on the open heath
+enough to have made sure work of their archery.</p>
+<p class="pnext">But momently we drew away from them; and none
+of their whizzing shafts did further harm. Indeed,
+had not Cedric been fain to check our speed lest our
+burdened mount stumble in the rough and treacherous
+pathway, we might have shortly distanced them. As
+it was, we came again to the forest which we had left
+a quarter hour before, and the smoother road beneath
+the oak trees, with the shouting robber band a furlong
+behind us.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Then for the first time spake the youth that rode so
+unsteadily before us. Deathly pale he was, and his
+voice like that of one on a sick-bed.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Masters,” he murmured, “I fear my hurt is mortal,
+and you vainly risk your lives for mine. Put me
+down, I pray you, on the oak leaves, that I may die
+in peace, and you may ’scape with no more hurt.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“That we will not,” I cried, hotly. “We’ll bear
+thee away to safety, spite of all. Look but now! We
+gain upon them. A quarter hour will see us well beyond
+their reach.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“I cannot bear it,” he answered faintly. “I bleed
+full sorely, and I needs must rest.” With that his
+color left him utterly; his blue eyes twitched and
+closed; he fainted, and but for Cedric’s arm must surely
+have fallen.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Cedric turned to me and whispered:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Save him we must, or we are no true men.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Surely we must save him,” I echoed, “but how
+shall we compass it? If he have not rest full soon and
+the dressing of his hurt, he will surely die.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“One chance there still remains,” he answered
+softy, “though in the essay we give o’er our own
+near sight of safety. What say’st thou? Shall we
+attempt it?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“With all my heart,” I cried. “Shall we make
+stand in some rock cranny hereabouts?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">To this the forester made no reply. We were riding
+down a slope toward a wide but shallow stream which
+we must ford. The outlaws were hid from view by
+the rise behind us, but we could still hear their shouts
+and knew that they had by no means given o’er the
+hope of reaching us.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Midway in the current Cedric sharply pulled his
+horse’s head to the right, and leaving the pathway
+utterly, spurred him at a trot up the sandy and pebbly
+bed of the stream. A turn soon hid the ford from
+view, and this not a moment too soon, for now again
+we heard the outlaws coming down the hill in hot pursuit.
+Cedric drew rein for an instant, and we heard
+them splashing through the shallows of the ford, and
+then their running feet on the path beyond. A bow-shot
+farther on we drew out from the stream bed and
+made better going in the open woods of a valley which
+led upwards toward the rocky hills to the northward.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Dost know this place?” I asked of Cedric.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Aye,” he answered shortly, “’tis known as Wolf’s
+Head Glen.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Then we came to thicker wood growth; and he had
+much ado to guide the war-horse safely in the tangle
+and to keep the boughs from the face of the stricken
+youth before him. Once more we entered the stream
+bed, and again emerged where the forest was of older
+growth and had little underwood to check us. We had
+come a mile or more from the pathway when of a
+sudden the forester drew rein and looked with care
+about him. Then he leaped down, leaving me to hold
+the wounded boy, and made his way up a rocky slope
+to a tangle of saplings and thorn bushes. These at
+one point he drew apart; then he disappeared, crawling
+on hands and knees into the darkness beyond.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Speedily he returned; and now a glad and hopeful
+look was on his face. “’Tis well,” he said, “we yet
+will save him. Here is shelter and safe hiding if I
+mistake not.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">He lifted down the boy, and together we bore him
+up the slope and through the narrow, thorny pathway.
+Beyond was a rocky cave with space enough for half
+a dozen men to lie on the beds of leaves the winds had
+drifted in, though nowhere high enough to let one
+stand erect. The mouth was safely covered by the
+growth of sapling trees and briers; and one might pass
+at twenty paces and ne’er suspect it.</p>
+<p class="pnext">We laid our burden on the leaves. The poor youth’s
+face was so white and still and his hands so cold that
+truly I thought we were too late and that his spirit had
+fled. But Cedric stripped away the garments from the
+lad’s breast and laid his ear against it. Then he rose
+and nodded brightly.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“He lives. We yet will save him. First let us
+make ready a bandage, then pluck this shaft away and
+bind the wound.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">I quickly stripped me of a linen garment of which
+Cedric did make a soft dressing and shield for the hurt.
+Then I held the quivering side while Cedric firmly drew
+away the arrow. As it came forth the boy gave a
+piteous groan and his eyes flickered open, but quickly
+closed again. The bleeding started afresh, but the
+forester, with a wondrous deftness, applied the bandage
+and closely fastened it with strips that went about
+the body and over the shoulders of the lad. Then we
+brought water in an iron cup which Cedric carried at
+his girdle, and bathed the boy’s white face. Soon his
+eyes opened once more, and he asked for drink.</p>
+<p class="pnext">When the lad’s thirst was sated and he knew us
+again, Cedric stole out with cross-bow drawn to make
+his way a little down the glen and see if any of the
+robber band had trailed us. Seeing naught of them,
+he quickly returned and took our good steed and, first
+giving him to drink at the stream, tethered him in a
+close thicket half a furlong off where he might browse
+in quiet and mayhap escape the notice of our enemies.</p>
+<p class="pnext">An hour later we re-dressed our companion’s hurt,
+using a poultice of healing leaves which Cedric had
+found by the brookside and crushed between stones.
+Soon the lad fell asleep, and though sometimes beset
+with grievous pains and babbling dreams, did rest
+not ill for one who had been so near to death.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Cedric and I watched the night out, sitting with
+drawn bows at the cave mouth. The stars were bright,
+but there was no moon and little wind; and our talk
+was low lest after all some of the outlaws might be
+near. Half in whispers he told me the story of the
+glen and its name. It seems that an honest yeoman,
+John o’ the Windle, who had been his father’s friend
+in his youth, had had the mischance to quarrel with a
+sheriff’s man, and, to save his own life, had pierced
+him with a cloth-yard shaft. Then John Windle had
+fled to the forest and become a wolf’s head, which is
+the name the commonalty have for outlaws, since the
+killing of either wolves or outlaws may bring a bounty
+from the Crown. For years he had lived in this very
+glen, with his hiding place in the cave known to but a
+few faithful friends. Often he was pursued to the
+little valley, but among its woods and streams always
+shook off the sheriff’s trailers and made good his ‘scape.
+Finally the legend grew that he was befriended by unseen
+powers and changed himself to a wolf whenever
+he crossed the little stream at the place where so many
+times his trail had been lost. Cedric’s father, Elbert
+of Pelham Wood, had once brought him to this spot
+to visit the outlaw after he had become old and was
+far gone in his last sickness; and a few days later the
+two foresters had buried the wolf’s head near the cave
+where he had lived.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Just after dawn, Cedric, sitting at watch, pierced
+with a cross-bow bolt a hare that was hopping through
+the underwood fifty paces off. Most cautiously we
+built a little fire within the cave and roasted the meat
+for our breakfast, we being of sharpest appetites
+through having eaten naught since the middle of the
+day before.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Some of the tenderest bits we offered to the stranger,
+and he did try to eat, but with no avail for he grew
+dizzy when we raised him from his couch. Cedric’s
+face grew grave at this, and soon he came and placed
+his hand upon the cheek and neck of the lad. What
+he found made him frown most anxiously at me. The
+face of the wounded youth had now lost all its paleness;
+’twas flushed and something swollen and to the
+touch near burning hot.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Sir Dickon,” called Cedric, suddenly, “we must
+move him, and quickly, to where a leech can tend him.
+He hath a fever, and with it his wound will not heal.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Can we issue from this wood by any other road
+than that on which we left the robbers?” I questioned.
+“If so be, mayhap we can reach to Mannerley Lodge.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“There is a steep pathway higher in the glen that
+doth issue on Wilton Road. If we gain that, ’tis not
+above two leagues to Mannerley.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Then let us go. I wager we meet not again with
+the outlaws. They ever scatter and hide themselves
+after a fray like that of yesterday. Our steed must
+carry three as before. ’Twill be but an hour’s ride.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Soon Cedric had returned from the thicket with
+the steed, we had lifted the stranger as gently as might
+be, and, mounting also, were on our way out of the
+forest. Now I rode in the saddle and held the boy
+in his place, and Cedric sat behind me with drawn
+cross-bow and bolt in groove.</p>
+<p class="pnext">We met none to gainsay us, and soon emerged from
+the wood. For a quarter hour we made such speed
+as we might along the road to Mannerley. Then all
+at once the youth’s body grew limp in my arms, and
+I saw that again his wound bled full sorely and that
+once more he yielded to a death-like fainting.</p>
+<p class="pnext">I drew rein, and we dismounted, laying the boy on
+the leaves by the side of a little brook. For anxious
+moments we knelt beside him, bathing his forehead
+with the cold water, listening in vain for his heart-beats,
+and much in fear that his eyes would never
+reopen.</p>
+<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="margin-left: 18%; width: 64%" id="figure-28">
+<span id="in-a-twinkling-armed-and-mounted-men-were-all-about-us"/><img style="display: block; margin-left: 0%; width: 100%" alt="images/illus10.png" src="images/illus10.png" width="100%"/>
+<div class="caption italics">
+IN A TWINKLING, ARMED AND MOUNTED MEN WERE ALL ABOUT US</div>
+</div>
+<p class="pfirst">Then of a sudden we heard iron-shod hoofs on the
+roadway and a man’s rough voice in surprise and angry
+threatening:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Hold! What have we here? By’r Lady! ’tis the
+Mountjoys!”</p>
+<p class="pnext">In a twinkling, armed and mounted men were all
+about us; and with a heart like lead I recognized the
+Carleton livery. We could neither fight nor fly.
+Half a dozen stout men-at-arms leaped from their
+horses and rushed upon us. We had not struck a blow
+ere they overthrew us and wrenched our weapons from
+our hands. In a moment more my hands and Cedric’s
+were fast bound with halters like those of scurvy
+thieves that go to pay their penalty upon the gibbet.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Ha! Look but here!” cried the leader, whom I
+now saw to be none other than the man who had so
+sworn against us at the trial at Shrewsbury, “these
+are young Sir Richard and the forester that slew Sir
+Lionel but six months gone. And now we come on
+them again red-handed. See <em class="italics">this</em> foul wickedness that
+they have done! What say you now? Shall we not
+rope them up to yonder limb in requital?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Aye, Aye! Let’s hang them and quickly,” cried
+another.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Men of Carleton,” said I from where I lay upon
+the ground, “we are no murderers. But if slay us
+ye must, let us at least have the death of men and
+soldiers. I am the heir of a noble house that yields no
+jot to any Carleton; and my comrade here is a freeman
+of England with no smirch on his name. ’Tis not
+fitting that ye visit on us the punishment of thieves.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Ho!” jeered the leader, “hear the young hound
+of Mountjoy, now caught in the sheepfold. ’Tis like
+if we listen to him that he and this Pelham varlet will
+yet concoct some plan to ’scape us. Quick, men! the
+halters! For we have other and sadder work to do.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Then for a moment all the forest and the blue sky
+seemed to turn to blackness around me. There was
+a roaring in my ears like to that I heard when as a
+child I fell one day from the foot board over the waters
+of the mill race and came not up to breathe till I reached
+the other side of the whirlpool below. Then from
+the midst of this reeling nightmare I heard a voice,
+saying faintly:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Oh, Hubert! What dost thou here? And what
+do ye to these friends of mine that they lie on the
+ground in bonds?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">The stranger youth was sitting up on his leafy couch.
+His face was still deadly pale, but his eyes gleamed
+brightly.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Our Lady be thanked! He lives,” muttered the
+leader of the men-at-arms, to my utter amaze doffing
+his headpiece before the stricken youth. Then in answer:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Master Geoffrey, God be thanked, they have not
+murdered thee! But these are Sir Richard of Mountjoy
+and the forester, Cedric, the very same that did
+to death thy brother, Lionel. Now we shall swing
+them from yonder oak limb. ’Twill heal thee faster
+to see thy enemies thus justly served.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Hubert, thou shalt not,—<em class="italics">on thy life</em>!” cried
+Geoffrey, his weak voice shrill with passion, “be they
+Mountjoys or be they sons of Beelzebub, they are good
+men and true, and have over and again risked their
+lives for mine. And I do verily believe that the tale
+they told at the Shrewsbury trial was the truth, and
+that my brother brought his death upon himself. Now
+cut those bonds,—and quickly.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">The soldier yet hesitated and muttered somewhat
+beneath his breath.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“I tell thee, Hubert,” broke out Geoffrey afresh,
+“thou shalt loose them, and give them horses that
+they may ride safely to Mountjoy. If thou disobey
+me, verily I’ll have thee beaten with rods and cast
+in the lowest dungeon of Teramore.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Another of the men-at-arms now spoke aside to
+Hubert.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“He is the Master, Hubert; and we must e’en obey.
+Forget not that, since the death of Lionel, young Sir
+Geoffrey is himself the Carleton.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Hubert drew his dagger and came toward me.
+From the look on his ugly face I much misdoubted
+whether he meant to carry out the commands of his
+young master or to stab me to the heart. But he
+quickly cut the rope that bound my wrists, and then
+did a like service for Cedric.</p>
+<p class="pnext">We stood erect and made our bows before the young
+Lord of Carleton.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Sir Geoffrey,” said I, slowly, “thy house and mine
+have been bitter enemies; but glad am I to call thee
+friend. Wilt thou clasp hands in token?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">For answer his face lighted up with his most winsome
+smile, and he extended toward me his right hand
+in fellowship. To Cedric also he gave a clasp of such
+heartiness as he could compass, calling him the while
+brave rescuer and comrade. Then turning again to
+me, he said:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Sir Richard of Mountjoy, mount this horse of
+Hubert’s here, which I freely give thee, while Cedric
+rides the good steed that bore us so bravely through
+the forest. My men shall make for me a litter of
+poles, with robes and garments slung between, and
+bear me to Mannerley. There will I bide till my
+wound is healed. Say to thy father, the Lord of
+Mountjoy, that I renounce all the vengeance that my
+father and my brother swore against him, and that I
+extend to him also the hand of friendship. ’Twill
+please me well if, while I still lie at Mannerley, he and
+thou and Cedric come riding there and visit me. And
+so good-by with all my heart. May thou win safely
+home and Heaven’s blessing follow thee.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Gladly we mounted and reined our horses’ heads toward
+home. As we left the little glade we turned for
+one more look at the pale youth, lying half prostrate
+on his couch of leaves; and our hearts did swell with
+gladness to know his life was safe and that no longer
+was he a stranger or an enemy. And once more we
+caught his winsome smile and the wave of his hand
+that bade us God speed.</p>
+</div>
+<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-viithe-outlaws-of-blackpool">
+<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id8">CHAPTER VII—THE OUTLAWS OF BLACKPOOL</a></h2>
+<p class="pfirst">’Twas a fortnight after the fray with the outlaws
+on the borders of Blackpool Forest,
+where, all unknowing, we had saved the life
+of young Sir Geoffrey of Carleton, heir of the house
+that for so long had been our bitterest enemy, that my
+father and I rode with Cedric, my comrade and squire,
+and six stout men-at-arms over the hill road to Mannerley.
+There our new-made friend, Sir Geoffrey,
+lay recovering from his wound.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Lord Mountjoy wore helmet and cuirass; and his
+good two-handed broadsword swung by his side, while
+both Cedric and I wore shirts of linked mail and our
+followers each a quilted, shaft-proof leathern jacket.
+Cedric carried the cross-bow which he had often used
+to such good purpose, and I the sword of Damascus
+steel which my father had riven from a Saracen noble
+in the Holy Land. Withal we made a brave array
+on the woodland roads and one of which the boldest
+band of outlaws with their bows and bills and coats of
+Lincoln green might well beware.</p>
+<p class="pnext">But no enemy gainsaid us on the road; and at two
+o’ the clock we rode across the drawbridge of our
+good friend and neighbor, the Lady of Mannerley.
+She bade us welcome in the courtly manner to which
+she was bred, and ushered us to the great hall. Geoffrey
+was reclining in a great chair before the fire, and
+rose to greet us with most joyous face. His wound
+was healing fast, as we had known from the messengers
+who had passed almost daily to and fro; but the
+young Lord of Carleton was still pale with the bloodletting,
+and could leave his chair no longer than the
+courtesy of a host demanded. As he shook hands
+with my father, the Lord of Mountjoy, his words of
+heartfelt welcome and the smile on his winsome face
+made amends for the weakness of his clasp; and I
+was filled with joy to see that my father warmed to
+him at once and for his sake willingly forgot the deeds
+of the old Gray Wolf, who had been Lord of Carleton.</p>
+<p class="pnext">When Geoffrey was again seated and we had found
+places on the benches around him, the Lady of Mannerley
+brought to us some most dainty cakes and cups
+of hot mulled wine, serving us with her own hands,
+as is the custom when guests of quality are welcomed.
+There ensued an hour of goodly talk, Geoffrey of
+Carleton plying my father with questions of that of
+which he loves best to speak,—the wars for the Holy
+Sepulcher’s recovery—and Cedric and I listening or
+putting in our words as occasion offered. Geoffrey
+heard from me the tale of our archer festival and of
+old Marvin’s and Cedric’s wondrous prowess with the
+cross-bow. Then by degrees we came to the story of
+the day whereon Cedric and I and poor old William
+came upon the outlaw band in Blackpool that sought
+to kill his two retainers and make him prisoner; and
+we lived over again in joy the battle at the forest’s
+edge and the bloody and desperate chase that followed.</p>
+<p class="pnext">When that tale had been fully told by us three youths,
+speaking sometimes in turn and sometimes, at the most
+perilous passages, crying out all together what had
+chanced, Geoffrey turned to me to say:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“But, Sir Richard,—in the forest where I first saw
+thee and Cedric at the fire,—that was a most sweet
+ballad you did sing. Can you not raise it again? I
+have a great mind to hear it.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">At this, nothing loath, I turned my eyes to the rafters
+and began the lay. Cedric, joining in with his sweet
+harmonizing, did give it a grace which else it had
+sadly lacked; and the hall of Mannerley rang with
+it even as had the little glade in the wood. Lady
+Mannerley came again to the door of the hall, and behind
+her a half dozen of her maids and serving men.
+Geoffrey and the others loudly cried “Encore”; and
+the second time my father took up the lay with us,
+so it went rousingly and to the delight of the whole
+company. When at last we ceased Geoffrey declared
+that the song and the gay and heartening talk withal
+had done for him more good than all the herbs and
+poultices of the leech, and that with one more day like
+to this he verily believed he could ride abroad whole
+and sound.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Our audience departed with the end of the singing;
+and then Lord Mountjoy spoke most seriously:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“What thou say’st, Sir Geoffrey, puts me in mind
+that in these rough times there is other work for us
+who are verily whole and sound than this chaffering
+and singing at a bonny fireside, most pleasant though
+it be. I must bestir myself to punish these greedy
+rascals of the greenwood that set upon to rob and
+murder all those that go the forest roads not armed
+to the teeth and in strong company. ’Tis said that
+this unhung varlet that so sorely beset thee hath now
+no less than seven score bowmen at his back. To-morrow
+I ride to enlist the aid of my lord of Pelham
+with his twenty archers, and as soon thereafter as may
+be to Dunwoodie of Grimsby. The good lady who is
+now our hostess will doubtless send some men-at-arms
+and foresters. We shall make up a company that can
+take Blackpool Wood from all its sides at once; and
+it shall go hard but we send a half hundred of the
+rogues to their reckoning.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">During this speech the eyes of the young Lord of
+Carleton had grown bright as with a fever; and he
+could hardly wait for my father to come to an end
+before crying out:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Oh, good Mountjoy! My friend—if thou art
+my friend indeed, stay this goodly enterprise but a few
+short months—or weeks mayhap—and let me join
+with thee. This outlaw chief, whom now I learn is
+called the Monkslayer from certain of his bloody deeds,
+hath offered both injury and insult to the House of
+Carleton. Two of my faithful men he slew, and me
+he took prisoner, and would have held for high ransom,
+if indeed he spared my life, had it not been for Sir
+Richard and Cedric here and that worthy old archer
+of Mountjoy who met his death fighting in my behalf.
+Give me but two short months—I ask no more—to
+heal me of my wound and make some practice of arms;
+and I will ride with thee to the hunting of this outlaw
+and his band with forty men-at-arms and eight score
+archers from Carleton and Teramore. So shall we
+make short and sure work of it.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">My father gazed at the glowing face of our new-made
+friend; and plain it was to me that the liking he
+had at first conceived for the lad suffered nothing from
+this headlong eagerness to be up and doing with arms
+in his hands. Turning to Cedric and me, with a broad
+and happy smile, Lord Mountjoy said:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Well, lads, ’twas your quarrel and Sir Geoffrey’s
+at the first. What say you? Shall we risk the scattering
+and ’scaping of these rogues by waiting till
+the fall for him? For I plainly see that, with all
+good will, he cannot rightly ride and fight before that
+time in such a rough campaign as this will be.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Oh, let us wait, Father!” I cried, “Sir Geoffrey
+hath the right in saying ’tis especially the Carleton’s
+quarrel; and ’twill be a fine sight for all the countryside
+to see the banners of Mountjoy and of Carleton
+waving together in so good a cause after all these years
+of enmity. Mayhap Sir Geoffrey will return with
+usury the arrow-shot he had from those scurvy knaves.
+If so, ’twill not be an ill beginning for his career in
+arms.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Cedric, who was ever of few words, nodded his head
+at this speech of mine; and so ’twas settled among us.
+Through the summer months we would strike no blow
+at the outlaws save in defense, but at the fall of the
+leaf, when the woods made not so close a cover, we
+would fall upon them in their fastnesses with all our
+forces at once, and so destroy and scatter them that
+the woodland roads of the whole county would be free
+of their kind for years to come.</p>
+<p class="pnext">A week later Sir Geoffrey took his way to his great
+castle at Teramore under a strong escort of Carleton
+men-at-arms. Ten days thereafter Cedric and I rode
+thither to pay a promised visit and to talk of the outlaw
+hunt and our great plans for the days to follow.
+Sir Geoffrey showed himself a most gracious host;
+and we passed some goodly hours in the Carleton hall
+and in the courtyard where Cedric did try most manfully
+to impart to Geoffrey and me some measure of his
+cross-bow skill.</p>
+<p class="pnext">For my own handling of this weapon, I fear that all
+Cedric’s and old Marvin’s teachings are bootless, and
+that never shall I shoot with any certainty; but, to
+Cedric’s huge delight, Sir Geoffrey took to the exercise
+like one born in a forester’s cottage. In half an hour
+he was striking marks at fifty paces that were small
+enough for Cedric’s own aim at twice that distance,
+and his instructor was prophesying he would be a bonny
+archer long before he could well handle a broadsword.
+This I thought likely enough, for Geoffrey, though his
+age lacked but half a year of Cedric’s and mine, was
+somewhat lightly built and had not yet the reach and
+the forearm muscles that make a swordsman. ’Twas
+plain that among us three I should long remain the
+master with this best of weapons; and with this thought
+to console me, I took it not too ill that I should prove
+such a poor third at the archery.</p>
+<p class="pnext">That night, as Cedric and I sat at board with my
+father and mother, we were full of talk of the day’s
+doings; and I was already planning festival days and
+nights when the Carletons and the Mountjoys and all
+our friends of Pelham and of Mannerley should fore-gather
+at Mountjoy or at Teramore for feasts and
+dancing in such ways as had been in days of yore.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Suddenly my mother interrupted all this talk and
+planning with a sober question:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“And the Lady of Carleton—Geoffrey’s mother—did
+she greet thee full courteously to-day, Dickon?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">At once I felt as one who treads in icy water where
+he had thought to meet firm ground.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Nay, mother. We saw her not at all—save for
+a glimpse at chamber window as we rode toward the
+drawbridge.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Ah! then she was not abroad, it seems.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Nay, she kept her chamber. Mayhap she was not
+well.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Did Sir Geoffrey make for her her excuse?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">My face, as I could feel, grew burning red as I made
+answer:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Nay, he said no word of her.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Then Lady Mountjoy turned to my father, who had
+been closely listening:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“It seems, my lord, that we shall not soon ride toward
+Teramore.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">My father sadly shook his head, and gazed at the
+board before him. He had been glad at heart at the
+thought of the healed breach between the two houses;
+and now it seemed that all such thoughts were vain.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Mayhap Lady Carleton will ride over with Sir
+Geoffrey when next week he comes to Mountjoy as he
+promised,” I offered.</p>
+<p class="pnext">My father again shook his head.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Mayhap she will, Dickon. If so be, she shall have
+the right hand of welcome; but much I misdoubt her
+coming to Mountjoy. When all is said, ’tis but natural
+she cannot bring herself to call us friends. It was we
+of Mountjoy that did to death her husband and her
+eldest son; and though we know well, and have maintained
+it by oath and by arms, that ’twas in fair battle,
+on our part at least, and that they brought their deaths
+upon themselves, yet perhaps ’tis too much to expect
+her to credit our words and deeds that give the lie to
+those of her own house. Nay, I see it now. She will
+never be a friend of Mountjoy.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">He sighed deeply and turned again to his carving.
+None of us had more words; and it seemed that a cold
+fog, like those that come from the Western Sea in
+springtime, had settled on our spirits.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Four days later Sir Geoffrey came to Mountjoy, attended
+by a well-armed retinue; but his lady mother
+was not with him; and again he said no word of her.
+We made the young heir of Carleton full welcome to
+Mountjoy, and spent the day with meat and drink and
+the practice of arms. With the cross-bow he did
+even better than before, and showed himself not too dull
+a learner at the foils. But the gayety we had had at
+Teramore was not with us at Mountjoy. ’Twas as if
+some shriveled witch had envied us our merriment and
+put a spell upon us to destroy it. Something of this
+Sir Geoffrey seemed to feel at last; and the sun was
+yet three hours high when he took horse for his return.</p>
+<p class="pnext">So passed the summer. We did not ride again to
+Teramore, nor did Sir Geoffrey come to Mountjoy.
+Once I learned that he visited the Lady of Mannerley;
+and Cedric and I took the same day to pay our own
+respects. We had much good talk of the outlaw band
+and of the great day that was now fast approaching,
+but of Lady Carleton and the new peace that reigned
+between Mountjoy and Carleton no word was spoken.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Came a day in fair October that minded me full
+sharply of that one a year agone whereon I had met
+Lionel of Carleton in the woods of Teramore. The
+men of Mountjoy were early astir, and four score
+strong, counting the men-at-arms, the cross-bow men
+and the foresters with their long-bows and cloth-yard
+shafts, were making toward their post on the hither
+side of Blackpool Wood. On our left, two furlongs
+off, were Lord Pelham and his archers; to the right
+the score or so of Mannerly retainers and Squire Dunwoodie
+with half a hundred yeomen. On the far side
+of the forest, three leagues away, we knew that young
+Sir Geoffrey with dour-faced old Hubert led nigh two
+hundred Carleton men-at-arms and bowmen, and Lionel
+of Montmorency a hundred more. We were to march
+in open line, converging toward the center of the wood
+at grim Blackpool. Any of the robbers found in hiding
+were to be captured or slain; and whichever leader
+first encountered the outlaws in force was to give three
+long notes on his hunting horn. Then half the forces
+of all the others were immediately to join him, leaving
+the remainder to guard all lines of possible escape.
+Our plans had been well kept secret amongst the leaders;
+not one of our own men knew them until that very
+morning. Withal it promised to be a most unlucky
+day for those cut-throat knaves who had so long
+cheated the gallows.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Our march was slow, as well might be in all those
+brakes and rocky glens. Now and again a lurking
+knave in Lincoln green was found and quickly made
+prisoner—or, if he made resistance, even more quickly
+disposed of. Some, however, were too fleet of foot
+for capture by our more heavily burdened men; and,
+after sending a shaft or two at the line of skirmishers,
+made good their escape into the wood before us.</p>
+<p class="pnext">’Twas ten by the sun when we heard, from Dunwoodie,
+far on our right, the three long blasts of the
+horn. Instantly my father and I took half our men,
+and leaving the rest under old Marvin, the archer, ran
+through the forest toward the fray. Afterward we
+learned to our cost that some of our leaders took not
+so careful thought of the places of their forces in the
+skirmish line, but rushed off at once to the alarm, followed
+by well nigh their whole companies, leaving in
+places gaps of a mile or more in what should have been
+our close-drawn cordon.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Be that as it might, ten minutes had not passed before
+Dunwoodie with his half hundred archers was
+reinforced by a gallant array of bowmen and men-at-arms.
+The outlaws, a hundred or more in number,
+and led by the Monkslayer himself, had been pressing
+Dunwoodie hard. The robber chief, carrying a sword
+and wearing the steel cap and breast-plate of a knight,
+stood forth from all shelter, commanding and exhorting
+his followers, apparently with no fear at all of
+flying shafts and quarrels. The men of Dunwoodie
+Manor fought from behind trees and rocks; and most
+of them had quilted, leathern jackets; but they were
+no match in archery, for the outlaws, many of whom,
+by virtue of their skill with the long-bow, had lived for
+years in the forest and never lacked for venison or
+greatly feared the sheriff and his men. Half a dozen
+Dunwoodie archers already lay weltering on the leaves,
+struck through throat or face with cloth-yard shafts;
+and only one or two of the robber knaves had been
+likewise served. Our coming, however, changed all
+in a twinkling. Mountjoy struck the outlaws on one
+flank just as Lionel of Montmorency came down upon
+the other. In the time a man would need to run a
+furlong’s length, a score or more of the varlets were
+slain by shafts and cross-bow quarrels or by the swords
+of our men-at-arms, fifty more had clasped their hands
+above their heads in token of surrender, and the Monkslayer
+and the remainder of his crew had taken flight
+toward the center of the forest.</p>
+<p class="pnext">My father, who had been chosen leader by the other
+nobles, now called a halt and sent out a half dozen
+messengers to right and left to see and report to him
+the state of our cordon. Some of these returned in
+half an hour with their news, while others made the
+entire circuit of the forest, bearing Lord Mountjoy’s
+commands for the reforming and tightening of the
+skirmish line and for the delaying of further advance
+till he should give the word. Since the scattering of
+the main body of the robbers a number of the fugitives
+had been creeping back with their hands tightly clasped
+over their heads and begging for quarter. It was my
+father’s thought that, in a day’s time, these desertions
+from the outlaw band would be so many that the task
+of surrounding and taking the remainder and the
+Monkslayer himself would be a light one.</p>
+<p class="pnext">At two o’clock Sir Geoffrey joined us with thirty
+of his men. The main body he had left under old
+Hubert on the other side of Blackpool. He was aching
+for a sight of the outlaws, and deemed our chances
+of encountering them again better than those along
+the line he had been guarding. Sir Geoffrey had
+grown brown and sturdy in the summer just past, and
+had added near an inch to his stature. Now he handled
+his cross-bow like a skilled archer, and was soon in
+eager talk with Cedric over the practice at moving
+marks.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Our camp was made in a fair and pleasant glen,
+some two or three miles from Blackpool. We had
+eaten of the bread and meat in our pouches, and sat
+at ease about our camp fires, my father having well
+seen to it that sentinels were posted against any sortie
+of the enemy. Suddenly one of these, half a furlong
+away in the wood, called out to us and pointed down
+a pathway to where it crossed a stream a bowshot
+below our camp. There were approaching two men
+in the Lincoln green, and bearing a cloth of white
+which had been tied to a rough pole standard.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Ha!” cried Squire Dunwoodie, “here come two
+of the varlets with a message. We will hear it; and
+if we like it not, will hang them up to yonder limb.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Nay!” cried my father, angrily, “we shall do no
+violence to bearers of a flag of truce, be they honest
+men or thieves. ’Tis like the Monkslayer begs for
+mercy; but whate’er his message, the bearers of it
+shall return to him unscathed.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">The envoys now approached and, bowing low before
+Lord Mountjoy, delivered to him a folded parchment.
+My father bent his brows upon this for a moment,
+then exclaiming in wrath, bade me read it to the assembled
+company. These were the words of the scroll:</p>
+<blockquote><div>
+<p class="pfirst">“To Robert, Lord of Mountjoy, Geoffrey, Heir of
+Carleton and other worshipful lords and gentlemen:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Know that my men have this day taken prisoner,
+and now securely hold for ransom Elizabeth, Lady
+of Carleton with two of her attendants. Some three
+score of my greenwood rangers are now held captive
+by you, if indeed you have not already done violence
+upon them. These friends and followers of mine I
+now ask that you freely release, without injury or
+mutilation, and that they go free before the sunrise
+of to-morrow. Also that you then withdraw all your
+armed forces from Blackpool Forest. Then shall the
+Lady and her attendants likewise depart without harm
+from me or mine. If so be you refuse my terms, then
+when the sun is one hour high you shall receive a
+messenger from me who will bear with him the left
+hand of the aforesaid Lady of Carleton. If by sunset
+of to-morrow my men have not been suffered to freely
+return, another messenger shall bring you the lady’s
+right hand.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“My fastness you shall never take. If you attempt
+it, at the first alarm the prisoners shall die. Enough
+is said to make plain my will. Those who have had
+dealings with me will tell you that my word for good
+or for ill I always keep.</p>
+<blockquote><div>
+<div class="line-block outermost">
+<div class="line">“<span class="small-caps">William of Tyndale</span>,</div>
+<div class="line">Called by some the Monkslayer.”</div>
+</div>
+</div></blockquote>
+</div></blockquote>
+<p class="pfirst">“Oh, the murderous varlets!” cried Sir Geoffrey;
+and I thought it no shame to him that tears streamed
+down his face, “they will cut off her hands. ’Twere
+better far that they slew her outright. Oh! to have
+that bloody villain for a moment within sure aim I
+would willingly die the instant after.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“How could she have been taken?” asked Lord
+Mountjoy.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“I mind me now,” replied Geoffrey, wringing his
+hands in misery, “she ever went on Saturdays to tend
+my brother’s grave at Lanton, two miles from our
+gates and on the forest’s edge. She was used to take
+an ample guard; but to-day I have taken nearly all
+our men-of-arms for this expedition. She liked it
+not that I should come; and now she has ventured
+forth without escort and to my everlasting sorrow.
+Oh, that <em class="italics">bloody</em> villain!”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Hush, Sir Geoffrey,” said my father quickly, his
+face working in sympathy with the lad’s sore distress,
+“they shall not harm thy lady mother. If need be,
+and no other way will serve, we will e’en release our
+prisoners and thus pay her ransom.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">A mutter of discontent from some of the other
+leaders followed this, and Dunwoodie spoke full
+surlily:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Seven of my good yeomen have already been slain
+in this quarrel; divers of our friends have lost men also,
+and Lord Pelham hath been borne homewards with
+an arrow wound that came near to being mortal. Shall
+we have nothing for all this but the freeing of these
+varlets?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“What would’st thou do then, Dunwoodie,—leave
+the Lady of Carleton in the hands of the outlaws?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Dunwoodie only growled in reply; and soon my
+father spoke again, this time to the outlaw messengers:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Go to your chief,” he said, “and say that we consider
+his offer, but that if the Lady of Carleton or her
+attendants be harmed one whit, we will hunt him and
+all his followers to the death e’en if that hunting takes
+a thousand men and a year’s campaigning. Let him
+look to it.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">The messengers bowed again and made their way
+into the deeps of the forest. My father and the nobles
+that were there gathered about the camp fire in deep
+discussion of this sore dilemma.</p>
+</div>
+<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-viiithe-fortress-of-the-monkslayer">
+<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id9">CHAPTER VIII—“THE FORTRESS OF THE MONKSLAYER”</a></h2>
+<p class="pfirst">Cedric plucked at my sleeve and drew me
+aside.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Thou and Sir Geoffrey come with me a
+little,” he whispered, “I have somewhat to say on this.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Quickly I sought out Geoffrey, and led him away
+into the bracken in which Cedric had already disappeared.
+A bow-shot away from the camp we came
+up with him.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Sir Richard,” he said, speaking far more quickly
+than was his wont. “I have a thought of the whereabouts
+of this fastness that the robber speaks of in
+his letter.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">My heart leaped within me. “Hast thou, Cedric?”
+I cried. “If any one of all our company should
+know, it would be thou who art native to these woods
+and knowest them as the very deer that run them.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Aye,” he replied shortly, “I believe ’tis not two
+miles hence. What say’st thou? Shall we reconnoiter?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“With all my heart,” I answered.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Geoffrey drew his cross-bow cord and placed a
+bolt in groove. “Lead on, Cedric,” he said in a low
+voice. “I will follow thee if ’tis to a lion’s den.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Come then,” replied Cedric, and moved away
+through the underwood.</p>
+<p class="pnext">He took a roundabout course to avoid our own sentries
+and their questions which might be hampering.
+In five minutes we had passed the line where a little
+ravine ran between the posts of two of the archers who
+stood on guard, and were hurrying through the wood,
+crouching for shelter behind trees and rocks and crossing
+the more open spaces in stooping runs lest we
+encounter the arrows of the outlaws. We saw none
+of our enemies, however, and in an hour were on a
+deeply wooded hillside amidst huge rocks and brawling
+streams, half a league and more from our camp fires.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Now we knew from the added caution of our leader
+that we approached the spot he suspected as the fortress
+of the outlaws. He crouched and crawled like a serpent,
+and fully as silently, turning to us from time to
+time to lay a finger on his lips. At last he paused at
+the foot of a huge old oak that yet bore most of its
+leaves, and motioning us not to follow, quickly drew
+himself up among the branches.</p>
+<p class="pnext">For half a minute he lay on a great limb six yards
+above the ground and peered obliquely down the hillside
+at a point where we could see naught but a little
+stream that issued from between huge ledges. Then
+his face lighted up of a sudden, and he looked down
+to us and beckoned us to join him.</p>
+<p class="pnext">This we managed with no more noise than might
+well be covered by the rustling of the oak leaves, and
+soon lay on the limb beside Cedric and, peering out
+betwixt the branches, beheld that to which his finger
+pointed.</p>
+<p class="pnext">There was a narrow pathway which led up between
+the ledges; and, at a bend in this where they were
+concealed from any in the wood below, stood two tall
+archers in Lincoln green, with axes in their belts, long
+bows in hand and arrows ready notched. They neither
+saw nor heard aught of us, and we might have fired
+on them with goodly chance of slaying one or both;
+but Cedric now motioned us down to the ground again
+and soon joined us beneath the tree.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Without a word he retraced his steps through the
+forest; and by sundown we stood again amongst the
+ferns in the place where he had first revealed his
+thought. Then he spoke again:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“’Tis e’en as I thought. The Monkslayer hath his
+fastness in a wide cavern at the head of yonder gully.
+There is no approach save by that winding path you
+saw where half a dozen men might well stop a thousand.
+He thinks to guard my Lady Carleton there
+until her ransom be paid. And whether even then
+he will let her go unharmed we know not.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Sir Geoffrey ground his teeth in rage.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Hast thou any plan?” I asked of Cedric.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Aye,” he replied, “though ’tis something ticklish;
+and if it fail, ’twill be an ill chance indeed.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Say on, Cedric,” said Geoffrey, eagerly.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“This is my thought,” said Cedric, “we have till
+to-morrow’s sunrise before any harm shall befall thy
+lady mother. Now, it would be disastrous to attack
+the fastness openly; but it may be that with two score
+of swordsmen, creeping on them just before the dawn,
+we can take them by surprise. Your archer is all at
+disadvantage in fighting at arm’s length; and if such
+a force can reach the cavern’s mouth, I warrant we
+snatch away the prisoners almost before they are
+aware. The cave is broad but not deep. I remember
+it full well. There is no room in it for hiding.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“But Cedric!” I cried, “how shall we reach the
+cave’s mouth without alarm? Hast thou forgotten the
+two sentries in the lower pathway?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Cedric smiled broadly.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“And hast thou forgotten, Sir Dickon, the oak tree
+from which we spied them but now? Old Marvin
+and I together shall care for the sentries.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">I drew a deep breath as I caught the full working
+of his plan. “Cedric,” I said, “thou wilt never remain
+a simple squire. Thou hast a head as well as
+an arm. The King hath need for such in many places
+of trust.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Let us first make this plan succeed,” replied Cedric
+evenly, though I could see that my words had warmed
+him to the heart. “Now shall we tell Lord Mountjoy?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Aye,” said I, “let us have him from the camp
+at once. I warrant you he’ll kindle at our news. And
+he knows which of our swordsmen will carry themselves
+best in such a venture.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“And I have twenty men of Carleton here that
+can be trusted,” put in Geoffrey.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Right,” said Cedric, “’twill make us amply strong.
+We must have no blunderers, though, for look you,
+some of these greenwood men have ears that can hear
+a twig break at two hundred paces. We must urge
+Lord Mountjoy to hold all at a safe distance till the
+signal.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Two hours after the midnight we set out through
+the forest for the storming of the robber fastness.
+Cedric, as pathfinder, was in the lead, followed close
+by Lord Mountjoy, Sir Geoffrey and me. After us,
+and treading most cautiously, ’mongst the leaves and
+brush, came old Marvin, the archer, and thirty chosen
+swordsmen of Mountjoy with a score or more of
+Geoffrey’s men.</p>
+<p class="pnext">There was no moon; and the faint stars gave but
+little light in the forest deeps. Our way lay, as often
+as not, over steep and rocky slopes where our faces
+were torn with thorns and our legs bruised against
+the unseen rocks.</p>
+<p class="pnext">We had made little more than half of our way to
+the outlaw stronghold when Lord Mountjoy, in coming
+down a streamlet bank in the darkness, stepped
+heavily on a stone that rolled beneath his weight, and
+went to the ground with his right foot twisted under
+him. He gave a groan of pain, yet in an instant was
+up again to resume his march. But then ’twas found
+this could not be. His ankle had been most sorely
+wrenched, and would not at all endure his weight. He
+sank down again on a leafy bank, and called us to him.
+Amidst half stifled groans and grumblings at his ill
+fortune he declared he could not move from thence
+without assistance. There was no help for it; he must
+await our return. Therefore he gave o’er to me the
+leadership of the venture. We left with him two
+stout men-at-arms, and went quickly on, for now it
+seemed the sunrise could not be long in coming.</p>
+<p class="pnext">At the fourth hour of the morning we lay by the
+streamlet bed, two hundred paces from the robbers’
+sentry post in the rocky passage. Cedric and old Marvin
+had left us to climb the hillside by another route
+and gain the branches of the great oak tree. Already
+there was a grayness in the dark that told of the coming
+dawn. Half an hour passed, and by little and little
+the trunks of the trees grew more clearly to be seen
+and we could well make out each other’s faces.
+Roosting wild fowl roused themselves, and flew away
+with a clatter of wings. We knew that Cedric and
+Marvin awaited the daylight to make sure their aim.
+At last, on the top of a tall tree above me, I spied a
+beam of sunlight.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Immediately, as it seemed, there came from the oak
+tree the call of an owl, twice repeated. This was the
+signal for which we waited; and we sprang up together
+and ran, as silently as might be, toward the pathway
+entrance. We gained it unmolested, and with Geoffrey
+and me in the lead, quickly came upon the bodies of
+the sentries. Cedric and Marvin, from their post in
+the tree, had well done their work. The sentinels had
+perished silently, each with a bolt through his skull.</p>
+<p class="pnext">We rushed forward; and now some of our arms
+rang against the stones; and there was a cry from
+above us. This was no time for stealth and creeping.
+On we went with a rush and with a clatter of heels
+on the rocks of the path and of steel against steel
+as we jostled one another in the race.</p>
+<p class="pnext">In a moment we were at the cavern’s mouth; and
+found a score of the robbers on their feet to meet us.
+Arrows whizzed among us and one or two men fell,
+mortally hurt. Geoffrey let fly his bolt at a tall villain
+that stood in his path, and shot him fair between
+the eyes. Then I saw no more for I was face to face
+with the outlaw chief, and our swords flashed fire.</p>
+<p class="pnext">He still wore his steel breastplate, which I believe
+he had not laid aside that night; and this well matched
+the shirt of woven mail that had stayed two or three
+arrows which had otherwise laid me low. I felt taller
+and stronger at that moment than e’er before in my
+life; and my sword seemed a very plaything in my
+hands, like that of the Frenchman, De Latiere, who
+had so nearly done to death my father at the court
+at Shrewsbury. The outlaw was no novice with the
+sword, as I who had once before crossed weapons with
+him, could well testify. But almost at the outset I
+brought to bear the play that, with my father’s help,
+I had all that summer been perfecting. A swinging
+feint at the forearm turned itself in mid-air to a flashing
+thrust straight at his unguarded throat. I pierced
+him through and through, and he fell and died at my
+feet.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Looking about me, I saw most of the outlaws dead
+or dying and the remainder being fast bound as prisoners.
+Young Sir Geoffrey of Carleton had dropped
+his cross-bow on the ground and stood with his
+mother’s arms firmly clasped about his neck the while
+he whispered somewhat in her ear. At her side her two
+handmaids stood unharmed and loudly weeping for joy.</p>
+<p class="pnext">As I stood looking, well content, at this spectacle,
+the Lady of Carleton suddenly loosed her son and ran
+toward me. In an instant I too was clasped in a warm
+embrace.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Richard of Mountjoy,” she cried, “thou and thine
+were my son’s friends and rescuers, and now mine
+also. This day’s deeds bespeak thee far better than
+any words. Heaven is my witness, I believe thou art a
+true man and hast spoken the truth as to thy dealings.
+All that we can do to serve thee shall be done. From
+this day forth and forever there shall be peace and
+love betwixt our house and thine.”</p>
+</div>
+<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-ixchurl-and-overlord">
+<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id10">CHAPTER IX—CHURL AND OVERLORD</a></h2>
+<p class="pfirst">’Twas a year and more after the overthrow
+of the Monkslayer in Blackpool Forest and
+the killing or scattering of most of his band
+that my father, the Lord of Mountjoy, with my lady
+mother and myself and Cedric the Forester, now my
+accredited squire, sat one day in the hall of Mountjoy
+talking of the news that had that day come in. There
+had been, it seemed, a most desperate and bloody revolt
+of the churls on the lands of Sir Hugh DeLancey,
+some ten leagues to the south of us. A hundred or
+more of the peasantry with some apprentices and
+hangers-on at the village, armed with axes, clubs and
+scythes, had taken the manor by surprise in the night,
+killed Sir Hugh and half a dozen of his men in the
+hall, driven out the lady, then sacked the place and
+burnt it to the ground.</p>
+<p class="pnext">We were fair horror-struck at such lawless and
+brutal doings; and for a time we vied with one another
+in calling vengeance down on the leaders of that
+guilty crew and in plans for assisting in their punishment.
+But in the midst of this an archer came from
+the courtyard with the word that one of Sir Hugh’s
+men-at-arms, who had been wounded in the onslaught,
+had managed to get him to horse and away after the
+death of his master, and was even now at the gate asking
+the hospitality of Mountjoy. My father at once
+gave orders for his welcome; and soon the man, who,
+after all, had escaped with wounds of no great moment,
+was sitting at our board with meat and drink before
+him. When his hunger and thirst were abated, he told
+us the tale of the churls’ revolt in a somewhat different
+seeming.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Sir Hugh DeLancey, though a loyal follower of the
+King, a resolute punisher of outlawry, and oft a comrade
+of my father’s at the jousts and in the battle line,
+had been a hard master to all his men in kitchen and
+hall and a heavy-handed overlord to the peasantry
+about him. Many a one had muttered curses after
+him when his back was turned; but he was ever quick
+with riding whip, or oaken cudgel at need, so that almost
+none dared gainsay him. Now it seemed that but
+the day before he had sent his steward to the cottage
+of Oswald, a farmer of his demesne, to say that Oswald
+was to make ready to receive for the night two
+of the grooms of Lord Westerby who were to accompany
+their master on a two-days’ deer hunt in Sir
+Hugh’s forests. By ill hap it chanced that Dame Margery,
+Oswald’s wife, was ill-a-bed at the time, and appeared
+to be nigh unto her death; and Oswald sent back
+the word to his master that on this account he could
+not receive the two men that were to be quartered on
+him. The steward, however, held an old grudge
+against Oswald; and so, returning to his master, spoke
+but the half of Oswald’s answer, saying only that
+the farmer refused to have the grooms in his cottage.</p>
+<p class="pnext">When Sir Hugh heard this, he flew into a rage, called
+for his horse and rode to Oswald’s door, followed at
+a little distance by this retainer who now told us the
+tale. Arrived before the cottage door, he drew his
+sword, and, taking it by the blade, pounded with might
+and main with the butt on the panel. Oswald came
+forth, and, angered by this unseemly noise at the door
+of what would soon be a house of mourning, spoke
+roughly to his liege lord, requesting him to withdraw
+and leave the dying in peace.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Sir Hugh’s own choler was so high that ’tis doubtful
+if he sensed the meaning of Oswald’s words, for
+he answered with a command to throw the door wide,
+as he would take the cot forthwith to stable his horse
+within, and it should be seen who was master on the
+lands of DeLancey. Oswald stood immovable, and as
+the knight advanced on him laid hold of a firewood
+stick to dispute his way. At this Sir Hugh struck
+right madly with the weapon which he still held by the
+blade. By a most unhappy chance the broadsword hilt
+came down, full force, upon the farmer’s temple, and
+in an instant he was stretched dead at the feet of his
+master. Then Sir Hugh took horse again and rode
+back to the manor.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Poor Dame Margery set up a piteous outcry, and
+soon there came two or three of the neighbor folk who
+heard her broken tale of the encounter. Ere night
+the bitter news was on every tongue within miles of
+DeLancey Manor; and when at dark the word went
+round that Margery had died also, a vengeful band
+soon formed itself, and those bloody deeds were done
+of which the earlier news had come to us.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Scarce had the DeLancey man finished his tale and
+been taken to his lodging where the leech should tend
+his hurts when a messenger rode up to our court-yard
+gate and demanded admittance in the name of the
+Lord High Constable. He brought us the news that
+the Constable was already in the saddle and with half
+a hundred lances at his back was riding to DeLancey
+Manor for the quelling of the mutiny and the punishment
+of Sir Hugh’s murderers. It seemed, however,
+that the Lord Constable had no archers with him and
+feared they might be sorely needed in the fighting to
+come. Therefore he asked of Lord Mountjoy that he
+send with the messenger half a dozen mounted cross-bow
+men,—men who could strike a fair target at two
+hundred paces; and he promised to reward bountifully
+any such who should do the Crown good service.</p>
+<p class="pnext">At this Lord Mountjoy turned to Cedric, saying:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Now here’s the chance, Cedric, my lad, for thee
+to earn both gold and honor. Wilt thou pick five more
+Mountjoy cross-bow men and ride with them ’neath
+the Constable’s banner?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">But with a countenance of a sudden grown something
+pale, Cedric made reply:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Good my lord, I pray you lay not your commands
+upon me to that effect. This expedition likes me not.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“How now!” exclaimed my father, “this is a new
+temper for thee, Cedric. Thou’rt ever ready to be
+where shafts and quarrels fly. Surely thou’rt not
+frighted of peasants’ clubs and scythes.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Nay, my lord. But for this fighting I have indeed
+no stomach, and ’tis like I should make but a poor
+soldier in the Constable’s train. I pray you, if Mountjoy
+must furnish archers for this work, let some other
+lead them.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">My father’s face grew very red. He leaned far over
+the table toward Cedric, and seemed about to speak full
+loud and angrily. Then bethinking himself, he turned
+again to the Constable’s messenger, and said:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Return thou to the Lord Constable with Mountjoy’s
+compliments; and say that within the half hour
+six good cross-bow men will set forth from here, and
+will o’ertake him on the road long before he reaches
+DeLancey Manor.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">The messenger bowed and withdrew. Soon we
+heard his horse’s hoofs on the drawbridge. Then Lord
+Mountjoy sent for one of the older of the Mountjoy
+archers from the court-yard below, and gave to him
+the commission just refused by my obstinate squire.
+This accomplished he turned again to Cedric, with a
+heavy frown on his brow, and said:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Now tell us, if thou wilt, sirrah, why this sudden
+showing of the white feather. ’Tis not like thee, I’ll
+be bound, to shrink from any fray, whether with knight
+or clown, or to shame me as thou hast before the Constable’s
+messenger. What terrifies thee now in the
+thought of this rabble?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“I have no fright of them, my lord. Rather I wist
+not to have any hand in their punishment for a deed
+which, lawless though it be, still had the sorest provoking.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Lord Mountjoy gazed at the youth in amazement.
+My mother and I caught our breaths and one or the
+other of us would have interposed a word to blunt
+the edge of such wild-flung talk; but my father burst
+out again, and in a voice that echoed through the house:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“And would’st thou then let the murderers of my
+friend go free of punishment for that he had struck
+down a churl that refused him entrance to a house
+on his own domain?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“The man did but defend his right,” returned the
+Forester, steadily. “The house was his, against all
+comers, e’en his liege lord, till he had been duly dispossessed.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Such rebel doctrine had ne’er before been heard in
+Mountjoy Hall. ’Twas little wonder that my father’s
+face grew purple with wrath as he shouted:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“And where gettest thou such Jack Clown law as
+that? Is it from the books of chronicles thou hast
+learned to pore over by the hour, or from the monks at
+Kirkwald that lend them to thee?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Nay, my lord, ’tis from the ancient Saxon law that
+ne’er hath been abrogated in England, though many a
+time o’erridden. ‘A freeman’s house is his sole domain
+though it be no more than a forester’s cot.’”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Lord Mountjoy had risen and now stamped back
+and forth.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Ne’er abrogated, forsooth! But it well should be.
+This is no law or custom for the descendants of the
+nobles that landed with William the Conqueror. ’Tis
+of a piece with the insolence of the churls on Grimsby’s
+lands, who would have a magistrate of their own choosing
+forsooth, to try their causes withal—reaching up
+to snatch the reins of governing from their lawful masters.
+What do such clowns know of law or governing?
+When did ever such make shift to guide or
+protect a state?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Those same chronicles, my lord, of which you
+spoke but now, tell us of a republic of Rome, where
+commoners ruled the city, and that that city grew
+so great in power as to rule half the world and
+more.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">My father gazed grimly at the youth who dared thus
+to question his wisdom; but for the moment he had
+naught to say, and Lady Mountjoy seized the chance to
+exclaim:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Oh! in those chronicles there is a bonny tale of the
+saving of the city by the voice of geese. I will fetch
+them and read it you.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Lord Mountjoy, not thus to be put aside, made an
+impatient gesture, and was about to take up again the
+argument when a knock was heard on the door of the
+hall, and a maid announced that Old Marvin, the
+archer, craved speech with Lord Mountjoy. Glad
+enough was I to see him admitted, for this quarrel that
+had flamed up so suddenly between my father and my
+friend and squire was a bitter thing to me and to my
+lady mother. More than once had Cedric saved my
+life in battle and skirmish; and Lord Mountjoy himself
+had stood forth as his champion when King Henry
+condemned Cedric to be hanged for the killing in fair
+fight of young Lionel of Carleton. Of all the Mountjoy
+retainers, Cedric had the steadiest hand and the
+clearest head. I had often prophesied that unless I
+rose in honors and preferment faster than I could
+rightly expect, I should not long be able to retain such
+a youth as a simple squire. But now I seemed like to
+lose him before ever my spurs had been won and he
+to part from us in bitterness.</p>
+<p class="pnext">As Cedric was the most valued among the younger
+retainers of our house, so was old Marvin, the cross-bow
+man, among the elders who had followed first my
+grandfather, then my father to the wars. His wondrous
+skill with his weapon had done yeoman service
+on many a field, and finally had struck down the old
+Gray Wolf, Lord Carleton in the midst of the desperate
+assault he made on the walls of Mountjoy. For two
+years now Marvin and his good wife had enjoyed the
+cottage and six acres of the Millfield, where we hoped
+he might have many years of peace as some measure
+of requital for a lifetime of toil and danger. ’Twas
+not likely that Lord Mountjoy, in the angry mood of
+the moment, would have admitted any other of his followers;
+but Marvin was a man of honor and privilege
+in Mountjoy Hall.</p>
+<p class="pnext">As soon as Marvin had entered, my mother rose and,
+calling Cedric to her, found some duty upon which to
+employ him, so that he left the hall, and was seen no
+more till late at night. Meanwhile the old archer had
+explained to us that a message had just come to him
+from his brother who was a forester on the lands of
+Lord Morton, a day’s journey to the north. Marvin
+had not seen his brother for twenty years; and when
+last they parted it was in some coldness; but now the
+other, who was a few years older than Marvin, was
+lying sick in his cottage at Morton, and asked his
+brother to come to him that they might be reconciled
+ere he died. He offered, if Marvin would come and
+stay with him to the end, to settle upon him as his
+heir any goods or savings he might have. Marvin
+now craved leave to join a merchants’ caravan which
+was just setting forth in that direction, that he might
+comply with his brother’s last request.</p>
+<p class="pnext">On hearing Marvin through, my father instantly
+gave his leave, and ordered furthermore that a good
+horse from the Mountjoy stables be placed at his disposal.
+Thereupon our faithful old retainer bade us
+a hasty good-by, for the caravan was already on the
+road; and we wished him a safe return.</p>
+<p class="pnext">My mother and I did hope and plan that Lord Mountjoy
+might easily forget the dispute he had with Cedric;
+and to that end found means to keep Cedric busily
+employed through the following morning; and at the
+midday meal did turn the talk toward the great tournament
+that was soon to be held at Shrewsbury. But
+some Imp of Mischief had his way at last, for at mid-afternoon
+my father entered the hall and found Cedric
+by the fireside, deep in the great book of chronicles.
+This was enough to bring to mind the heresies that
+Cedric had found therein; and in a moment all the
+anger of the day before flamed up again. Soon Lord
+Mountjoy was shouting in his wrath, declaring that the
+nation went to the dogs where curs and clowns were
+not duly subject to their lawful masters, and that if
+Cedric would mend his fortunes, he must first cast
+out such folly from his mind. Cedric replied, in lower
+tones indeed, but by no means meekly, upholding what
+he called the rights of English freemen to household
+and to peaceable assembly and to trial, when accused,
+by juries of their peers. At last my father checked
+his speaking, and said slowly and in cold anger:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“I tell thee, sirrah, thou’lt mend thy clownish ways
+of thinking if thou’rt to remain in Mountjoy Hall.
+We’ll have no rebel firebrands—no ale-house ranters
+with their crazy mouthings,—stirring up our yeomanry
+through thee. While I hold the fee of Mountjoy,
+every man-jack in cot or in castle must be a loyal
+subject of the King and of his liege lord.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">At this my squire made a low bow and said:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“I thank you then, my lord, for all your kindness,
+and will say farewell. I can say naught but the truth
+for either friend or foe.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Cedric!” cried my mother, “thou canst not mean
+it. Think what Mountjoy means to thy fortunes; and
+think again of the good-will we all bear thee. Say to
+Lord Mountjoy that those were but thoughtless words,
+and be our man again.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Cedric shook his head, but trusted not his voice to
+speak. Thereat my father drew from his pouch a
+purse of gold and offered him.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Thou hast given the Mountjoy right loyal service.
+Take this in token.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">But Cedric again shook his head.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Nay, my lord, such service as I gave was not for
+gold, and I cannot receive it. With your leave, I will
+take the steed that was the Carleton’s, and since called
+mine, and ride away from Mountjoy where my words
+and thoughts are dangerous.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">More talk there was and further urgings from my
+mother and from me; but Cedric’s will remained unmoved.
+Lord Mountjoy paced back and forth before
+the hearth with hands clasped behind his back and
+with a deeply furrowed brow. The Forester bowed
+low again and left the hall; and soon thereafter we
+heard the tramp of his horse on the drawbridge. Then
+I took me to the battlements and watched my loyal
+squire and comrade till his figure grew dim and disappeared
+on the road that lay to the south and east,
+toward London town.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Three mournful days went by. Word came that
+the peasantry of DeLancey Manor had been herded up
+by the Constable and his lancers, and that two of the
+ringleaders had been hanged. Although my father
+gave the messenger who brought this news a broad
+piece of gold, it seemed to bring him but little cheer to
+know that the slayers of his friend had met their punishment.
+There was but little talk in Mountjoy Hall;
+the rain fell dismally without; the days were dark and
+cold; and e’en our good log fire seemed powerless to
+brighten them.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Then came, hard riding, a messenger from the Lord
+of Morton. He bore a letter from his lordship to my
+father; and filled it was with direful news. Old Marvin
+of Mountjoy had been sorely wounded at Morton in
+some fray for which Lord Morton blamed no other than
+his own son, who, it seems, had perished in the fighting.
+Lord Morton wrote in noble fashion of his grief
+that our retainer should have come to harm through
+any of his house, and said that Marvin had the best of
+care at Morton, and that, so soon as he should be
+sufficiently recovered, he should be borne to Mountjoy
+in a litter, and that all of the goods of his brother who
+had lately died should be honorably bestowed upon him.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The letter was brief withal; and when my father
+had finished reading it to us we yet remained sore
+puzzled at this happening. We turned again to the
+old serving man who had brought the message, and
+him Lord Mountjoy questioned sharply:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Know’st thou aught of this affair, my man, save
+what is set forth in this letter?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Aye, my lord,” he answered heavily, “much of
+this sad work I saw. ’Twas an ill time indeed, for
+my Lord of Morton is far gone in years, and now this
+misfortune hath robbed him of his only son and heir.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Tell us of it, I pray thee,” said my father, eagerly,
+“if so be thou canst do so with full loyalty to thy
+house.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Nay. My Lord Morton conceals naught. It was
+Sir Boris, his son, that was to blame, and he denies it
+not. Lord Morton is an upright man and a just; but
+for years he hath tried in vain to curb the wildness
+of young Sir Boris. Drink and dice have been the
+young lord’s ruin as of many a better man before.
+Only a fortnight since, Lord Morton forbade him, on
+pain of his worst displeasure, to bring any dice, those
+tools of the Devil, into Morton Hall. More than that,
+he drove from the very door two of the young bloods
+from Shrewsbury who had been the young lord’s boon
+companions in drinking and gaming.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“But how did this touch our Marvin? He was not
+lodged in Morton Hall, I trow.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Nay, my lord. Marvin came three days ago to
+the cottage in Morton Wood where his brother, the
+forester, lay in his last illness. ’Twas none too soon,
+i’ faith, for hardly more than a day later, Old Gilbert
+breathed his last. That was toward sundown; and
+Marvin, who had been joined by some stranger lad,
+prepared to spend one more night in the cottage to
+look after his brother’s body, which they planned to
+bury on the morrow. This I knew, for my Lord Morton
+had sent me there for word of the forester; and I
+brought back the news to the Hall.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“A little later I had commands from young Sir
+Boris to join him in his hunting lodge in the wood,
+for that he should meet some friends there in the evening,
+and I should wait on them with food and drink.
+I well knew that this was but a trick to set at naught
+the orders of my Lord Morton; and now I have sorrow
+that I did not instantly acquaint him with it. But
+Sir Boris was a willful man and very ill to oppose; so
+I obeyed him, thinking that ’twas better there should
+be at the lodge one man at least of sober head than
+that the party should be served by some of our young
+kitchen knaves who think of naught themselves but
+drink and lawless living.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“But alas! that night’s revel was far worse than
+ever I had thought. There was young Damian of
+Lancaster, Sir Henry Walcott and Guy De Montalvan—roistering
+and dissolute blades all of them—and
+two or three more whose names I knew not. I had
+brought a fair venison pasty to the lodge; but for this
+they nothing cared. ’Twas the love of drink and gaming
+that brought them there; and the fires were scarce
+lighted and the table spread ere they had broached a
+cask of wine and the dice were rattling on the boards.
+Their gaming soon was fast and furious; and the stakes
+grew ever higher. Young Boris at first won nearly
+every cast, till his pouch was bulging with gold pieces;
+but by ten o’ the clock his luck had turned and he lost
+and lost. All his winnings went, then all the gold he
+had or could borrow. Next he wagered the suit of
+armor which had been his father’s gift when he was
+knighted, then the great white horse which bore him
+in the tourney. In another hour all of these were lost
+and young Guy de Montalvan was richer far than e’er
+he had deserved. By now all of them were much
+the worse for wine; and when Sir Boris wished to continue
+the play when he had naught more to wager,
+they disputed him with oaths.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Then my young master bethought him for a space
+whilst the others played on regardless. At last he
+burst out with a shout:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“‘I know the whereabouts of gold that is of right
+the Morton’s. Gilbert, the old churl who was our forester,
+hath died this day. At his cot he had, I doubt
+not, store of gold pieces which my father and I have
+given him from time to time. Now I have need of
+them, and will proceed to take what is mine own. Who
+follows me?’</p>
+<p class="pnext">“There were shouts and laughter at this and clapping
+of hands. Sir Boris started up and, sword in
+hand, ran out the door. Then before I could say or
+do aught to stay them, the whole rioting crew had
+seized cloaks and weapons and were streaming forth
+into the forest on the way to Gilbert’s cottage. I left
+the lodge and ran with all my might along the path to
+the castle to arouse Lord Morton. But ’twas half a
+mile and more, and when I reached there my master
+was deep in sleep. He roused him up at once, and
+soon, with half a dozen stout men-at-arms at his back,
+was running through the wood to put a stop to those
+mad doings.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“But alackaday! he was too late to do aught but
+view the scene of ruin and dishonor to his house and
+to gather up the bodies of the slain and those who lay
+in wounds and blood. The rest of the tale I had from
+old Marvin himself as I tended him but yesterday; and
+piteous it was, not for him only, who will recover of
+his hurts, but for all of us who love the name and fame
+of Morton.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“’Twas near midnight when he and the stranger
+youth who were lying on the floor, covered with their
+cloaks were roused by blows of sword hilts that rang
+upon the door and by shouts and drunken yells. The
+body of old Gilbert lay upon the bed; and doubtless
+this din and cursing at such a time struck horribly on
+Marvin’s ears.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“‘Who art thou, and what wilt thou have?’ he
+shouted.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“‘Sir Boris of Morton,’ came the answer, ‘get up,
+thou churl and open the door.’</p>
+<p class="pnext">“‘Not for thee nor any man in such guise as this.
+Know’st thou not that Gilbert, the forester, lieth dead
+here? Go thy ways, I pray thee, and leave this house
+in peace.’</p>
+<p class="pnext">“But at this there were more yells and calls and
+louder smiting on the door. Then spake the stranger
+youth:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“‘Go thy ways, whoe’er ye be. We be two armed
+men, and will suffer none to enter here this night.’”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Well and bravely spoken!” exclaimed my father,
+“’twas a well-born youth, I warrant thee.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Nay,” answered the old servant, “he wore the
+hodden gray. But gentle or simple, he soon was forced
+to make good his words or swallow them, for my young
+master and his crew withdrew them for a brief space,
+then came rushing all together, bearing a huge log
+which they employed for a battering ram. At the
+very first thrust, it broke down the cottage door with a
+horrid crash. Then those that bore it instantly drew
+swords and poniards and essayed to enter in its wake.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Old Marvin, it seemed, had his cross-bow ready
+drawn; and he shot young Montalvan through the face
+at the first onslaught. The stranger youth fought with
+broadsword, and well and truly too. He had at first
+some vantage in the shadow in which he stood; but
+soon the rioters were all around him. He felled one
+of them with his very first stroke; but then Sir Boris
+came opposite him, striking and cursing like a madman.
+Marvin was overthrown and sorely wounded,
+and still the youth fought on, beset by four of his enemies
+at once. In a moment he had thrust Sir Boris
+clean through the body, and an instant after, fell,
+wounded to the death.”</p>
+<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="margin-left: 18%; width: 64%" id="figure-29">
+<span id="old-marvin-had-his-cross-bow-ready-drawn-and-he-shot-young-montalvan-through-the-face-at-the-very-first-onset"/><img style="display: block; margin-left: 0%; width: 100%" alt="images/illus11.png" src="images/illus11.png" width="100%"/>
+<div class="caption italics">
+OLD MARVIN HAD HIS CROSS-BOW READY DRAWN, AND HE SHOT YOUNG MONTALVAN
+THROUGH THE FACE AT THE VERY FIRST ONSET</div>
+</div>
+<p class="pfirst">“Oh! By all the Saints!” cried Lord Mountjoy,
+“in hodden gray, say’st thou? I warrant ’twas a
+disguise, and that he was of noble strain. He could
+not have better died had he been a Huntingdon or a
+Montmorency.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">During this recital my mother’s face had grown
+white as wax. Now she asked in halting whispers,
+midst gasps for breath that came near to being sobs:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Had’st thou—no word—of his name and degree?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Nay, my lady,” replied the old servant, “save that
+Marvin seemed to know him and called him Cedric.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Cedric!” cried my mother and I at once, while my
+father turned deadly pale and sat down heavily on a
+bench near by.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Cedric!” I shouted again, “’tis Cedric of Mountjoy,—none
+other.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Then my father found voice. ’Twas a low, weak
+tone—one scarce to be heard indeed:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“This is a judgment on me for my hardness. Cedric
+was right indeed. I see it clearly now that ’tis our
+own old Marvin whose rights were trampled on by
+those who called him churl and varlet. And what a
+battle the lad did make! And how he fell—like a
+prince of the blood beset by ruffians! Oh! Did he
+live to speak any words of farewell—to leave any
+message with Marvin or any other?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“I know not, my lord,” replied the old serving man,
+“when I left Morton Hall this morning, ’twas said
+that he still breathed, but that he could scarcely last
+the day.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">My father started up and gave a furious pull to the
+bell cord. The clangor thus provoked sent the chief
+of our serving men hurrying in.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Tell the grooms to saddle Cæsar,” shouted Lord
+Mountjoy, “and call Broderick and say that he and
+six armed and mounted men are to attend me. I ride
+at once to Morton.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“And I also,” I cried, “Galvin, tell the grooms to
+make ready the black mare that I rode yesterday.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“And my horse also,” shrilled my mother, the instant
+I was done. “I, too, will ride to Morton.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">’Twas fifteen leagues to Morton Hall; and much
+of the road was rough and wild, with many a stony
+hill to climb and many a stream to ford. The half
+of the journey we made by the light of the great round
+harvest moon that sent its silvered rays near level
+through the forest. Hard we rode, indeed, and with
+little mercy on our mounts; and ’twas scarce four
+hours after we left Mountjoy when, piloted by the old
+Morton serving man, we dismounted before the door
+of Gilbert’s cottage.</p>
+<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="margin-left: 18%; width: 64%" id="figure-30">
+<span id="hard-we-rode-indeed-and-with-little-mercy-on-our-mounts"/><img style="display: block; margin-left: 0%; width: 100%" alt="images/illus12.png" src="images/illus12.png" width="100%"/>
+<div class="caption italics">
+HARD WE RODE, INDEED, AND WITH LITTLE MERCY ON OUR MOUNTS</div>
+</div>
+<p class="pfirst">Praise be to the saints! We were not too late, for
+Cedric lay within, still breathing, though with closed
+eyes and with face of deathly paleness. Old Marvin
+lay on another couch hard by; and a leech and a nursing
+woman from Morton Hall were with them.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Marvin greeted us gladly, and seemed not surprised
+at our coming. His voice roused Cedric; and he
+looked upon us with knowing eyes and weakly uttered
+words of welcome. Lord Mountjoy knelt on the
+ground at his side, and clasped his hand.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Cedric,” he whispered, painfully, “canst thou forgive
+me my words of harshness and my driving thee
+forth from thy home?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Then a smile of great content o’erspread my comrade’s
+face; his eyes grew brighter, and a faintly ruddy
+color came to his cheeks.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Lord Mountjoy,” he said, and his voice was far
+stronger than before, “I freely forgive you for any
+trifling slights you have offered. I pray you, make
+not too much of them.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Thou wert right, after all,” went on Lord Mountjoy,
+“in holding to the rights thy fathers had of old.
+I should well have known thou wert too staunch ever
+to be a breeder of trouble in the house of thy friends.
+Now would I give the half of my lands to have thee
+back, well and sound, at Mountjoy Hall.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Then Cedric smiled again, now broadly as of old.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“No such price as that shall you pay, my lord, for
+somewhat which shall be granted without price whatsoever.
+I have two deep wounds, forsooth, but little
+thought of dying. The good leech here knows not of
+the strength that a plain-living forester can muster
+when his friends come all these leagues to bid him be
+of good cheer. I will ride again beneath the Mountjoy
+banner, my lord, and that before the spring.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">At that all three of us that had before knelt dry-eyed
+before his couch, began weeping copiously for
+very joy, and Old Marvin, from his bed offered up a
+prayer of thanksgiving. The leech now came forward,
+and closely noting the change in Cedric’s face,
+added his assurance to the stricken youth’s own testimony.
+Two hours later we came softly from the cottage
+where both our faithful men lay soundly sleeping.
+Into the forest the leech followed us to say that
+now the worst was past, and that he doubted not their
+full recovery.</p>
+</div>
+<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xthe-pass-of-the-eagles">
+<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id11">CHAPTER X—THE PASS OF THE EAGLES</a></h2>
+<p class="pfirst">On a breezy autumn morning, while we made
+practice of arms in the courtyard, a herald
+from De Lacey, the Lord High Constable,
+rode over Mountjoy drawbridge. He had an urgent
+message for my father, and the like for Sir Geoffrey,
+the young Lord of Carleton, Sir James Dunwoodie
+of Grimsby and all the other loyal knights and barons
+of our neighborhood. The Welsh had broken over
+the border once more; and under Rhys, their barbarous
+chief who styled himself King of Wales, were
+burning and ravaging through the Western Marches.
+Many miles of fair and fruitful land they had overrun;
+and now they lay before Wallingham, threatening
+that goodly fortress and all of those who had taken
+refuge within it with fire and sword.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The army of the Welsh was five thousand strong.
+They had driven the garrison of Wallingham within
+walls at once; and had they been as skilled in the use
+of mangonels and other enginery of siege as they were
+with the swords and javelins of their ancient custom,
+they would ere this have breached or scaled the walls
+and given the place over to massacre and the torch.
+But stout Sir Philip De Courcey still stood at bay;
+and now De Lacey was arming for his relief. The
+Constable had but five hundred horsemen; and of these
+seven score mail-clad knights, for the young king,
+Richard the Lion Hearted, so lately crowned, was
+gathering for the Crusade a vast array of the chivalry
+of England; and this left our Western Marches but
+lightly defended. So the Lord Constable was sending
+messengers far and wide, calling to his standard
+the knights and barons of the Western counties with
+all the mounted men that at a day’s notice they could
+muster.</p>
+<p class="pnext">De Lacey had many times before met and scattered
+the bands of Welsh marauders. Now he meant to
+deliver such a blow as should break their power forever.
+He had sworn to drive them not only from the
+plain of Wallingham, but across the Marches and into
+their mountain fastnesses and to harry and slay them
+till not a score of the robbers remained under the
+skull-bone banner of their chief. To this end, he
+would accept no foot-soldiers, even as archers. His
+whole force must be mounted in order that the Welsh,
+on their tough little mountain horses might not escape
+as they had done after many another bloody raid.</p>
+<p class="pnext">On the following day there gathered under the Constable’s
+banner at Hereford such an array of chivalry
+as I had ne’er before seen. Four hundred mail-clad
+knights were there, and near a thousand men-at-arms
+in good steel caps and braced and quilted leathern
+jackets and bearing the stout shields and heavy broadswords
+of their trade. Then there were twelve hundred
+and more of archers, mostly armed with cross-bows,
+but some with long-bows and cloth-yard shafts,
+some having quilted caps and jackets, but more being
+lightly clad in the foresters’ Lincoln green or peasants’
+hodden gray. All, as by the Constable’s command,
+were mounted in some sort, though truly some of the
+sorry old nags and hairy-legged plow-horses that they
+bestrode might have much to do to overtake one of
+the wiry and long-shanked Welsh who fled on foot,
+to say naught of their ponies that could run all day
+without tiring on their moorland tracks and winding
+mountain ways.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Geoffrey, the young Lord of Carleton, with two hundred
+men, was at the meeting place when we arrived.
+Soon after came Dunwoodie of Grimsby, Lord Pelham,
+Lionel of Montmorency and the men of Mannerley,
+Whitbury and Gresham. By the Commander’s order,
+each man had in his pouch store of bread and dried
+meat for three days’ campaigning. Beyond that time,
+we must find our eating where we could. ’Twas mid-afternoon
+ere our force was assembled; but we took
+the road straightway, and by nightfall were encamped
+at Hardiston, half way to Wallingham.</p>
+<p class="pnext">For Geoffrey of Carleton, for myself, the Heir of
+Mountjoy, and my squire and comrade, Cedric of Pelham
+Wood, this was the first sight and sound of war
+on such a scale; and we were fairly lifted up by the
+thought of what the morrow would bring. Cedric
+and I had each nineteen years at Candlemas, and Sir
+Geoffrey but six months less. Many bloody frays had
+we seen in the petty warfare of our countryside with
+robber baron and with banded forest outlaws; and
+each of us already knew the pang of hostile steel.
+Cedric, indeed, was but lately recovered from the
+wounds he had a year before at Morton where he had
+been accounted as one dead. But the tramp of an
+army of mounted men and the sweet music of their
+clinking armor and weapons we heard for the first
+time that day. We rode near the middle of the line;
+and, glancing forward and back at the gallant train,
+that seemed a whole crusade on the narrow roads,
+could scarce believe that there existed anywhere an
+enemy that could stand before its charge. Our mail-clad
+knights alone, riding under the lead of the stern
+old Constable, seemed invincible. The Welsh, we
+knew, fought without defensive armor, save their bull’s
+hide shields; and almost I pitied them for their nakedness
+when I thought of the terrible Norman spears
+and swords in the hands of men long trained in their
+skillful use and hardened by years of warfare. It
+seemed scarce fair indeed that knights and gentlemen
+should fight at such advantage. The arrows and javelins
+and e’en the sword strokes of their enemies would
+touch them not, while their own well-aimed blows
+would cleave through flimsy defenses and scatter
+wounds and death. Thus mused I in my youthful ignorance;
+but ere two days had passed I was both sadder
+and wiser. Never again will I pass such hasty judgment
+on the power of an enemy I have not surely tried.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Though both Sir Geoffrey and I were as yet knights
+by courtesy only, not having won our spurs, we were
+armed and equipped for the expedition like the older
+knights about us. Cedric also, though a yeoman born,
+wore a coat of woven mail, and had a good broadsword
+at his side. But slung upon his back the while was
+his steel cross-bow—his first and favorite weapon
+and the one with which he had such wondrous skill.
+He could strike a running hare more surely than I
+could one that sat stock still beneath a bush; and he
+had managed to impart to a dozen and more of the
+Mountjoy archers some measure of his craft, so that
+’twas acknowledged we had the best cross-bow men in
+the countryside.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Geoffrey of Carleton had gained much in the two
+years just past in breadth of shoulder and length of
+arm; and could now dispute with me on almost even
+terms with the foils or the wooden targes and broadswords
+of our martial play. I had already the height
+and reach of my father who had a name for bone and
+brawn and feats of knightly strength; and Cedric,
+though a handsbreadth shorter, had the shoulders and
+thighs of a smith. He could hang by one arm from a
+bough, and draw himself up to the chin; and I have
+seen him crumple a gold coin in his hand by way of
+making good his word when he had declared it over
+thin and light.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Though Cedric was born and had lived till his sixteenth
+year in the woodland cottage of his father, the
+forester of Pelham, his speech was not as that of the
+churls around us; and at Castle Mountjoy he had
+learned the ways of gentleness as readily as one of
+noblest blood. My lady mother was never aweary of
+lessoning such a pupil in the manners of a knight and
+gentleman; and now had reason to look with pride
+on her work. Withal Cedric ne’er forgot the class
+from which he sprung nor carried himself as a lord
+over them when given authority.</p>
+<p class="pnext">We made but a short night of it at Hardiston. By
+three o’ the clock we were in saddle again, and pricking
+forward toward the plain of Wallingham. By sun-up
+we were within three leagues of the castle, and the
+Constable had sent forward light-armed scouts to bring
+us word of the siege. Then spake my father, with
+the freedom of an old comrade of the Constable’s and
+veteran of many a hard campaign:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Methinks, my lord, that Rhys and his Welsh rabble
+will ne’er await our coming on Wallingham Plain
+where they must needs fight with the castle in their
+rear and the danger of a sortie of the garrison. Beshrew
+me if they do not fly again across the Marches
+when they hear of our coming in force, and await another
+time to strike at undefended lands.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“By’r Lady! Mountjoy,” returned the Constable,
+“I believe thou’rt right, and Rhys will never risk his
+thieving crew on a good wide field where sword and
+lance decide the day. But what would’st thou suggest?
+Can we do aught but ride for Wallingham as hard as
+may be?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Aye, my lord. There is a fork o’ the road a bowshot
+hence where one track leads to Wallingham and
+the other to Egbert’s Ford o’er a wide stream a league
+from the castle. ’Tis on the road to the Marches;
+and if we ride and hold it, we may there intercept the
+Welsh and cut them off from their retreat. If they
+leave not Wallingham, we can ride from thence and
+take them at vantage.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Well said, Mountjoy, i’ faith!” cried De Lacey,
+“prithee, Sir Richard of Mountjoy, ride forward and
+give the word to the vanguard to take the right turning.
+We’ll come between the rogues and their retreat,
+and fight, mayhap, with the river at our backs.
+There’ll be full many of them, I trust, that will never
+ride again for robbery and burning.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Mine errand with the vanguard was quickly done.
+Less than an hour thereafter we rode out of the forest
+in sight of Egbert’s Ford. Then were Lord Mountjoy’s
+words full justified for we saw before us, and
+but half a mile away, the whole army of the Welsh in
+full retreat on the road toward the Marches and the
+tangle of mountains and valleys beyond. Fortune
+smiled on our banners that morning; for indeed, had
+we foreknown our enemies’ movements and timed our
+coming to the minute, it could not have better fallen
+out. As we emerged from the greenwood, half of the
+Welsh army had already crossed the stream; the water
+at the ford was filled with mounted men and bullock
+carts, laden with spoil and making their difficult way
+through the swift-flowing current; and the remainder
+of their forces still stood on the hither side, awaiting
+their turn for the crossing.</p>
+<p class="pnext">It needed not the eye of a great captain to discern
+our vantage in such a posture. As our knights and
+men-at-arms came forth on the field they set up a shout
+of joy full like that of unleashed hounds that see the
+boar started from his covert. Almost without a word
+from their chiefs, and without a moment’s loss, they
+formed in line of battle. Then came the Constable’s
+ringing word: “Forward for Saint George!” and
+the line rolled forward down the hill with a rush and
+roar like that of the great downfall of rock and earth
+and full-grown trees that I had once seen in the Western
+mountains.</p>
+<p class="pnext">My father and I rode at the head of the Mountjoy
+knights and men-at-arms, and not far from the Constable.
+Sir Geoffrey full gallantly captained the
+chivalry of Carleton and Teramore, and Lionel of
+Montmorency rode just beyond him, leading a hundred
+lances. Lord Mountjoy had named Cedric to lead the
+Mountjoy archers, five score strong; and I could see
+o’er my shoulder that they were the first of the bowmen
+to form their line and follow in the wake of the
+men-at-arms. Thus the army of the Constable poured
+down upon the luckless Welshmen in two thunderous,
+onrushing waves.</p>
+<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="margin-left: 18%; width: 64%" id="figure-31">
+<span id="the-water-at-the-ford-was-filled-with-mounted-men-and-bullock-carts-laden-with-spoil-and-making-their-difficult-way-through-the-swift-flowing-current"/><img style="display: block; margin-left: 0%; width: 100%" alt="images/illus13.png" src="images/illus13.png" width="100%"/>
+<div class="caption italics">
+THE WATER AT THE FORD WAS FILLED WITH MOUNTED MEN AND BULLOCK CARTS, LADEN WITH SPOIL AND
+MAKING THEIR DIFFICULT WAY THROUGH THE SWIFT-FLOWING CURRENT</div>
+</div>
+<p class="pfirst">They made shift to meet our attack as best they
+might, facing us with stubborn courage indeed, but
+with little skill of the military art, and with a battle
+front that seemed more like a moiling and howling
+mob of rioters than an army under its lawful captains.
+If any noise e’er heard could have effected it, we might
+have been checked indeed, for, as we galloped down
+upon them, they set up a chorus of shrieks and yells
+that seemed like to split one’s ears. Swords and maces
+seemed their principal weapons, with here and there
+a lance or a battle-ax, and mingled helter-skelter with
+their heavier arms, the bows and shafts of their archers.
+Their bows had not the length nor the power of those
+of our English foresters; and the cloud of arrows they
+sent toward our mail-clad line had no more effect than
+as if a flock of sparrows had sought to check and thwart
+us.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Into that howling mob we rushed with leveled lances.
+Our horses were stayed by the very mass of the bodies
+of our enemies; and in a moment we were assailed,
+as it seemed, from all sides, by the survivors, some of
+them dreadfully wounded, but wielding swords and
+battle-clubs and javelins with a demon-like fury.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Their skill with these weapons was not to be despised;
+and, if they had no coats of mail to shield
+them, neither were their movements impeded by weight
+of armor. Hundreds of our men-at-arms and scores
+of knights fell in that struggle on the river brink.
+Victory was no such easy goal as I had thought.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Meanwhile the half of the Welsh army which was
+on the other side of the river, commanded by Rhys
+himself, essayed to re-cross and come to the aid of
+their comrades. They might well have succeeded, and
+mayhap found some means of outflanking us, had it not
+been for the watchfulness of Cedric of Mountjoy. He
+and our whole array of archers had been close behind
+us, striving to do their share by way of shooting between
+our bodies at the mass of Welshmen. But soon
+the tangle was such that their bolts seemed as like to
+slay friend as foe, and they had gradually desisted.
+Then Cedric caught sight of the Welsh entering the
+water on the farther side, and drawing the Mountjoy
+archers to the left of the main battle, began sending
+a stream of quarrels in their direction. The Lord
+Constable, having just then a moment’s respite, saw
+what was toward, and sent word to the other leaders
+of our bowmen to follow the tactics of the Mountjoy
+men. In a moment the air above the stream was filled
+with a cloud of bolts and shafts, and the waters became
+clogged with dead and dying men and horses. Such a
+rain of death and wounds was not to be endured by unprotected
+men. Soon the Welsh warriors were turning
+their horses’ heads again toward the bank; and those
+that regained it, with their fellows who had not yet
+reëntered the ford, fell back to a safer distance.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Now the battle on the river bank went swiftly to
+its close. The struggling and yelling Welsh grew
+ever fewer, and our knights gained room for yet more
+deadly work with sword and lance. Soon the half of
+the Welsh forces that had occupied the hither bank
+had been destroyed or scattered, and our army was
+crossing the river in pursuit of Rhys and his remaining
+warriors who were riding for life toward the mountains
+in the West.</p>
+<p class="pnext">True to his sworn purpose, the Constable lost not a
+moment in the chase. The Welsh horses were fresher
+than ours that had already traveled far that day, and
+they were more lightly burdened, else we might have
+ridden them down and finished the work so well begun
+at Egbert’s Ford. As it was, our enemies, by abandoning
+their spoils and lashing their ponies forward
+without mercy, managed to keep well beyond bowshot
+for the half a dozen leagues that lay between the Ford
+and the entrance of a narrow valley that led up into the
+mountains where they had so often before found safe
+retreat. Into this defile we rode at three o’ the clock,
+cutting down or making prisoners of a dozen stragglers
+whose horses had failed them at the beginning
+of the upward road.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Without pause we spurred on up the stony pathway
+for a mile and more; then found the valley narrowing
+to a pass between high walls of rock. Through this
+the army of the Welsh had gone, leaving a guard of
+a hundred or more to stay our progress.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Our leader well knew the tactics fit for such a juncture.
+He halted his main force, and sent forward the
+archers,—the long-bow men under Simon of Montmorency,
+and those with cross-bows under Cedric of
+Mountjoy. Soon the defenders of the pass were
+whelmed with a cloud of arrows and quarrels. They
+sheltered themselves as best they might ’mongst rocks
+and trees; but the arrows came like rain, searching
+every cranny of the pass. In scarce half an hour the
+last of the Welsh rear-guard was slain or had fled,
+and the way was open before us.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The Constable left two hundred men-at-arms and
+archers, under an old and trusted knight, to guard the
+pass behind us; and we rode forward into the wide
+valley. The day was now far spent, and the sun had
+passed from sight behind the mountains that rose ever
+higher toward the West. The scattered oaks and firs
+and the great rocks that strewed the valley on either
+hand might well have sheltered an ambush; and we
+rode forward more slowly, with lines of skirmishers
+well to the fore and to the right and left.</p>
+<p class="pnext">And now it seemed that Fortune who with the sun
+had smiled upon us all day long, withdrew her favor
+also, for we had traversed scarce a league of the rocky
+track along which Rhys and his army had fled when
+thick clouds obscured the narrow sky above us; thunder
+roared and rumbled in the mountain passes, and torrents
+of rain began to fall. The darkness swiftly
+enclosed us, and we had perforce to halt lest we should
+lose our way amongst the woods and rocks. There,
+drenched and chilled and worn with a day of riding
+and battle, we made bivouac and ate of the food in
+our pouches. Mindful of the skill and daring of the
+Welsh in night attacks, the Lord Constable posted
+double lines of sentinels; and we seized such sleep as
+we might, wrapped in our dripping cloaks and lying
+upon the grass and leaves.</p>
+<p class="pnext">At last, I for one, slumbered heavily; and it seemed
+but an hour ere our leaders roused us and we saw
+the black shadows of the mists around us turning gray
+with morning light. While we ate again of the bread
+and meat we carried, the Constable despatched two
+riders with a message to Sir Guy Baldiston at the pass,
+with commands to send back word to Wallingham
+of our whereabouts and our intent to pursue the ravagers
+still farther.</p>
+<p class="pnext">In half an hour we were again in saddle, and De
+Lacey was giving directions for our better ordering to
+guard against surprise upon the march, when one descried
+our messengers returning at full gallop and lying
+low upon their horses’ necks as if in fear of arrows
+that might come from wayside rocks and trees. They
+rode indeed not like the soldiers of a victor’s army
+but like men who are hunted and flee for their lives.</p>
+<p class="pnext">In a moment more they had attained our lines, their
+horses loudly panting with the labor of such galloping
+over rough and stony paths; and the foremost rider
+cried out to the Commander:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Oh, my lord! Sir Guy and all his men are slain,
+and the Welsh have the pass again. We but narrowly
+escaped being taken ourselves.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">The Constable sat on his great war-horse, gazing and
+frowning at the messenger for a length of time that
+an arrow, shot strongly upward, might have needed to
+come again to earth. Then he said, sternly:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“And how closely didst thou see all this?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“My lord, we rode within a bowshot. ’Twas something
+dark and misty; and we knew not what was
+toward. The pass is filled with Welshmen; and they
+raise the skull-bone banner. ’Tis an army such as
+we encountered yesterday.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">De Lacey glanced about him at his leaders.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“My lords and gentlemen: you hear what has
+chanced. Shall we attack again from this side or fare
+onward?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“We must ride onward, my lord, and that quickly,”
+answered Lord Mountjoy, “we cannot force that narrow
+pass ’gainst such an army as our messenger describes.
+Doubtless they hold also the crags above;
+and from thence they can roll down rocks that would
+fell and crush any force that attempted it.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“We saw many hundreds of them on the crags
+above,” put in the messenger.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“And what if we ride forward?” demanded the
+Constable. “Have we a clearer road on that side?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Aye, my lord,” returned my father, “once, years
+agone, I rode through this valley a hawking. There
+is another gateway, called the Pass of the Eagles, three
+leagues farther west. It is much broader than the
+other, and if we hasten, Rhys can scarcely gather a
+force that can hold it against us. Then beyond is the
+good wide valley of Owain, adown which, in ten hours
+hard riding we may gain the Marches once more.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">The Lord Constable gazed at the ground before
+him for a moment. Then he lifted his head and spake
+so that all around might hear.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“My lords: this Welsh freebooter hath shown himself
+a better general than I. He hath enticed us into
+this valley, and then hath closed the gate behind us, as
+one entraps a bear or wolf. The storm, it seems, hath
+given him respite; he fights in his own land, and doubtless
+the night hath brought many recruits to his banner.
+Now ride we on to force this other gateway ere he
+gather an army that can close that also. Forward, for
+Saint George.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">At the full trot we rode away, and for an hour and
+more we slackened not our speed. By the sides of
+the pathway, or crouching under crags on the hillside,
+we saw at intervals the huts of stones and turf of the
+Welsh mountain folk; but all stood silent and deserted
+with never a wisp of smoke from chimney or sight of
+woman or child.</p>
+<p class="pnext">When the sun was an hour high, the valley narrowed
+again around us; and we came in sight of the Pass
+of the Eagles. Then indeed we knew that if any of us
+returned alive from this adventure, ’twould be by the
+favor of all the Saints and by the utmost might of our
+arms. For the army of Rhys stood before us, drawn
+up in twenty ranks across the defile which was there
+of a furlong’s width. In the front rank stood the
+spearmen with the butts of their weapons firmly planted
+in the ground and the points held at the height of a
+horse’s breast; in the next the King and his sons, the
+leaders of tribes and all of those who bore the heaviest
+arms and iron shields; behind them, rank after rank
+of swordsmen and javelin throwers, and, rearmost,
+their archers with bows in hand and arrows ready
+notched.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The flanks of the Welsh array were protected by
+high and rocky slopes where scrubby oaks and thorns
+found scant foothold amidst the crags and where no
+horse could tread. On both sides of the valley where
+it narrowed to the pass were broken cliffs that not a
+mountain goat could scale. Beyond these lay the
+heather-covered mountainsides and faraway rocky
+peaks where already snow had come.</p>
+<p class="pnext">At the word our men wheeled into line of battle,
+the armored knights in the van, in two open ranks,
+then the men-at-arms in three more of closer array.
+The archers were not to charge with us, but, with a
+dozen knights and a hundred men-at-arms under Lord
+Mountjoy, were to form a rearguard lest other bodies
+of the Welsh close in upon us. Both Sir Geoffrey
+and I had won favor in the Lord Constable’s
+eyes by somewhat we had accomplished in the fighting
+at the ford; and now I led the forces of Mountjoy
+at his right and Geoffrey those of Carleton and Teramore
+on his left hand.</p>
+<p class="pnext">In a moment came the furious shock of battle and
+all the frightful scenes of the struggle by the river’s
+edge—with the vantage now on the side of our enemies.
+Many of the steeds of our gallant knights transfixed
+themselves upon the Welsh lances; and their
+riders, brought to the ground, fell victims to swords or
+javelins or were crushed beneath the hoofs of our own
+oncoming ranks. But the line of spears was utterly
+broken; and the other knights and men-at-arms drove
+furiously into the mass before them. Swords and
+lances did their terrible work, and in the briefest time
+hundreds of our enemies had fallen. The Constable
+fought that day with a huge mace, and, swinging it
+about his head as it were a willow wand, he seemed
+like the great god Thor of the heathen worship of old.</p>
+<p class="pnext">But now for every two or three of the Welsh one
+of our knights or men-at-arms perished also. Some
+of the tribesmen, struck down by the swords of the
+riders, thrust upwards at our horses with swords and
+knives as we passed over them, and so cast down
+many a rider into the mêlée of dashing hoofs and glancing
+blades; and many times furious warriors, laying
+hold upon the riders, brought them to the earth and to
+speedy death. Their archers and javelin throwers
+aimed at our necks and faces; and though many of
+their shafts flew wide or even struck down their own,
+others found their marks indeed and added to our fatal
+losses.</p>
+<p class="pnext">From one desperate moment to another, for a length
+of time ever unknown to me, the struggle and the slaying
+went on unchecked. Our numbers grew ever
+fewer, and we were gaining scarce a yard of ground.
+For all the heaps of fallen, the Welsh fought on with
+undiminished fury; and ’twas evident that they would
+slay the last of us ere we could force the pass. Lionel
+of Montmorency had fallen with half his men, as also
+Dunwoodie and Sir William, his brother and heir.
+The Lord Constable himself was wounded, and, panting
+with fatigue and loss of blood, had dropped his
+mace to fight again with broadsword. Sir Geoffrey
+of Carleton had once saved him from the hands of a
+huge Welsh warrior who sought to drag him from
+his saddle; and now the two fought almost back to
+back in an ever narrowing circle of enemies.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Suddenly I saw and felt the tribesmen wavering and
+giving ground before us, and became aware of a shower
+of cross-bow bolts that was falling among them and
+striking them down by hundreds. Looking up to see
+whence they came, I beheld Cedric of Mountjoy and
+half a thousand of his cross-bow men among the rocks
+in the promontory to the right, discharging their bolts
+as fast as they could lay them in groove and pouring
+a most deadly hail into the thick ranks of our enemies.
+’Twas evident that Cedric had dismounted all his men
+and found some means to scale the cliffs and strike the
+Welsh in flank.</p>
+<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="margin-left: 32%; width: 35%" id="figure-32">
+<span id="the-leader-had-his-great-sword-thrust-aside-by-cedrics-bow-then-was-seized-about-the-waist-and-hurled-to-the-rocks-below"/><img style="display: block; margin-left: 0%; width: 100%" alt="images/illus14.png" src="images/illus14.png" width="100%"/>
+<div class="caption italics">
+THE LEADER HAD HIS GREAT SWORD THRUST ASIDE BY CEDRIC’S BOW,
+THEN WAS SEIZED ABOUT THE WAIST AND HURLED TO THE ROCKS BELOW</div>
+</div>
+<p class="pfirst">Then I saw that a body of the enemy, hastily called
+from the rear-most ranks by the huge and red-haired
+Gruffud, son of Rhys, assaulted this position and
+sought to pull our archers from their posts of vantage.
+Climbing upward amongst the crags, they faced at
+closest range the deadly aim of the cross-bow men.
+Backward they fell by scores, their bodies crushing
+down those below them. Not a dozen came to grips
+with the archers. Of these the leader had his great
+sword thrust aside by Cedric’s bow, then was seized
+about the waist, lifted from the earth and thrown to
+the rocks below where he lay still with broken back.</p>
+<p class="pnext">With the fall of Gruffud, our men set up a mighty
+shout, and pressed the Welsh ever the harder. The
+deadly bolts still poured down from Cedric’s vantage
+ground, but shifted ever their direction as we drove
+the enemy before us. The yells of the Welshmen,
+which had been those of victory and triumph, now
+changed to cries of despair. Hundreds turned and
+fled; and of these many cast down their weapons that
+they might run the faster. Soon the downward pathway
+ahead of us was filled with fugitives, and only a
+few bands of desperate warriors fought on, preferring
+death to such a defeat after victory had been almost
+within their grasp.</p>
+<p class="pnext">With the pass open before us, we paused not to pursue
+the Welsh into the rocky and wooded fastnesses where
+they had fled. Taking up our sorely wounded in such
+litters as we could hastily form, and those with less
+grave hurts behind the other horsemen, we reformed
+our column and rode away down the broad valley toward
+the Marches and the goodly fortress of Wenderley
+that Sir John Clarendon held for the King.</p>
+<p class="pnext">When the moon rose at the ninth hour of the evening
+of that day the Lord High Constable stood in the
+courtyard at Wenderley, surrounded by the lords and
+barons of his expedition and of the castle garrison.
+His wounds had been bathed and bandaged, but his
+face was white with the bloodletting and the fatigues
+of the day so that his friends were urging him to seek
+his rest. Yet for the time he put away their counsel,
+declaring that one duty yet remained. Young Geoffrey
+of Carleton and I with Cedric, my squire, had
+been summoned before him.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Kneel down,” he commanded, sternly. We obeyed
+in silence, and he drew his sword from its sheath and
+thrice struck the young Lord of Carleton lightly on the
+shoulder.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Rise, Sir Geoffrey of Carleton,” he said, “I dub
+thee knight. Be thou ever faithful, true and valorous
+as thou hast been this day.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Then I also received the strokes of the sword and
+words were pronounced that made me a knight and
+chevalier in verity.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Lastly, and to my great amaze, I heard the words:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Rise, Sir Cedric De La Roche. I dub thee Knight
+of the Crag. The device on thy shield shall be an
+eagle in token of the spot where thy resource changed
+defeat to victory. Be thou ever faithful, true and
+valorous as thou hast been this day, and England hath
+gained a stout defender and King Richard of the Lion
+Heart a worthy support to his throne.”</p>
+</div>
+<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xiby-kimberley-moat">
+<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id12">CHAPTER XI—BY KIMBERLEY MOAT</a></h2>
+<p class="pfirst">After the Battle of the Pass we had a season
+of quiet at Mountjoy. King Richard had
+sailed on the Great Crusade, leaving his
+brother John as Regent; and the people of England,
+nobles and commons alike, learned that there was a
+far worse rule than that of stern old Henry of Anjou,
+for John Lackland, his younger son, had at once the
+greed of a tiger and the meanness of a rat. Many of
+the high places of Church and State were filled with
+his favorites—miserable creatures for the most part
+whose only merits were a ready complaisance to the
+wishes of their master and a measure of craft and
+subtlety in furtherance of his schemes. Sheriffs and
+bailiffs of a yet more contemptible strain hurried to
+do the bidding of these velvet-clad beggars and thieves,
+and honest and forthright men led a hard life indeed
+unless they were themselves high in power and of
+numerous following.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Among these last might be reckoned the Mountjoys
+and their friends and allies, the Carletons of Teramore.
+We were too strong and too valuable in the
+defense of the Western Marches to be meddled with
+save for the greatest cause; so the land for some
+leagues about us was in a measure free from the ills
+which now and again brought other portions of the
+Kingdom to the verge of rebellion.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Sir Cedric, as now we gladly styled him, was high
+in the councils of Mountjoy. My father consulted
+him as often as myself on the gravest questions; and
+Lady Mountjoy willingly spent uncounted hours in
+bettering his knowledge of polite and courtly ways and
+of those divers little matters of knightly bearing to
+which in our rough Western land we give mayhap too
+little heed. At the books, to her amaze, he soon had
+far outstripped her. An uncle of his was one of the
+monks at Kirkwald Abbey, and a famous Latin scholar.
+For a year past, Cedric had been making frequent
+journeys to the Abbey; and once we had old Father
+Benedict at Mountjoy for a month or more. For
+hours together they would pore over dusty and ancient
+tomes that made me ache with weariness but to look
+upon them. The first we knew, our Cedric was better
+at the Latin reading than any layman we had seen or
+heard of. History and chronicles were good meat
+and drink to him; and often, with his head between
+the covers of a book, his dinner would be quite forgot
+but for my lusty calling.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Withal he was no pale bookworm, but a lusty and
+rollicking lad who in rough and tumble play could lay
+me on the broad of my back with scarce a minute’s
+striving. At the sword-play I was ever his better,
+but his mastery of the cross-bow grew yet more wonderful
+as the seasons passed. Even the oldsters admitted
+that he equalled Marvin at Marvin’s best. Already
+he had the name of the best cross-bowman in
+England; and I found that strangers to our county,
+who had heard nothing of the deeds of my father and
+all our noble forbears, had knowledge, nevertheless,
+of Mountjoy as the house to which Sir Cedric gave
+allegiance.</p>
+<p class="pnext">But I think the thing that warmed me most toward
+my former squire and constant comrade was the loyalty
+he ever had to the class of folk from which he sprung.
+Lord Mountjoy often gave to him authority over working
+crews at some necessary task on farm or highway
+or scouting parties of swordsmen and archers that
+rode the Marches to guard against the Welsh marauders.
+It would have been no wonder had such a sudden
+rise to title and preferment bred in a youth who
+had been born in a forester’s cot a certain arrogance
+of manner and an overweening confidence in his own
+worth and deserts. But, by his own desire, the archers
+and men-at-arms of Mountjoy still addressed him as
+they had when his station was no higher than theirs;
+and though he could be quick and firm on occasion,
+he was never above listening to and profiting by the
+counsels of the elder men in buckram or in hodden
+gray. Nor did he forget the cottage in Pelham Wood
+which housed his old father and his small, tow-headed
+brethren. Since he had dwelt at Mountjoy Hall,
+scarce a month had passed without his riding thence
+and leaving with them some share in any guerdon he
+had won.</p>
+<p class="pnext">It was after such a journey that Cedric returned to
+the Hall one autumn evening in such a mood of silence
+and depression as I had never seen since those sad
+days when he quarreled with my father over the punishment
+due the churls of De Lancey Manor. At his
+supper he spoke no word, and ate and drank but little.
+My lady mother did anxiously inquire if he were ill,
+for we knew him well as a valiant trencherman, and
+he had ridden far in a frosty air. He put away her
+questionings with his usual courtesy, denying that aught
+ailed him; but me he could not so easily check, for I
+followed him to his room, and, finding him sitting
+with his face in his hands, demanded to know as friend
+and comrade what had turned his world awry.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Sir Richard,” he replied sadly, “hast ever had
+friend of thine flung into dungeon cell, there to lie at
+the pleasure of some low-living scoundrel?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Nay,” I answered quickly, “this evil I have thus
+far ’scaped, though I well know ’tis common enough
+in these days, and many there be that suffer it.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Of those I am one,” replied Cedric. “And now
+I rack my head to know whether or not there be any
+possible help for it. Wilfrid, son of the farmer of
+Birkenhead, was my comrade and playmate since ever
+I can remember. We hunted and fished and swam
+together and willingly fought each other’s battles when
+we were but little lads. Once he plunged in and pulled
+me from the Tarleton Water, when, far gone with
+cramp, I had twice sunken. His handling of the long-bow
+is well-nigh equal to my father’s, and better than
+that of any youth I know. I had lately planned to
+bring him to Mountjoy and to say a word to thy father
+of his deserts.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“And who is it that now hath seized him?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“’Tis that wry-mouthed and rat-eyed scoundrel,
+Bardolph, that lately hath been made King’s Bailiff,
+and hath in charge the rebuilding of Kimberley Castle.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“He that plundered the chapel at Ravenstone?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“The same. He would steal the pennies from the
+eyes of the dead, if no avenger were by. But ’tis
+spite rather than greed that prompts him in this matter
+of my friend. Some years ago, when we were all lads
+together, young Bardolph, who is the son of an innkeeper
+at Rothwell, came riding past Birkenhead with
+some village comrades of his. In a foolish attempt
+at wit, he cast some foul insult at Wilfrid who stood
+by the way, watching them pass. In an instant, Wilfrid
+had snatched him from the saddle and rolled him
+well in a puddle of mud that chanced to be at hand,
+so that Bardolph rode home at last a sorry spectacle
+indeed. That day he ne’er forgot, it seems, and only
+now has found an opportunity for vengeance. He
+hath been given the charge of the work at Kimberley
+where Prince John plans to enlarge and strengthen the
+fortress and fill it with a numerous garrison. He hath
+need of many cattle for the work of hauling the stone
+and timber; and though we are not now at war, and
+there can be seen no pressing need for haste, he seizes
+the horses and oxen from the farmers roundabout and
+drives the work as though the Scotch and Welsh were
+o’er the borders both at once. With this excuse he
+seized the yoke cattle at Birkenhead.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“But Birkenhead is full five leagues from Kimberley.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Aye, and that it is that shows the act was done
+with malice and with none of necessity. A hundred
+farms were nearer to the castle, and some of them
+might far better spare their oxen. ’Twas in the thick
+of harvest too. Thou knowest how the rains have
+held it back till it seems that the snows may cover the
+uncut grain if the farmers make not haste. But Wilfrid
+made shift to go on with his hauling in some sort.
+He put to the yoke a pair of half-broke steers that
+should not have worked till the spring, and with half
+loads was bringing his crops to barn and stack. Then
+what did Bardolph do but come again, with two soldiers
+at his back, and make demand of Wilfrid for
+these cattle also.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“The hound! I would I had been there to tell him
+straight what manner of cur he is.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“There was no need for that. Wilfrid forthwith
+flew into such a rage as drove from him all fear of
+what might betide. First he shouted at the bailiff some
+most naked truths as to his character and doings, then
+he rushed upon him, and, warding off a sword blow,
+pulled him from his horse, even as he had done that
+other time, and ere the soldiers could interfere had
+broken Bardolph’s nose with one great blow from his
+fist.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Oh Saints above! Did he so indeed? There’s a
+yeoman for thee of the sort that win England’s battles.
+I would we <em class="italics">had</em> him under Mountjoy banner. But
+what next occurred?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“The soldiers had leaped from their horses as soon
+as the bailiff went down, and both together they seized
+Wilfrid and overthrew and bound him fast. Then,
+lashing him on the back of a horse, they set out for
+Kimberley, with he of the broken nose riding close
+behind, shedding a stream of blood and furious oaths.
+The neighbor folk say that over and over again he
+swore that young Birkenhead should never leave Kimberley
+alive.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“By’r Lady!” I cried, “there’s naught to prevent
+him making good his threats. He is in command at
+Kimberley now that the Sheriff hath left for the
+North.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Cedric nodded sadly.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“’Tis so. He dares not put him to death openly,
+but he may starve him in his cell and report that he
+died of a sickness. And if the Sheriff returns, I doubt
+of much betterment for one in Wilfrid’s plight. Thou
+knowest well that throughout England at this moment
+there are lying in dungeons, with chains on their
+limbs, full many honest men who are as innocent of
+any crime as thou or me.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“I know it well indeed. And of these there are
+many as to whom their very jailers know not the
+charge against them, for their accusers are long ago
+dead. ’Tis a hard world we live in, Cedric; but I
+see not how we may better it.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Cedric sprang up and faced me with high-held head
+and blazing eyes.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Sir Richard, if thou’lt help me, we <em class="italics">may</em> better this
+hard world for one luckless man. It has come to me
+how we may take Wilfrid of Birkenhead from the
+very walls of Kimberley.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Help thee? My word upon it, I <em class="italics">will</em> help thee
+if it can be done at all. Say on.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“My thought is this,” answered Cedric quickly,
+whilst tears of joy sprang to his eyes at my hearty
+seconding, “one that came from Kimberley even as
+we talked at my father’s to-day hath told us that Wilfrid
+is confined not in the castle dungeons, since those
+are in some way concerned in the present changes, but
+in a strong room in the tower, some forty feet above
+the moat. The window is not barred, since the apartment
+was never meant to serve for prison; but the
+wall is sheer below it to the cliff that steeply slopes
+from thence to the moat. ‘Twould be sure death to
+fling one’s self down, since the rock at the base is
+after all too wide to be passed by a leap from
+the window. But with a stout rope now, and with
+friends on the farther side with horses not far off—”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“But the sentries on the battlements would surely
+spy him as he descended.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Not on a moonless night, and especially if he knew
+the moment when the sentry had just passed overhead
+and therefore would not soon return. ’Tis a desperate
+thing, I own; but believe me, Sir Richard, we shall
+not fail. Already I see the way to take the rope and
+our messages to Wilfrid in his cell. There is a group
+of trees which in the last score of years while the
+castle has been little used as a stronghold, has been
+allowed to grow on the hither side of the moat, just
+opposite the tower. There we will hide and do our
+part in the venture. To-morrow night will be moonless.
+What sayest thou?”</p>
+<hr class="docutils"/>
+<p class="pfirst">The next day at noon, soon after Bardolph of the
+Broken Nose had ridden away from Kimberley on
+some necessary errand, a stout old monk, in the flowing
+robe of his order, with hood and cowl closely
+drawn about his face, and bearing a basket on his arm,
+appeared at the gate of Kimberley. He wished to
+see the prisoner, Wilfrid, and to bear to him the consolations
+of religion and also some articles of food which
+friends of his had prepared. The clerkly youth who
+seemed in authority in the absence of the bailiff was
+much in doubt as to the wisdom of permitting any
+such entry, and, indeed, at first refused. But the
+good monk fairly overwhelmed him with quotations
+from the Scripture and the writings of the Holy
+Fathers relative to his duty to visit those who were
+sick or in prison, and quoted so many Latin texts that
+the youth was soon fairly bewildered and overcome.
+Stipulating only that the basket be left below, since
+the bailiff had given strict orders that no food was to
+be taken to the prisoner by any save himself, he led the
+way up the tower stairs, and unlocking the heavy
+oaken door, admitted the monk to the room where
+Birkenhead was confined.</p>
+<p class="pnext">In another quarter of an hour the monk had departed
+as he came, taking up his basket again at the
+gateway and leaving with the chatelaine his heartiest
+blessing. To me, who had been anxiously watching
+from one of the village houses, a furlong from the
+walls, it seemed that he walked with much firmer and
+more vigorous step as he returned o’er the drawbridge
+than he had when first he crossed it. But if this were
+so, none in the castle seemed to remark it—at any rate
+the monk’s departure was not interrupted, and he
+passed out of the village, looking neither to the right
+nor the left.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Soon after, I followed and overtook him after he
+had entered a thick copse of yew and hazel half a
+mile away. Beneath that leafy screen, Cedric flung
+off the monkish gown and hood, dropped the basket on
+the ground, and stood gazing at it gloomily.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Sir Richard,” he said at length, “Wilfrid of Birkenhead
+hath been for three days close shut in that
+tower room, and no least morsel of food hath been
+given him. Bardolph verily means to compass his
+death by starving.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“The miserable hound!” I answered between set
+teeth, “’tis a pity Wilfrid did not strike a thought
+harder and break his worthless skull.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Cedric’s face was wried with pain and wrath. He
+stamped upon the ground in bitter impatience. Then,
+pulling from the basket the huge meat pie which had
+formed the greater part of the provision he had sought
+to carry to the prisoner, he dropped it before him and
+struck it with most vicious kick before it reached the
+ground. The crust flew off in a dozen pieces, and revealed
+the inner part as no juicy slices of flesh of
+fowl or pig but a close-wound coil of hempen rope,
+such as no mortal man could feed upon.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Had I placed this beneath my armpits as was my
+first thought,” growled Cedric, “it would now have
+been safe hidden in the bundle of straw they have given
+Wilfrid for a bed. Fortune favored us not, it seems;
+but mayhap that fickle jade will smile on our further
+contrivings. I made a new plan even as I climbed the
+tower stairs; and Wilfrid is well apprised of it. ’Tis
+not so simple as the first nor seemingly so sure; but
+it may serve our turn.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Must we wait till the morrow and risk another
+entry of the castle?” I questioned. “Mayhap the
+bailiff will not ride abroad so opportunely.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Nay, we shall make the essay to-night,” he answered
+slowly. “Time presses, if Wilfrid is not to be
+so weakened by fasting as to be incapable of any effort
+in his own behalf. Marcel hath already been told to
+have the horses here at nine and await our coming till
+dawn if need be. If we can come by a ball of fine,
+stout cord like fishing lines, we will have that rope in
+the tower room by midnight. Then all the rest will
+be quickly done, and Wilfrid a dozen leagues from
+Kimberley ere sunrise.”</p>
+<hr class="docutils"/>
+<p class="pfirst">An hour before midnight Cedric and I lay under the
+group of saplings, ten yards from the castle moat and
+opposite the window of the room which held young
+Wilfrid of Birkenhead. Beside us on the ground, lay
+the ball of cord, with one projecting end fastened to
+the coil of rope. Now Cedric took a cross-bow bolt
+from the sack at his girdle and tied the other end of
+the cord firmly about it. Then, drawing the bow, he
+placed the bolt in groove.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The sky was covered with thin clouds that half
+obscured the stars; and the moon had not yet risen.
+The castle wall on the other side of the moat was a
+gray blur in the murk, but we could clearly see the
+sentinel as he slowly paced his rounds of the battlements.
+The steel cap that he wore and the point
+of his spear caught now and again a gleam of the starlight.
+Twenty feet below the tower’s summit a blacker square
+in the wall was the window of Wilfrid’s cell; and to
+the right of this could barely be discerned the lattice
+which had been swung wide as though to admit the
+fresher air.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Cedric crouched on his knees, gazing at the window
+till the sentry passed from sight; then softly he uttered
+the cry of an owl. At once some white object fluttered
+in the blackness of the cell window. Cedric rose to
+his feet, took careful aim at the window and let fly
+the bolt. But alas! the pull of the cord as it unwound
+from the ball checked the quarrel sadly, and it rang
+on the stones of the wall no higher than our heads.
+We crouched at once in the shadows, certain that the
+sentry had heard its steely stroke; but he came not
+back to the tower; and soon we breathed again.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Cedric drew in the line and recharged his weapon,
+whispering to me the while that he should have better
+known than to have it so tightly coiled, and that another
+try, with the cord lying loose, would surely place
+the bolt within the window.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Now the sentry came again on his rounds; and we
+waited perforce for his passing. When he had gone
+once more Cedric threw his weapon to his shoulder
+and sent the bolt on its way. How my ears strained
+in listening! And, an instant later, how my heart
+sank when I heard once more the clang of iron ’gainst
+the tower stones and realized that Cedric had failed
+a second time to strike his mark at fifty paces.</p>
+<p class="pnext">This time the sentry heard the stroke—or so it
+seemed—for he came hurrying back to the tower
+battlements, and peered downward past the open window
+for minutes together. But all had become as
+still as death, and there was naught that he could see;
+so at length he turned away and resumed his pacing.</p>
+<p class="pnext">As Cedric again drew in the quarrel, he whispered
+to me:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“I have it now. The line drew down my bolt by a
+yard or more. I must allow for that by a higher aim.
+The third cast never fails; and for that we yet have
+time ere yonder sentry is sure there’s mischief afoot.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">He took a fresh bolt and tied the cord with care
+about it. Then for the third time he aimed at the
+tower above us. ’Twas the lucky third indeed, for,
+close following the whir of the quarrel, came a muffled
+thud as it struck the oaken door within the cell. This
+seemed not to reach the ears of the sentry on the other
+side of the battlements, for though we listened with
+bated breath, there was no sound of his returning
+footsteps. The next instant we could see the unspent
+portion of the line was tightening with a pull from
+the tower. Then straightway the coil of rope left its
+place at our feet, swam through the moat and climbed
+the tower’s side.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Cedric and I clasped hands in joy, for now we could
+see our project succeeding. In no more time than
+he needed to descend from the window, swim the moat
+and reach the horses in the hazel copse, Wilfrid would
+be safely away from Kimberley.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Once more the sentry made his rounds, and once
+more passed regardless of what was going forward
+six yards below him. Wilfrid appeared at the window,
+and, lowering himself hand over hand, came
+swiftly down the rope to the cliff below. There misfortune
+awaited us. As he dangled from the rope with
+his feet seeking a hold on the sloping cliff, he loosened
+a bit of rock, the size of a man’s head, that lay near
+the tower base; and this accursed stone slid and rolled
+noisily down the crag and struck the waters of the
+moat with a hideous splashing.</p>
+<p class="pnext">At once the sentry, whose ears mayhap had been
+sharpened by the other noise for which he had found
+no reason, came running again to the tower. Peering
+into the darkness below, he spied the prisoner just as
+he leaped down the rock and plunged into the moat.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The sentinel was a ready man and determined,—such
+an one as might well have served a better master.
+Setting up a lusty shout of alarm, he turned at once to
+a pile of the stones that were kept on the battlements
+for the repelling of besiegers, and began hurling these
+into the moat.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The water’s surface was in shadow and we could not
+see the head of the swimmer, nor could we tell whether
+any of the soldier’s wild-flung missiles had found their
+mark. A minute passed wherein my blood seemed to
+freeze and my limbs to lock themselves fast like those
+of one who perishes from a mad dog’s bite. The
+stones still followed one another in vicious plunges
+into the black waters: and the soldier continued to
+halloo for the guardsmen at the gate to lower the bridge
+and search the farther bank.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Then Cedric broke away from me and plunged into
+the moat. Forgetting all else, I followed him to the
+water’s edge, stood peering vainly into the blackness,
+and might have dived in also had he not speedily returned.
+He was swimming lustily with one hand, and
+with the other bearing up his comrade. I seized them
+both as they came within reach, and hauled them
+ashore. Cedric joined with me and we drew Wilfrid
+up the bank and half way to the group of saplings.
+There Cedric stopped with a groan of misery, and fell
+on his knees by the limp body of his friend. The
+wind had brushed the clouds from the sky; and by the
+starlight I saw that Wilfrid’s head had been crushed
+by one of the stones from the battlements.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Cedric rose to his feet and shook his fist in frenzy
+toward the King’s stronghold. But already the bridge
+was down, and the guard was pouring across. I
+plucked my comrade by the sleeve.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Come Cedric, come! Our friend is past all help.
+Let us away ere they slay us also.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">He turned to me with a face of deathly whiteness;
+and for a moment I thought he would refuse. But
+I seized his hand, and he let me hurry him to the shelter
+of the trees. Through these we quickly passed, and
+then raced down the dim-lit field to a hedgerow a furlong
+away. Running behind this, we soon distanced
+our pursuers.</p>
+<p class="pnext">In half an hour we had come by roundabout ways
+to the hazel copse where Marcel and the horses awaited
+us. In silence we mounted, and in silence rode through
+all the hours of darkness, Cedric sitting with head
+bowed forward, enwrapped in gloomy thought as in a
+sable garment. The way was rough and weary, and
+we found no solace in the fragrance of the harvest
+fields and leaf-strewn woods or in the song of the night
+wind. As the sun rose behind a veil of gray and chilling
+mists, we climbed the slopes of Rowan Hill and
+sighted the towers of Mountjoy.</p>
+</div>
+<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xiithe-iron-collar">
+<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id13">CHAPTER XII—THE IRON COLLAR</a></h2>
+<p class="pfirst">A year had passed since our ill-fated venture
+beneath the walls of Kimberley, and ’twas
+such an autumn morning as makes one forget
+his cares and sorrows and those of a strife-torn
+world, and believe in the coming of a better day.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Cedric and I had promised ourselves rare sport in
+the woods of Grimsby. The sky overhead was of
+brightest blue, and the sunlight filtered sweetly through
+the boughs of oak and beech that now had dropped
+the half of their leaves to make a rustling carpet underfoot.
+In the treetops the birds sang lustily, making
+the best of the smiling time that comes before the winter’s
+winds and snows. Now and again a woodmouse
+scampered on fallen log, a hare sprang away from her
+form, or a moorfowl scuttled to cover in the bracken.
+To me there were never sweeter sights and sounds
+and fragrances than those of autumn woodlands; and
+to Cedric, the son of a Pelham forester, they were
+as native and joyous as the brown brook waters to
+the speckled trout or the green hill pastures to the
+Mountjoy kine.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Since my comrade and former squire had been
+knighted at Wenderley, after the victory over the
+Welsh at the Pass of the Eagles, we at Mountjoy
+had grown well used to think of him as Sir Cedric
+De La Roche, the name conferred by the Lord High
+Constable when he made him knight and chevalier.
+But a newer honor had come to him but four months
+past; and though ’twas well deserved and a most gracious
+act of our liege lord, the Lion Hearted Richard,
+we yet could scarce conceive of its reality.</p>
+<p class="pnext">De Lacey, the High Constable, who with the backing
+of all the Mountjoys and Carletons, had well served the
+King in the Western counties in the struggle against
+his usurping brother, John, after the King’s return
+from the German captivity, had told to him the tale of
+the Welsh battle and something of Cedric’s more recent
+services. Then he had hinted that the fee of
+Grimsby had been vacant, save for the royal stewards,
+ever since Sir James Dunwoodie and his brother had
+perished in the Battle at the Pass. Forthwith the
+King summoned secretaries to write at his bidding;
+and shortly a herald arrived at Castle Mountjoy with
+letters patent, making our Cedric the Knight of
+Grimsby and conferring on him in fee the lands and
+manor house and all the rights Dunwoodie had before.</p>
+<p class="pnext">At the royal assembly at Shrewsbury, Cedric had
+appeared with his due quota of six mounted men-at-arms
+and fifty archers; and no knight or baron in the
+whole array looked a better captain of his forces or
+held himself in more manly fashion as the King rode
+down the line to view us. Truly my heart swelled that
+day with gladness at the recognition that had come
+to so brave and true a man without awaiting the silvering
+of his hair and the bowing of his shoulders with
+years.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Lord Mountjoy was mightily proud of Cedric, as I
+well knew, and had stinted not to boast of him on
+occasion as a Mountjoy lad with a head as well as
+hands. And, however he might wish to check o’er-weening
+youth and confidence, my father might not
+gainsay that he, that had long been famous for his
+swordplay through all our countryside, had much ado
+to hold his own with foil or quarter-staff against me,
+now that my strength and reach did equal his, or that
+Cedric of the broad back and oaken thighs could lift
+breast-high a weight that neither of us could stir.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Now Sir Cedric De La Roche and I adventured
+through the Grimsby woods, afoot, clad as huntsmen
+and carrying only our cross-bows and poniards. For
+the most part, those that hunt in greenwood choose the
+long-bow with its cloth-yard shafts; but from a child
+Cedric had displayed a wondrous skill with the other
+weapon; it was ever his favorite; and I followed his
+humor. Already he had struck a fine moorfowl that
+ran amongst the gorse and I a hare that sat upright
+beneath a leafy beech, thinking himself well hidden.
+We talked full loud and gayly as we made our way
+through bush and brake or along the woodland paths,
+for truly it was the sunlight and the comradeship and
+the smell of the fallen leaves that had brought us to
+the forest rather than any wish for heavy game sacks.
+Already we had meat enough for the roasting at our
+noon-tide campfire; and we little cared for more.</p>
+<p class="pnext">To fare abroad on such a morn, among the gray
+tree trunks and by the brown woodland streams, was
+enough for our content. As we walked on, Cedric
+told tale after tale that he had from old books of
+ballads and chronicles wherein brave knights rode
+gayly through just such a land as this and had full
+many gallant adventures and sweet passages at arms.
+Almost could I see the fays and elves that he declared
+were dancing on the forest floor and the old, black-robed
+magician that held them at his thralls.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Suddenly we heard sound of hoofs, and saw approaching
+us along a bridle path two armed and
+mounted horsemen. ’Twas Lord Gilroy, who held the
+great domain of that name two leagues and more away,
+and his nephew, a hulking youth of two and twenty
+or thereabouts, by name Sir Philip Carrington. Both
+were red of face with hurry, and their horses were well
+lathered and breathing hard. At first sight of us Lord
+Gilroy called out loudly:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Ah, good morrow, gentlemen! Well met, Mountjoy
+and Grimsby both. Grimsby, we have to crave
+thy leave to ride through thy lands in search of a
+murdering villain that hath escaped us at Gilroy.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“A murderer, sayst thou?” answered Cedric,
+“whom hath he slain?”</p>
+<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="margin-left: 18%; width: 64%" id="figure-33">
+<span id="both-were-red-of-face-with-hurry-and-their-horses-were-well-lathered-and-breathing-hard"/><img style="display: block; margin-left: 0%; width: 100%" alt="images/illus15.png" src="images/illus15.png" width="100%"/>
+<div class="caption italics">
+BOTH WERE RED OF FACE WITH HURRY, AND THEIR HORSES WERE WELL LATHERED AND BREATHING HARD</div>
+</div>
+<p class="pfirst">“’Tis Simon, my dogmaster. He lies at the point
+of death, or is dead for aught I know by this time, his
+skull near crushed with a cudgel. ’Twas my thrall,
+Egbert, a surly fellow well deserving of the hangman’s
+noose, that thus assaulted him. It seems the dogmaster
+had found him sore abusing one o’ the best of our
+hounds, and had rated him soundly, threatening a report
+to me of his actions. I saw but the end of the
+matter and that from a distance, and with Philip here
+have ridden hard after him. The varlet made at once
+for the woods and has thus far escaped us; but we
+will run him to earth, if it take the whole of Gilroy.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“A surly fellow indeed!” exclaimed Sir Cedric.
+“’Tis well that he be apprehended quickly, else he’ll
+join some outlaw band, and bid us all defiance. Thou
+may’st ride through my lands at will for his capture—or
+we may chance upon him in the wood. How may
+we know him?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Lord Gilroy smiled, but in a hard, grim way he hath
+that is more menacing than any frown.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“’Tis easy knowing him. He wears an iron collar,
+like all my thralls, bearing his own name and mine in
+graven letters. It makes the hunting of them far
+easier when they have done some violence, or if they
+attempt to fly from my lands. But give you good day,
+messieurs! We must fare on. If so be you get sight
+of him, a cross-bow quarrel would not be amiss if he
+stop not on order. And if you take and send him to
+me, I will be much beholden. Our thralls must be kept
+well in leash, e’en if that leash be on occasion a hangman’s
+knot. Come Philip, ride to the left, I pray
+thee, while I follow this path through yonder
+thicket.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Cedric and I walked on, talking of this bloody mischief,
+and of the chances of the thrall’s recapture.
+Somehow the brightness had gone from the sun glints,
+and the woodland seemed no longer a forest enchanted
+where nymphs and elves might dance away from hollowed
+tree or the gray-haired wizard, Merwin, be seen
+upon a mossy rock, summoning by magic spells a troop
+of Arthur’s chivalry.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“’Tis true this fellow must be taken,” said Cedric,
+sadly, “for such as he make up the outlaw bands that
+now and again give trouble sore to honest men. But
+I know not for the life of me why men that are born
+and die upon this green earth like any others, and that
+have as good a wish to live unhampered as you and I,
+should wear upon their necks collars of iron that mark
+them forever as slaves and bondmen. I have little
+wonder that such at times break forth with violence.
+Nay! I have the more that ever they remain
+quiet like oxen in a paddock awaiting the plowman’s
+yoke.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Cedric had stopped short in the path and was facing
+me. Upon his broad and comely face was the same
+stern look he had worn that day he withstood my father
+in the matter of the churls at De Lancey Manor.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Why, God ha’ mercy, Cedric!” I protested, “I
+see no need for all this heat. These thralls have never
+known other condition; and ’tis like they live the more
+in comfort for a master’s guidance.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Cedric’s eyes blazed at this, and he spoke full loudly:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Look thee now, Sir Richard! Hast ever asked of
+thrall whether or not he would have his freedom if he
+might? If ever thou dost, thou’lt find that there’s
+never a villein or thrall in England but would prefer
+himself as master to the kindest and best of lords that
+ever lived.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“How know’st thou that?” I questioned, sharply,
+being myself somewhat kindled by the heat with which
+he spoke.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Hark thee, Sir Richard! Thou hast on Mountjoy
+lands no thralls, for that thy grandfather made freemen
+of them all. But when I came to Grimsby there
+were here a dozen or more that wore the iron collar
+and might not leave the land. I had not been here a
+fortnight ere I loosed the collars from their necks,
+and bade them go or stay as pleased them for that
+now they were free men. Some were youths like
+ourselves; some strong men of middle life and others
+old and white-haired; but every one of them fell down
+before me and wept for very joy that they and their
+children after them should be free. Forsooth, I liked
+it not that men with sons older than me should pay
+me homage as I were a heathen Caliph on his throne.
+’Tis nearly four months since; and not one of them has
+left the lands of Grimsby and every one would fight
+for me ’gainst any man on earth. Had’st thou seen
+their faces on that day I threw their collars to the
+smith to beat into bush-cutting hooks, thou’d never
+question more whether men would choose to <em class="italics">be</em> men
+rather than cattle.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Ah well!” I answered, “mayhap it is as thou sayest.
+Some of the best men under the Mountjoy banner
+are sons of those my grandfather loosed from bondage.
+But this is a question too great for our settlement, and
+this too fair a day for argument. What if we make
+our fire and dress this meat for dinner? Verily, I
+am already sharp set with this autumn air.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Just then we spied before us, on a little rise in the
+woodland, a hunting lodge that had been built by the
+Dunwoodies for their pleasuring when they and their
+friends hunted in the forest. Cedric remembered that
+he had the key to the great lock on the door among
+those that hung at his girdle; and we advanced to
+enter and examine the place, I, for one, being glad
+enough of any happening that should cause us to forget
+the matters of which we had been talking. Soon
+we were inside the lodge, and found it clean and comfortable
+enough, it being furnished forth with a table
+and benches of logs, split and hewn, and a good broad
+fireplace with spits whereon to hang the roasting.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Ah!” cried Cedric in a voice far other than his
+last speaking, “what say’st thou? Shall we not roast
+our meat here rather than among the leaves in the
+wood, where a fire in this dry time may go beyond our
+holding?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Surely,” I answered, “’twill be better far to-day.
+Come, I’ll flay and dress the hare while thou makest
+ready the fire. Thou’rt ever skillful at the kindling.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">So we set gayly to work; and in half an hour had
+our meat before us on the table. Some bread and
+cheese from our pouches that we toasted o’er the embers
+made with it a feast fit for any king on a woodland
+holiday. Our content with the world returned,
+and we sang a lusty ballad over the well-picked bones.
+Then, being something thirsty, Cedric started up to see
+if the lodge contained a pitcher with which he might
+fetch clear water from the stream near by. Meanwhile
+my eye had been caught by an old and somewhat
+rusted broadsword that hung on pegs over the fireplace.
+I reached it down at once, and, testing it with a few
+passes and upward strokes, found it a good blade and
+true; and wondered much that it should have been left
+in this place as something without worth. Then I saw
+on a bench in a darkened corner a small anvil and some
+armorer’s tools, and bethought me that the lodge might
+have been used at need for repairing arms when the
+Grimsby men were called to war.</p>
+<p class="pnext">For a moment I had not noted Cedric’s movements;
+but now at a sudden word from him I wheeled about
+and saw him crouching at the door of an inner room
+of the lodge and gazing into the darkness beyond as
+a hound that hath run the fox to earth: I crouched
+beside him and looked also. The room beyond, it
+seems, had been used in the Dunwoodies’ time for the
+receiving and dressing of meat and drink and such like
+offices. There was a small square window, now nearly
+closed by its plank shutter, but admitting at the side a
+narrow beam of light. For a time my eyes could make
+out naught; but after a little I saw, beneath a bench
+or table in the farthest corner, first two glistening
+eyes, then, dimly, the form of a man.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Cedric took down his cross-bow and laid a bolt in
+groove.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Come forth from there, my man,” he shouted,
+“we have thee fairly caught.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">No answer came, and for a moment I doubted if
+we had seen aright. Then Cedric called out again:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Come forth, I tell thee. Else I’ll fairly send a
+quarrel through thee.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">There came a low groan from the darkness, and
+words that seemed made with labor:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Strike then. I care not.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“What say’st thou?” called Cedric, “seest thou
+not I can strike thee with bolt fairly in face?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Strike then. ’Tis better so.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Cedric turned to me with blank amaze upon his face.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Heard thou ever the like? The man defies us to
+the death.” Then, quickly thrusting his bow into my
+hands:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Hold this against mischance. There’s more to this
+than we know. I will fetch this fellow forth.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Hold Cedric,” I cried, “beware lest he stab thee.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">But my comrade had already advanced into the
+darkened room. He sprang beneath the table, like a
+boar-hound on his prey, and in an instant emerged at
+deathly grips with a man as broad and heavy as himself
+who fought with tooth and nail and heel and with the
+fierceness of a cornered wolf. E’en in that moment
+I noted the iron collar on his neck, and knew we had
+to do with Egbert, the Gilroy thrall.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Round and round they whirled in desperate wrestling,
+the while I tried in vain to be of help. In a
+moment they were out of the room where the villein
+had lain hidden and fighting full madly in the lodge,
+the thrall striving to throw his captor from him
+and make his way out the door and into the woods
+beyond.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Finding this impossible, he made a mighty effort,
+and lifted Cedric fairly from his feet, and flung him
+on his side upon the floor. For an instant it seemed
+he would win away unless I drove a quarrel through
+him; but Cedric twisted instantly and rolled the other
+on his back. Then in a flash he had pinned him down
+and had his knee on his breast.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Now yield thee,” Cedric panted. “Thou seest I
+can slay thee if I will.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Slay me then,” gasped the other. “’Tis better
+than Lord Gilroy’s branding iron or hanging noose.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Ah then, thou’rt Egbert that murdered the dogmaster?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“No murderer am I; but that will serve me not.
+Lord Gilroy will have me flayed alive with ne’er a
+chance to tell my tale.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">For a moment Cedric gazed into the bloodshot eyes
+beneath him. Then he questioned, slowly:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Hark thee, my man. If I let thee up, wilt thou
+sit quiet and tell to us thy tale of this day’s doings?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Aye,” replied the thrall, “though to me ’tis all
+one. Thou’rt a knight and landlord, and wilt have no
+ear for the words of a thrall that wears the iron collar
+and is hunted by his master like a sheep-killing hound.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Of that we shall see,” replied Cedric, and, springing
+up, he released his prisoner and pointed to one
+of the benches that he might sit before us. “Now
+tell us,” he commanded, “why thou did’st beat the
+dogmaster till he lies near to death.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Egbert, the thrall, took seat as he was bidden, loosed
+the garment that had tightened about his throat in the
+struggle and began:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Simon, the dogmaster, had ever a grudge toward
+me,—for what I know not. And when I went to him
+three days ago to say that one huge hound of his pack
+had come a roaring at me as I worked in the field, and
+forced me to climb on a hay rick to ’scape his jaws,
+he only laughed and said that thrall-meat would be
+cheaper far for such a valued beast than beef or mutton.
+This morn, at nine o’ the clock, I crossed the
+hay field at the back of the kennels, and out leaped this
+same hound with frightful growls and roars and widely
+opened jaws as if he would devour me forthwith. No
+tree or hay-rick was at hand that I could climb; and I
+seized me a stone the size of my right fist, and with it
+felled the beast so that he lay still enough upon the
+grass. This was no sooner done than I heard behind
+me the running feet of Simon, the dogmaster. He had
+his dog-whip in his hand; and when he came in reach,
+he struck at me with all his might. The lash curled
+about my face, and made the weals you still may plainly
+see. Such despite was more than I could bear. I
+seized the whip from his hand, and although I knew
+full well it meant the branding iron or the gallows,
+I struck him thrice o’er the head with the loaded butt
+he keeps for the savage and unruly ones among his
+pack. Simon fell down in a heap. And then I saw
+Lord Gilroy riding toward me from a hilltop a furlong
+off, and made for the woods where his horse could
+not follow. They hunted me all morning, but I would
+have won away had’st thou not found me.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">When the thrall had ceased speaking it was very still
+in the lodge. Cedric looked at me with a painful question
+in his eyes. What my own looks answered I know
+not save from his words that quickly followed.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Egbert,” he cried, “thy act may have been lawless;
+but we will not judge thee; and thou shalt not be sent
+back to the lash or the branding iron by act of ours.
+Neither shalt thou longer wear that badge of slavery
+about thy neck. Here’s that which will sever it.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Striding to the darkened corner he took from among
+the armorer’s tools a stout, long-bladed file; then,
+springing back to Egbert’s side, seized the iron ring
+with one hand and set to work upon it with lusty
+strokes. Soon the band was half cut through; then
+Cedric dropped the file, and, taking the collar in both
+his sinewy hands, gave a mighty twist, broke it apart
+utterly and flung it as an accursed thing into the blackness
+beneath the armorer bench.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Next he took his cross-bow from the table and thrust
+it into Egbert’s hands.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Take this for thy safer journeying,” he cried,
+“thou’lt need to travel fast and far for some few days.
+Then thou may’st take service under some true lord as
+a plowman or a soldier as thou wilt. From this day
+forth thou art a freeman.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Egbert gazed at Cedric with tears streaming down
+his face. Then he fell on his knees before him; but
+my comrade raised him almost roughly.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Up with thee, Egbert! Thou’rt a freeman now,
+and should do utter homage to none but God. And
+there’s work to do if thou wilt keep thy freedom.
+Thou must be far away from Gilroy before another
+morn.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Egbert, among his sobs of joy, could say no word.
+I found in my pouch a little purse of gold and gave it
+him.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Thou’lt need to buy thy food and lodging as a
+traveler,” I said, “and not be taken as a prowling
+varlet. Look to it now.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Then he that had been our prisoner found voice at
+last and began to murmur broken words of thanks and
+to encumber his new found liberty with oaths of lifelong
+fealty to ourselves. But Cedric again checked
+him with uplifted hand.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Hark!” he whispered, “what was that sound?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">For a moment all three of us stood silent and breathless,
+listening to the wind in the branches without and
+the faint snapping of coals on the hearth. Then came
+the noise again,—a long drawn, baying howl of a
+hound on a scent.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Some of our neighbors hunt the deer,” I said.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Nay,” answered Cedric quickly, “’tis no deer-hound.
+’Tis a far deeper note.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Meanwhile the face of Egbert had turned an ashen
+gray, and now his limbs shook with very terror.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“’Tis the bloodhounds of Gilroy,” he gasped. “My
+lord ever keeps two or three for just such use as this.
+They follow on my track.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Then from a window we saw, a furlong off in the
+open wood, two huge brown hounds that ran with noses
+close to earth and upon a path that led straight toward
+the lodge.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Cedric seized his cross-bow again from Egbert’s
+hands.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Get thee back within,” he commanded, “I will soon
+stop the coursing of these blood beasts.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Egbert leaped through the door again to the inner
+room; and Cedric, throwing wide the shutter, was taking
+aim at the foremost of the hounds when I cried
+out from behind him:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Hold! Hold! It is too late. There come the
+horsemen.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">From another point in the wood, not far from where
+the dogs had emerged, there were now riding toward
+us half a dozen mounted men. Cedric withdrew his
+weapon; and we gazed upon them in utter dismay.
+Lord Gilroy and Sir Philip Carrington were in the
+lead, and after them came three or four stout foresters
+and last of all, upon an ambling palfrey, none other
+than Simon, the dogmaster, with his head bound round
+and round with a great white cloth.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Cedric put away his bow, and, unbarring the door
+of the lodge, stood on the step without, spurning away
+the hounds that sought to enter.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Good morrow, gentlemen!” he called, full jovially.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Good morrow, gentlemen <em class="italics">both</em>,” answered Lord
+Gilroy with a most wicked laugh.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Your hunting does not prosper,” said Cedric, paying
+no heed to the affront conveyed in Gilroy’s sneering
+words.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“How not?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Why, it would seem that your hounds have picked
+up our trail to the lodge here in place of that of their
+proper quarry, as the best of dogs will do at times.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Aye,” answered Lord Gilroy, still with the evil
+smile on his face. “The best of dogs and men do err
+at times. And yet, ’tis passing strange they are so set
+upon it. See! They course about and about thy little
+lodge and will not leave it.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Cedric cast a careless glance at the hounds. Then
+he said:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Come messieurs, can ye not alight for a moment
+and rest within? I cannot offer meat and drink for
+here we have none; but you may sit upon a bench by a
+fire while your men aid the hounds at finding the track
+again.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Lord Gilroy threw his bridle rein to one of the foresters,
+leaped down from his horse, and strode toward
+the door; and his nephew did likewise. Simon and
+the others withdrew to a little distance and dismounted
+by the brook where they called the hounds to them.</p>
+<p class="pnext">When our most unwelcome guests were within the
+lodge, Cedric made haste to place for them the benches
+before the fireplace and again lamented that the place
+afforded nothing of refreshment. I made such talk
+as I might with both Lord Gilroy and Sir Philip, asking
+them of the tourney at Winchester where they had
+lately ridden, the deer on Gilroy lands and other like
+matters of no import.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Gilroy’s keen gray eyes roved ever about the lodge;
+and after one or two courteous replies to my questions,
+he asked of Cedric:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Art sure, Grimsby, that that inner room contains
+no cask or wine-skin? ’Twould seem else that thy
+lodge is but meagerly furnished.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Aye, ’tis so,” answered Cedric at once.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Again our guest glanced keenly at Sir Cedric, while
+I breathed shortly indeed. But he said no more; and
+now I made diversion by asking Sir Philip if ’twas
+true that the Carringtons are Welsh descended. I
+knew full well ’twas not; and was hugely pleased when
+he denied it hotly and went on at greatest length to
+prove his family of pure Norman blood by reciting all
+the quarterings on the Carrington shield and their
+origins in the days before the Conquest.</p>
+<p class="pnext">At last Lord Gilroy stood erect and said, to my great
+and joyful relief:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Welladay! We must fare on, if ever we are to
+take that runagate. The sunbeams already slope far
+to westward; and ’twill soon be—”</p>
+<p class="pnext">But there his words were of a sudden checked; and he
+stood staring at a point on the floor beneath the bench,
+three yards away. There, where half an hour before
+all had been deepest shadow, the sloping beam of the
+afternoon sun now rested, and brought to clear and
+certain view <em class="italics">the iron collar</em>.</p>
+<p class="pnext">With an oath he sprang forward and seized it.
+Holding it up before us, he read in a loud voice the
+graven words:</p>
+<blockquote><div>
+<p class="pfirst">“<span class="small-caps">Egbert, Thrall of William, Lord of Gilroy.</span>”</p>
+</div></blockquote>
+<p class="pfirst">Cedric stood facing him; and none of us spoke any
+word. Then Gilroy flung the collar on the floor and
+burst forth:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Ah then! ’Tis even as I thought. One churl will
+help another in any strait.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">At this insult to my comrade, my hand flew to where
+my good sword should have been; and I ground my
+teeth to find it not. But Gilroy paid no heed to
+me. Instantly he sprang forward toward the inner
+door.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“We’ll see what lies within,” he shouted.</p>
+<p class="pnext">But Cedric De La Roche was quicker yet. He
+leaped before the door, and with a mighty push sent
+Lord Gilroy half across the room. Then both Gilroy
+and Carrington drew swords and rushed upon us. By
+this time I had gathered my wits, and recalling the
+goodly weapon at my very back, had turned and seized
+the rusted broadsword from above the fireplace. I
+was but just in time to receive the attack of both of
+them at once; for Cedric stooped to reach his cross-bow
+which rested against the wall, ready drawn and
+with the bolt he had meant for the hound still in
+groove. For a moment I withstood the double attack;
+then Sir Philip only was before me. He fought
+fiercely enough, forsooth, but in a most lubberly fashion.
+Half a dozen strokes and I caught his weapon
+with a twist I had long practiced and sent it clattering
+across the floor. Then with loud menaces of running
+him through the body, I drove him before me to the
+wall where I made him stand with hands above his
+head. Glancing sidewise, I now beheld the Lord of
+Gilroy in the same pitiful plight. His weapon also
+lay on the floor; and Cedric stood before him with
+cross-bow leveled at his heart.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Wilt thou slay us then,” growled Gilroy, “in unseemly
+brawl over this runagate?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Nay,” answered Cedric sweetly, “but ye are our
+prisoners, duly taken. If we grant your lives and
+arms, you shall give us knightly word to retire from
+the lands of Grimsby, and give o’er this bloody hunting
+you were bent upon.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“That word we give,” said Gilroy, shortly.</p>
+<p class="pnext">We instantly lowered our weapons, and, stooping,
+lifted the swords from the floor and returned them
+to their owners. Simon, the dogmaster, opened the
+door and thrust in his bandaged head wherein one eye
+was purple and swollen with a blow it had received
+from the whip butt. Behind him stood two of the
+foresters.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Return thou, till I call thee,” shouted Gilroy furiously.</p>
+<p class="pnext">When they had retired once more to the brookside,
+our late antagonists turned again to leave the
+lodge. At the door Lord Gilroy paused and spake
+again, slowly and as one that fully weighs his
+words.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Our word is given to leave the lands of Grimsby
+and thus to allow this thrall to escape. But no promise
+have we given as to aught else. Mayhap the King
+will listen when I send him word at Winchester how
+his vassal so newly of the fee of Grimsby is bearing
+himself. Mayhap it will not seem to him quite fitting
+that one who holds his lands in fee should with deceit
+and with violence shelter misdoing churls from their
+lawful masters.”</p>
+<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="margin-left: 21%; width: 57%" id="figure-34">
+<span id="then-with-loud-menaces-i-drove-him-to-the-wall-where-i-made-him-stand-with-hands-above-his-head"/><img style="display: block; margin-left: 0%; width: 100%" alt="images/illus16.png" src="images/illus16.png" width="100%"/>
+<div class="caption italics">
+THEN WITH LOUD MENACES I DROVE HIM TO THE WALL WHERE I
+MADE HIM STAND WITH HANDS ABOVE HIS HEAD</div>
+</div>
+<p class="pfirst">I caught my breath in dismay. Such a threat I knew
+the crafty Gilroy quite capable of carrying out. For
+myself I had little concern: the Mountjoys were too
+strong in the Western country and too valuable to the
+King’s cause for any such matter to bring down upon
+us any serious menace. But Cedric was a yeoman
+born; and many there were to think with spite and envy
+of his rise to knightly dignity.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Sir Philip now burst forth with a cackling laugh—the
+first sound that had come from him since I had
+him at the wall with his hands o’er his head.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Ha, Grimsby!” he jibed, “thou’rt not so great a
+victor as it seemed. Mayhap the fee of Grimsby will
+soon be vacant once more.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Then Cedric spoke again, his words being pronounced
+with the same slow heedfulness with which
+the Lord of Gilroy had uttered his threat a moment
+since.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“’Tis true, my lord, that naught prevents thee from
+sending or carrying this tale to the King. ’Tis also
+true—and this mayhap thou hast forgotten—that
+naught prevents <em class="italics">me</em>, in the event of thy wishing to
+carry this quarrel further, from taking to the King
+the full account (well known to me though thou hast
+thought it hidden) of thy doings and those of the Carringtons
+during the weeks that followed the King’s
+return to England, and while his traitorous brother,
+Prince John, with the aid of certain gentlemen who
+might have been more loyally employed, strove to
+keep him from his throne, and even, so ’tis said, to
+deprive him of life.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Before the half of this had been spoken the face of
+Lord Gilroy had grown pale as death, and he seemed
+to shrink a full handsbreadth in stature. His nephew
+gazed from one to the other of us with whitened cheeks
+and foolish, open mouth. As soon as Cedric had finished,
+Lord Gilroy began in a tone far different from
+any he had used that day:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Nay, nay, Grimsby and Mountjoy both! Why
+<em class="italics">should</em> we make of this trifling despite o’er a runagate
+thrall such a matter of bitter menacing? In truth,
+’twere well should we all forget this day of petty quarreling
+and live in neighborly peace henceforth.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Nothing would better please me,” quoth Sir Cedric
+in reply.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“And thou, Mountjoy?” pursued Lord Gilroy,
+“what sayest thou?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“With all my heart,” I replied.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Lord Gilroy seemed about to offer his hand in token
+of our reconciliation; but mayhap something in our
+faces stayed him. With a hurried bow he turned once
+more to the door of the lodge. After him went Sir
+Philip, reminding me in his shrunken confidence of a
+rain-drenched chanticleer. At the brookside, they
+climbed sullenly upon their horses’ backs, and without
+a word to their followers, spurred away through the
+forest.</p>
+<p class="pnext">An hour later, Egbert, the freeman, astride a good
+horse from the Grimsby stables, with cross-bow in hand
+and gold in pouch, was riding through the twilight on
+the road to Shrewsbury.</p>
+</div>
+<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xiiion-the-road-to-runnymede">
+<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id14">CHAPTER XIII—ON THE ROAD TO RUNNYMEDE</a></h2>
+<p class="pfirst">I was in Stamford in the year of the Great
+Charter of King John. Half the knights and
+barons of all England with a goodly following
+of men-at-arms and yeomanry had been assembled
+under the banner of our stout Marshal, Fitz Walter,
+and had seized by force and arms full many royal
+castles. Now, at the end of a truce which to no avail
+had been secured by the Archbishop, we were ready to
+march towards London to bring to terms our most
+crafty and tyrannic lord and king. For years he had
+dealt in plots and scheming to overreach the great
+and strong among the baronry, and from the weaker
+seized their lands and goods at will and oft threw their
+persons into durance to further his gross ends of gain
+or vengeance. Now some hundreds of the barons of
+the North, with a dozen or more of us from the West
+counties and the Welsh Marches, and a sprinkling of
+churchmen, who no less than ourselves had suffered
+from the King’s o’erreaching, were gathered in Bermondsey
+Hall to agree, if we might, upon a scroll of
+the grievances that the King must remedy when our
+further assaults should have forced him to sue for
+peace.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Geoffrey, Lord of Carleton and Teramore, leader of
+a hundred lances and half a thousand bowmen, rose
+from his seat amid a clamor of disputing voices and
+saluted the Marshal and the assembled company.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“I propose, my lords and gentlemen,” he said in
+that high, sweet voice of his which yet is far-heard
+and commanding, “the name of Sir Cedric De La
+Roche, Knight of Grimsby and bold defender of our
+Western Marches, for the fifth and final member of
+this group. He is a brave man and true; and hath, as
+we often say in the West, a head as well as an arm. He
+is both soldier and scholar, forsooth, and knoweth more
+of the Latin tongue than any layman among us. You
+have named Sir Richard of Mountjoy to serve you in
+this matter because, three months agone, he took the
+Castle of Tournoy which the King’s men were strongly
+holding with greater forces than his own and from
+whence they might have sorely threatened us. But
+most of you know not that ’twas Cedric De La Roche
+who gained entrance to the castle in disguise, and full
+well deceived the garrison, then at midnight overpowered,
+gagged and bound the sentinel at a little postern
+gate, threw it open and admitted the Mountjoys.
+Lacking him and his stratagem we might still be hammering
+at the walls of Tournoy and our whole campaign
+be sore delayed.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“For the Latin we have the Abbot of Moberley,”
+said old Lord Esmond from his seat on one of the
+benches at the right. “What need have we of another
+clerk?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“The Reverend Abbot,” answered Carleton, “will
+do the cause good service, I doubt not, in making clear
+for our Commissioners the substance of old scrolls
+and charters which they must study, and mayhap in
+inditing in fair Latin hand the articles which we present
+to the King. In his hands we may be sure the
+interests of his order, and particularly of the Abbey
+of Moberley, will not suffer. But I say ’tis well that
+we of the baronage have a representative of our own
+number who can see that this scroll, for which we risk
+our lives and fortunes, truly and amply provides for
+remedy of the wrongs we suffer.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“And <em class="italics">I</em> say,” shouted Lord Esmond, springing to
+his feet the instant Carleton had finished, “that if we
+are to have a representative of our order in the inditing
+of this scroll, as my Lord Carleton says, we should
+have a representative indeed. De La Roche is a true
+man and a capable soldier, as none will deny; but we
+have here many lords and gentlemen of longer service
+and of purest Norman blood. The Knight of
+Grimsby, as all may know, is yeoman and Saxon born.
+Such a man, be he never so learned, must ever think
+as the folk from whom he sprung and can never
+rightly guard our rights and privileges.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">For an hour we had debated of our wrongs and the
+measures that should put an end to them, each speaker
+being fiercely bent upon the thing that should lift the
+oppression that had borne most heavily upon him and
+caring little for aught else. But finally ’twas seen
+that the whole assembly could accomplish naught but
+argument and loud bickering, and that the writing of
+the scroll must be done by a few chosen men who
+should later bring their work before the whole body
+of leaders for their assent and undertaking. Two of
+the oldest of the northern leaders, the Baron De Longville
+and the Lord of Esmond, had been first named,
+then the learned and courtier-like Abbot of Moberley
+who was beneath the insurgent banner because of the
+King’s high-handed procedure in the matter of Moberley
+Abbey, where, during the absence on pilgrimage
+of the rightful holder, he had declared the abbacy
+vacant and conferred it with all its lands upon one of
+his shameless favorites from Normandy. A moment
+before, my own name had been added to the list in
+recognition of the services of the Western lords that
+had well broken the power of the King in all their
+countryside.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Following Lord Esmond’s bitter speech, came shouts
+of approval from some of the other northerners; and
+it seemed like that my old friend and comrade would
+be deprived of the honor which Geoffrey of Carleton
+had sought to have conferred upon him. But the venerable
+De Lacey, long the Lord High Constable of
+England, and still a power in the land, though bent
+and snowy-haired with age, rose slowly to his
+feet and addressed the Marshal and the company:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“My lords: ’tis well for those to talk who know
+whereof they speak. Years agone I knighted Cedric
+De La Roche for knightliest service at the Battle of
+the Pass where verily he changed defeat to victory.
+Since that time he hath many a time and oft served
+under me and others, always to the welfare of the Kingdom
+and the enhancement of his name. Lord Esmond
+says that Cedric De La Roche comes not of noble
+family. I ask of you, my lords, who made <em class="italics">our</em> families
+noble but some hard-smiting ancestors we had
+that served not better, I warrant you, than this man
+of whom we speak. And I have seen his lands of
+Grimsby and the stout and loyal men who do willingly
+follow him, and know full well he can think and plan as
+well as strike. Finally, my lords, ’tis not the tale of
+his father’s or his grandfather’s deeds but of his very
+own that should guide the choosing of a man for a
+time of need.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">At this, still louder shouts burst forth, especially
+from the younger men; and some did loudly call Sir
+Cedric’s name, insisting that he serve. When partial
+silence came once more, the Marshal brought all question
+to an end by announcing all the names of the group
+and ending with that of Cedric De La Roche. Then,
+it being near the supper hour, the company broke up
+amid cheering and noisy overthrow of benches and the
+clamor of many voices in eager talk of the day’s events.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The meeting next day of the group that should do
+the writing of the scroll was scarcely better than that
+of the whole assembly. Esmond and De Longville
+disputed long and loud over exemption from the tax
+levied for the French war; and some suggestions that
+we others made for the Kingdom’s better ordering
+went all unheeded in the din. The Abbot, smiling and
+crafty as always, patiently awaited the time, so sure
+to come, when noise and clamor should exhaust itself,
+and his own smooth-spoken counsel should prevail.
+He had with him a copy of the old charter of the
+First Henry; and Cedric a draft of some of the laws
+of Edward the Confessor which he believed should
+be included. At last, when ’twas seen that we made
+no headway, my own voice was for a moment listened
+to; and ’twas agreed that our two scholars, the Abbot
+and Cedric De La Roche, should work together, making
+from the ancient laws and grants, with such additions
+as were found needful, the articles we should
+put before the King.</p>
+<p class="pnext">With all my comradely thought for Cedric, I could
+but smile as I thought of the task that now confronted
+him. I knew well that he had certain cherished plans
+with regard to these articles whereby he hoped to gain
+for the commons some of the privileges and immunities
+which he regarded as the natural rights of freeborn
+men. Often and often he had declaimed to me of
+these things, and with such eloquence and conviction
+as well nigh made me a convert to his party—if that
+could be called a party which had no leaders and no program
+and scarce a voice save his own. The commons
+knew no other way of protest against the wrongs they
+suffered than such violent and fruitless revolts as that
+of the churls of De Lancey Manor, with mayhap the
+killing of a tyrannous noble and the later hunting
+down and hanging of the leaders of the mob. Cedric
+had for years maintained that their natural rights
+should be assured to them by charter and not left to
+the caprice of some careless or greedy overlord.</p>
+<p class="pnext">But the Abbot of Moberley was allied by blood and
+by early training to powerful Norman families; and
+’twas likely that he had but little sympathy with any
+such ideas. Handsome, learned and eloquent, he was
+accustomed to win his way among rough and heavy-handed
+lords and barons and the little better schooled
+officials of the royal courts by the skill and grace of
+his address, and yet more, if all rumors were true,
+by a readiness to shift his allegiance to any cause in
+accordance with circumstance and his own prevailing
+interest. In truth, he had been bred for the law as
+much as for the Church; and his great services to
+his order, which had been amply rewarded with power
+and place, were those performed in court or council
+rather than in church or monastery.</p>
+<p class="pnext">At this very time, Lord Geoffrey of Carleton, Cedric
+and I had reason to suspect the Abbot of secret communications
+with the Archbishop, who was still nominally
+of the King’s party, and who would perhaps have
+much to do with the final shaping of our articles if ever
+we should force the King to consent to their sealing.
+’Twas evident that the rights of churchmen would not
+be overlooked in the final treaty; and, although this
+too had our approval, we were the more determined
+that those of other estates should also be well guarded.</p>
+<p class="pnext">On the morrow, nevertheless, it seemed certain that
+this co-working of two such diverse men would be
+effective, and that we would soon be prepared to take
+before the assemblage of leaders the completed scroll.
+The Abbot and Cedric De La Roche came late to our
+meeting, and still debating hotly on the way; but they
+brought a list of articles they had most cunningly devised
+for the remedy of the ills of which we most
+loudly complained. The Abbot read them to us clearly
+and with most just accent, like the learned speaker
+that he is; and I think the two old northern lords were
+mightily impressed with the power and worth of words
+so skillfully marshalled. When he had finished we
+might have then and there adopted the articles and
+ended our labors. But at the end of his reading, the
+Abbot said:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“My lords, I wish to testify that from Sir Cedric
+De La Roche I have received most welcome assistance
+in the drawing of this scroll, both in the reading of
+the ancient laws and charters and in the devising of
+new provisions toward the wise and just ordering of
+the Kingdom. Nevertheless, upon some minor points
+we have not yet agreed; and upon these he wishes to
+address you.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Sir Cedric rose to his feet, and for a moment looked
+from one to the other of our company. His fine and
+open countenance and clear blue eyes and the martial
+squareness of his broad shoulders would have won him
+high regard in any great assembly. It seemed to me
+at that moment that the youth whom I had first known
+as a forester of Pelham and whom I had seen rise to
+knightly dignities, well deserved, was at the summit of
+his career when those whose decisions were weighty
+in the affairs of our time awaited his words on a
+matter of such moment. Baron De Longville was
+looking at Cedric with no unfriendly eye; but the Lord
+of Esmond, who had wished to adopt the articles at
+once, frowned with impatience at the end of the Abbot’s
+speech, and now gazed moodily at the floor.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“My lords,” began Cedric clearly, “we have as the
+twentieth of these articles—‘Let no Sheriff or Bailiff
+of the King take horses or carts of any free man for
+doing carriage except with his own consent.’ Upon
+the next page we have the provision—‘Let not the
+body of a baron, knight or other noble person be taken,
+or imprisoned or disseized, or outlawed or banished,
+or in any way destroyed, nor let the King go or send
+upon him by force, except by the judgment of his
+peers or by the law of the land.’ These things are
+just and right, but to my thinking they go not far
+enough. Why should we not deserve the good wishes
+for the triumph of our cause and the strong right arms
+not only of the baronage but of all the freemen of
+England? Why should not these provisions be altered
+to guard their rights also?”</p>
+<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="margin-left: 18%; width: 64%" id="figure-35">
+<span id="sir-cedric-rose-to-his-feet-and-for-a-moment-looked-from-one-to-the-other-of-our-company"/><img style="display: block; margin-left: 0%; width: 100%" alt="images/illus17.png" src="images/illus17.png" width="100%"/>
+<div class="caption italics">
+SIR CEDRIC ROSE TO HIS FEET AND FOR A MOMENT LOOKED FROM ONE TO THE OTHER OF OUR COMPANY</div>
+</div>
+<p class="pfirst">Lord Esmond raised his head and gazed sharply at
+Cedric’s face.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“And how would’st <em class="italics">thou</em> amend them,” he growled.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“I would say, in the first instance, ‘Let no Sheriff
+or Bailiff of the King <em class="italics">nor any other person</em> take horses
+or carts of any free man for doing carriage except
+with his own consent.’ And in the second, would have
+the words <em class="italics">a free man</em> in place of <em class="italics">baron, knight or other
+noble person</em>, so that it would read: ‘Let not the
+body of a free man be taken or imprisoned or disseized,
+or outlawed’—and the rest.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Mayhap these churls have made thee their spokesman,”
+sneered Esmond.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Nay,” replied Cedric, “I speak for no party,
+whether high or low, but for the common good of
+England.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Lord Esmond turned with sour and vinegary look
+first to De Longville, then to the Abbot.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“What did I say in the Assembly? This man hath
+no conception of the rights of our order. All his
+concern is for churls and clowns.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Cedric grew very red, and his hand went to his
+sword hilt. I sprang up to address our chief, De
+Longville, and placed myself between the Knight of
+Grimsby and the fiery old lord from the North.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“My lords,” I cried, “we gain nothing by arguments
+that speedily pass into brawls. Come, let us
+vote upon these provisions. ’Tis the rightful way.
+To-morrow, or the next day at the furthest, we must
+take our report to the Assembly; and we should come
+to agreement.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“’Tis so,” replied De Longville, “we waste our
+time in bickering. Come Esmond, what say’st thou
+as to these amendments?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“I say <em class="italics">nay</em>,” shouted Esmond. “Let the articles
+even stand as they were.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“And thou, Most Reverend Abbot?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“I say <em class="italics">nay</em>,” replied the churchman quietly.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“And thou, Mountjoy?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Aye,” I answered loudly. “These changes seem
+to me to take naught from us and to be well conceived
+to gain us many friends.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“De La Roche?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Aye.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">De Longville gazed first at the floor beneath his feet
+then at the ceiling overhead and bent his brows in a
+painful frown. At length he said:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“It seems I have the casting vote. I see little use
+in these changes, save to pamper churls and thralls
+that too often already raise their heads with complaints
+and demands. Some of them verily believe they might
+govern the land as well as their betters. ’Tis a dangerous
+tendency that must be checked. I say <em class="italics">nay</em> also.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Lord Esmond turned toward Cedric with a smile of
+triumph; and my heart became as lead to think of his
+defeat. But the Knight of Grimsby was instantly on
+his feet again with a new proposal, which to my amaze
+he uttered with a broad and pleasant smile on his
+face, such as he might have worn had his amendings
+been received with utmost acclaim.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Has the thought come to you, my lords, that in
+this scroll, thus far, we have made no provision for the
+enforcement of our demands? We deal with a strong
+and crafty monarch. Even if he place his seal upon
+our demands, what surety have we that he will adhere
+to them after our levies have been dispersed? He will
+then be stronger than any one or two or three of us.
+How shall we ensure his adherence to the treaty?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">The rest of us gazed at one another in silence. This
+was a new thought, it seemed, to our whole assembly;
+and none could deny the seriousness of the question.
+At last De Longville spoke again:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“And hast thou, Grimsby, given thought to this so
+that thou canst now produce a remedy?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Not on the instant, my lord; but in the main my
+thought is this: In this instrument itself must be provision
+for its enforcement. The King must agree that
+a body of ten or a score or more of us shall be named
+by ourselves; and that these shall be responsible to see
+that the charter be not impaired or overridden. In
+another night I can form the language to carry this
+provision into our articles.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Then the Abbot spoke, suggesting that Sir Cedric be
+instructed to do this; and finally, on motion of mine,
+the articles were back referred to Cedric and the
+Abbot with instruction to bring to our meeting, at two
+o’ the clock on the following day, a fair and perfect
+copy that we might adopt and place before the assembled
+leaders.</p>
+<p class="pnext">’Twas then high noon. As we left the Council Hall,
+Sir Cedric took me by the arm and insisted that I come
+to his inn for the midday meal. There was in his
+inviting a special urgency and a look in his eyes from
+which I who knew him so well of old instantly gained
+the knowledge that this was no ordinary matter of
+courtesy but something of vastly greater moment. So
+I easily suffered myself to be led toward his quarters;
+and soon we were seated at a board that was graced
+with a goodly roast and all other due refreshment.</p>
+<p class="pnext">When we had something satisfied our hunger, and
+the old serving man who waited on us had departed,
+Cedric bent toward me across the board to say:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“What sayest thou, Sir Richard, to a ride of a
+dozen leagues or so and a little adventure whereby, if
+Fortune favors, we may do our cause full loyal service?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“With all my heart!” I cried, “whither shall we
+ride, and on what errand?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">’Twas two months and more since we had seen activity;
+and this dull life of the camp and the town was
+little to my liking. Sir Hubert Gillespie had lately
+struck a blow for the King by the surprise and capture
+of two strong castles in the Midlands that we had
+thought safely in our hands, while we with our brave
+array at Stamford consumed the days and our dwindling
+substance in idleness.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“’Tis one that’s something dangerous, forsooth,”
+replied my friend, “and I doubt much whether our
+elderly and prudent leaders would approve it.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Say no more, for Mountjoy is with thee to the hilt.
+What followers shall I bring, and with what arms?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“A dozen lusty swordsmen—men still young and
+light on the feet and with heads to understand a
+stratagem. Dickon and John o’ the Wallfield and
+Elbert the Smith are the right sort. See that every
+man wears beneath his outer garment a coat of linked
+mail and carries a sword no longer than his arm.
+Within the hour I will meet thee at the beech wood
+thou knowest to the south of the town; and will bring
+a like number of the men of Grimsby. We shall ride
+hard and far; so look to it, I pray thee, that thy men
+be well mounted. We may have cause for speed on
+the homeward road.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">An hour later, with four and twenty proper men,
+Cedric and I rode out of the beech wood, and took the
+high road toward the south, where, but five or six
+leagues away, the castles and most of the towns were
+still in the hands of the King’s mercenaries. I knew
+full well that the quest on which we were embarked
+was one that meant our cause’s advancement, and
+would have willingly trusted Cedric for the rest; but
+now we drew ahead of our horsemen, and he explained
+full clearly his design. ’Twas such a plan as only
+Cedric would have formed, and its outcome in truth,
+exceeding dubious; but we were comrades of old in
+many a venture that would have been refused by
+prudent men; and now he had no labor in convincing
+me that this was worth the trial.</p>
+<p class="pnext">After an hour’s riding, we came to a thick wood, and
+turned aside in this into a little glade where we halted
+to rest our mounts and to bring about a most surprising
+change in our appareling. At a word from Cedric,
+each of the Grimsby men proceeded to withdraw from
+his saddle bags some garments which, being unfolded,
+appeared as the long gray cloaks and hoods of palmers.
+Each, it seemed, had brought a costume for himself and
+for one of the Mountjoy men; and now, in less time
+than the telling takes, we had all laid aside among the
+bracken any headwear or other dress that might not
+properly consort with these, and stood forth as a body
+of pilgrims in the dress that marked those who had
+accomplished the toilsome journey to the Holy Land.
+Soon we were on the road again, and, save for now
+and again the rattle of a sword hilt or a robust, laughing
+word, might not have been distinguished from
+a cavalcade of devout returning pilgrims such as were
+not uncommon on our roads.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Without mishap we pursued our way into a region
+where all the points of vantage were held by our enemies;
+and where armed parties, far too strong for our
+gainsaying, patrolled the roads or watched them from
+the hilltops. In the late afternoon we came within sight
+of the Castle of Moberley which was held for the King
+by Sir John Champney with a hundred lances and six
+score cross-bowmen.</p>
+<p class="pnext">On the left, and but half a mile from the castle, lay
+the Abbey where William De Bellair, favorite of the
+King, renegade cleric and forsworn Crusader, held
+usurping sway over the monks and lay brethren and
+the fields and vineyards that had been the rightful domain
+of our associate at Stamford whom we still
+greeted as the Abbot of Moberley.</p>
+<p class="pnext">At a like distance from Moberley Castle was a fork
+in the road just beyond a timbered bridge o’er a stream.
+There the left-hand track led to the Abbey and that on
+the right went straight to the castle gates. At the
+full trot we took the former turning, and soon were
+calling for admittance at the Abbey doors.</p>
+<p class="pnext">This, to a devoted band of pilgrims, was not long
+denied. The gates were thrown ajar, and, leaving two
+trusty fellows to care for the horses in the outer courtyard,
+we passed into the refection hall of the monastery
+to pay our respects to this venerable seat of piety and
+learning. Our worthy palmers scattered themselves
+about the great room with its low timbered ceiling and
+mighty fireplace, and engaged in talk with the monks
+or in reverent examining of the painted series on the
+walls, the work of an earnest though not too highly
+skilled lay brother, and setting forth the story of Joseph
+and his brethren.</p>
+<p class="pnext">After a little, Sir Cedric, acting as our leader, sent
+word to the Abbot whom we had not yet seen, that
+here was a group of a score and more of palmers who
+now paid their first visit to the far-renowned Abbey
+of Moberley and who wished to have speech with the
+reverend master of the house ere they departed. This
+message, with its accompanying compliments, accomplished
+its intent; and soon William De Bellair, in all
+the robes of his office, entered the hall from an inner
+door and seated himself in his great chair on the dais.</p>
+<p class="pnext">If ever the character and history of a man were
+written on his face, ’twas so with the false Abbot of
+Moberley. My gorge rose within me at the sight of
+his red and bloated countenance that told so plainly
+of a life the very opposite of that led by a true monk
+and churchman. His mean and shifty little gray eyes
+were all but covered with folds and wrinkles of fat,
+yet quite sufficiently revealed a nature compounded
+of fox and pig. De Bellair was one of a group of
+dissolute Frenchmen who had won the favor of the
+King and the hatred of true Englishmen by supporting
+our lawless and grasping sovereign in all his schemes
+for the seizure of power and wealth. It was against
+them nearly as much as the King that our banner of
+revolt had been raised; and in our Articles of Stamford
+we had already named a half dozen of the worst of
+them who must be deprived of all offices and banished
+from the Kingdom. ’Twas no blame to the Church
+that such miscreants profaned some of her holy offices.
+In defiance of her rights of ancient usage, they had
+been thrust by their royal master into the places they
+disgraced, oftentimes in reward for services which
+would not bear recording.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Reverend Father,” said Cedric, bowing low, “we
+congratulate ourselves upon our visit to this ancient
+and honorable abbey; and we have here some gifts and
+tokens to bestow upon thee as the head of this worthy
+brotherhood.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">De Bellair bowed deeply in acknowledgment of this
+greeting. When he raised his head again, what was
+his amaze and horror to find that he that had addressed
+him so respectfully had sprung upon the dais, pulled
+from his shoulders the palmer’s cloak, and now rushed
+upon him as a hound upon his quarry. In an instant
+the long gray robe was flung o’er the Abbot’s head
+and arms, and despite his struggles and cries a rope
+was speedily bound about his middle, pinioning his
+hands to his sides. Then he was lifted bodily and
+hurried toward the courtyard door. Some of the
+monks set up a hideous outcry, and one or two sought
+to intercept those who carried the bound and struggling
+Abbot; but where they thought to deal with unarmed
+pilgrims, they found themselves confronted with two
+and twenty stout fellows each of whom had drawn
+from beneath his flowing cloak a short-bladed sword
+and flourished it in most menacing way. They fell
+back before us, overawed, and understanding nothing
+of what had passed. Only one of the monastery people
+did preserve his wits at this amazing juncture, and
+this an acolyte youth of sixteen years. Slipping out
+of the hall and through the rear of the Abbey, he ran,
+as we afterwards learned to our cost, with might and
+main to take the news of this mad foray to the castle’s
+governor.</p>
+<p class="pnext">In the outer yard we spent some time in adjusting
+more firmly our captive’s bonds and in cutting slits
+through the cloak that bound his head so as to allow
+him to breathe but nowise to see and scarcely to make
+himself heard with calls for help. Then hoisting him
+with difficulty (for he was a gross, fat man) upon a
+stout charger whereon one of our own men rode behind
+him, we turned away from the Abbey and rode at such
+speed as we might on the road by which we came.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Our progress was slow at the first, for our prisoner
+sat most unevenly in his bonds; and we had no mind
+to let him fall by the way. And we had no more than
+fairly set out on the road when he began to shout and
+halloo in such wise that Dickon o’ the Wallfield, who
+rode behind him, was fain to bring him to understanding
+of his hopeless plight by a sharp prick from his
+poniard’s point. Thereafter he was silent; and we
+made better way; but withal most precious time had
+been lost. The night had already fallen, and with another
+quarter hour we might have won safely away.
+But as we approached the fork of the road we heard a
+thunder of hoofs coming from the castle. The riders
+were nearer the joining than we, and ere we could
+gain the bridge we heard their horses upon it and knew
+that Sir John Champney’s men were drawing up in
+battle array to meet us. As we surmised even then, Sir
+John had divided the force that he so hastily summoned
+to punish the supposed outlaws who seized the Abbot
+for a ransom, and had sent one party straight to the
+Abbey and led the other to this point to intercept us.</p>
+<p class="pnext">In the light from the great moon now rising, we
+could see that their numbers were more than twice our
+own. They were variously armed, as was to be expected
+with men who had been so abruptly summoned
+forth; but there were lances and steel caps enow and
+some had coats of mail. We sorely wished for the
+good broadswords we left behind at Stamford or the
+cross-bows with which a dozen of our party were so
+skilled. But now was not time for hesitation or for
+choosing of courses. Well we knew that in a trice the
+other party, riding from the Abbey gates, would be on
+our track and we would be taken in front and rear.
+With a mighty shout we rode down upon the bridge,
+trusting all to the darkness and the fury of our attack.</p>
+<p class="pnext">In a moment we were in the midst of a bloody mêlée
+on the bridge. Our men thrust back their hampering
+robes, and hewed and slashed with deadly effect; but
+those opposing us were no weaklings nor novices in
+war. Sir John Champney slew two of our men with
+downright broadsword strokes and another was pierced
+through throat by a lance. I rode in a closer press of
+fighting than I had seen since the Battle of the Pass;
+and once or twice was near beaten from my horse,
+though some of those that rained their blows on me
+fared worse indeed. Then Cedric came face to face
+with Sir John Champney, received a broadsword stroke
+on his uplifted, mail-clad arm, and countered with a
+blow that sent his enemy to earth.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Instantly the cry arose that Sir John was slain.
+Most of his followers were French and Flemish mercenaries;
+and now they melted away before us, fleeing
+to the fields on either side of the bridge or leaping to
+the shallow waters below. We paused long enough
+to learn that our men who had fallen were past all
+help; then rode forward at a gallop up the moon-lighted
+way, with our prisoner still safely bound and in our
+midst.</p>
+<p class="pnext">By the eleventh hour we entered again the wood
+where we had transformed ourselves to palmers; and
+’twas the work of but a moment to change us back
+to knights and men-at-arms. By midnight we were
+safely in the town and had our prisoner properly bestowed.
+Then Cedric and I parted for the night,—I
+to go to my bed, and he, as the morrow showed,
+to labor by candle-light all through the hours of
+darkness.</p>
+<p class="pnext">At nine the next morning I was by appointment at
+Cedric’s lodging, and found that he had just despatched
+a messenger to the true Abbot of Moberley with an
+urgent request that he come at once since most important
+news awaited him from the Abbey itself. This
+message speedily accomplished its object, and the Abbot,
+standing not on ceremony, came hurrying to the
+lodgings.</p>
+<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="margin-left: 18%; width: 64%" id="figure-36">
+<span id="with-a-mighty-shout-we-rode-down-upon-the-bridge-trusting-all-to-the-darkness-and-the-fury-of-our-attack"/><img style="display: block; margin-left: 0%; width: 100%" alt="images/illus18.png" src="images/illus18.png" width="100%"/>
+<div class="caption italics">
+WITH A MIGHTY SHOUT, WE RODE DOWN UPON THE BRIDGE, TRUSTING ALL TO THE DARKNESS
+AND THE FURY OF OUR ATTACK</div>
+</div>
+<p class="pfirst">We greeted him most courteously, and, when our
+guest was duly and comfortably seated, Cedric stated
+that riders had come in from Moberley the night before
+with the news of a most surprising happening.
+A band of a score or more of pilgrims returning from
+the Holy Land had entered the Abbey, and, doubtless
+being wroth at William De Bellair because he had
+forsworn himself by abandoning his vow to go an
+Crusade for the recovery of the Holy Sepulcher, had
+seized and bound him, and, overawing the monastery
+with weapons, had carried him away by force.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The Abbot listened to this tale of violence with
+sparkling eyes and with no hint of censure for those
+who had so roughly laid hands upon a cleric dignitary.
+When it was finished, indeed, he could scarce restrain
+his glee. Rising and smiting the table roundly with
+his hand, he cried:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Ha! Well served! Well served indeed, for a
+creature that calls himself monk and abbot, forsooth,
+when profit is that way to be gained but who forgets
+all monkish obligations when a layman’s way of living
+better serves him! The palmers are right indeed,
+and I devoutly hope they may keep him for aye as far
+from Moberley Abbey as his conduct hath ever been
+from that of a true churchman.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Cedric then resumed, in slow and measured voice:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“It so happens, Reverend Abbot, that I have several
+friends among these palmers, and to some extent they
+rely on me for advice in this matter.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Ah! Is it so indeed?” questioned the Abbot,
+eagerly. “Then I trust that thou, as a true friend of
+the Church and her rightful servitors, hast given advice
+to hold this fellow they have taken—at least till the
+King be brought to terms and our brotherhoods be free
+again to fill their offices without dictation.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Cedric slowly shook his head.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Nay, my advice has not yet been given. ’Twill
+require some further meditation to be sure that ’tis
+wisely bestowed. But, Reverend Abbot, if thou wilt
+but climb the stair that I shall show thee here and
+apply thine eye to a hole in the wall at the right, near
+the top, I warrant thee a sight well worth thy pains.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">So saying, Cedric rose and throwing open a small
+door at the rear of the room, indicated a dim and curving
+staircase that rose beyond it. The Abbot, after
+a searching glance at his host as though he feared some
+stratagem, quickly mounted, looking eagerly the while
+for the eye-hole in the wall. Both of us remained
+below; and Cedric, turning to a cabinet withdrew from
+it and placed upon the table a huge scroll of many
+sheets of freshly-written parchment.</p>
+<p class="pnext">A moment later, the churchman returned with
+brightly glowing face and twinkling eyes, and when
+the stairway door was closed again, exclaimed:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Sir Cedric De La Roche, thou’rt a true friend to
+the Church, and thy services shall be well remembered.
+’Tis William De Bellair, beyond all doubt, who sits
+in yonder inner room, and ’tis two archers of Grimsby
+who guard him. Full well do I know who led that
+band of palmers; and I say again thy fortunes shall
+not suffer for it.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Cedric bowed and smiled.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Ah well! ’Tis neither here nor there who led the
+palmers or whether they acted wholly of their own
+impulse. The thing of greatest moment now is this
+scroll of the articles which I have here in fair copy.
+Read it, I pray thee, and see whether thou wilt give
+thy voice for its adoption. Thou wilt see that I have
+introduced the provision for five and twenty barons
+who shall enforce the charter and also have written
+in some other matters that seem to us of moment.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">The Abbot took the scroll and quickly conned the
+pages whereon he and Cedric had on the first day of
+their labors come to full agreement. Then he came
+to the twentieth article, and ceasing reading, looked up
+at Cedric sharply.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Thou hast here the wording for which thou did’st
+argue yesterday.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Aye, ’tis so,” answered Cedric, grimly, “read on.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">The Abbot complied, but quickly came to another
+stop.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Let not the body of <em class="italics">a free man</em> be taken or imprisoned—”
+he read, “that again is the very language
+that was yesterday rejected.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Cedric nodded in assent. “Read on,” he said.</p>
+<p class="pnext">For some pages the Abbot went on in silence. Then
+he uttered an exclamation of surprise, and paused to
+read again—this time aloud—an article that appeared
+near the end of the scroll.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“All the aforesaid customs and liberties which the
+King hath conceded, to be held in the Kingdom as far
+as concerns his relations to his men, all in the realm,
+as well ecclesiastics as laity, <em class="italics">shall on their part observe
+toward their men</em>.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">The Abbot leaped to his feet, his face red with wrath.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“What means this, De La Roche? Would thou
+have all these things for which we risk our lives and
+lands extended to every churl and varlet in the Kingdom?”</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Aye,” answered Cedric steadily. “And if thou’lt
+look abroad through our camp, thou’lt see some thousands
+of those same churls and yeomen that do risk
+their lives in this cause as much as thou or me.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">The Abbot shook his head with impatience.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“’Tis beyond reason, De La Roche. I cannot give
+my word for it.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">Cedric for a moment gazed out of window. Then
+he said to me:</p>
+<p class="pnext">“This keeping in durance of an ecclesiastic who was
+appointed to his place by the King and moreover stands
+high in his favor, is a difficult and dangerous business.
+’Twill be better if we take him to the town’s edge and
+turn him loose to find his way back whence he came.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">The Abbot gazed at Cedric with parted lips and
+bated breath while one might have told two score.
+Then of a sudden he flung the parchment on the table
+and laughed full loud and long.</p>
+<p class="pnext">“Thou hast won, De La Roche. I yield me. Thou
+hast won and fairly. Thou’rt a most persuading
+speaker, I’ll be bound. I will go before our group
+this day, and make them adopt these articles whether
+they will or no. Then to-morrow I will speak for them
+before the whole assembly. Thou shalt see what I can
+do when I am well put to it. Depend upon it, the
+articles of that very scroll that lies before us will be
+the ones our party will present to the King. And
+thou, on thy part, shall have due watch and ward kept
+of thy prisoner, and see to it that he by no means gains
+his liberty until the King hath sealed our charter and
+pledged himself to interfere no more in our clerical
+elections.”</p>
+<p class="pnext">The Abbot was as good as his word. That afternoon
+he delivered such an address in eulogy of the
+articles as they appeared in this latest scroll as I had
+never heard before on any subject whatsoever. He
+marshalled all the arguments Cedric had used together
+with many more he had not thought on. His speech
+was filled with grace and eloquence and was of an enthusiasm
+that carried all away. He showed beyond
+all doubt the power that would accrue to our party
+through this inclusion of the rights of the commonalty
+in our charter. When he was done De Longville as
+strongly favored these provisions in the articles as on
+the day before he had opposed them. Lord Esmond
+grimly held his peace, though oft shaking his gray head
+in denial, and soon the scroll had been adopted by our
+vote of four to one. The following day our ardent
+champion made a yet more eloquent speech before the
+full assembly; and the articles were approved by acclamation.</p>
+<p class="pnext">All know the remainder of the tale of Magna Charta,—how
+the King, three days later, at Brackley where
+the articles were read to him, refused them with an
+oath, furiously declaring that the barons might as well
+have asked of him his kingdom,—how we resumed
+the war forthwith and the taking of his castles,—how
+the gates of London were opened to us and the King
+was at length brought to terms at Runnymede. There
+again ’twas Cedric De La Roche and the Abbot of
+Moberley who conferred with the Archbishop and the
+other commissioners of the King and satisfied themselves
+and us that the completed scroll that received the
+royal seal was to the same effect as our articles of
+Stamford and Brackley.</p>
+<p class="pnext">And now King John is dead, and little lamented, and
+a wiser sovereign rules the land. Already men begin
+to see how great a thing was done at Runnymede. ’Tis
+said that the Great Charter will be for centuries to
+come the basis of our English law, since it affirms with
+equal voice the rights of all our three estates,—the
+nobility, the clergy and the commons. It seems to me
+that later generations will find in its provisions the
+authority and the suggestion for many a reform that
+we dare not yet attempt, and that freer and happier men
+may date the beginning of better things to our bitter
+struggle with King John. If so be, may they think not
+overmuch of us that were noble born and fought for
+lordly privilege, but may they never forget that in our
+day there were true men of lowly birth who risked
+their all for the rights of their fellows. Of these was
+none more worthy of honor than he whom I am ever
+proud to call my friend and comrade,—Cedric, the
+Forester of Pelham.</p>
+<dl class="center docutils">
+<dt>THE END</dt>
+<dd><blockquote class="first"><div>
+<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em">
+</div>
+</div></blockquote>
+<p class="pfirst">Transcriber’s Notes for Cedric, the Forester:</p>
+<p class="pnext">Differences from modern spelling and modern construction have not been changed.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Variations in hyphenation and inconsistencies in spelling were retained.</p>
+<p class="last pnext">Punctuation inconsistencies and typographical errors were silently corrected.</p>
+</dd>
+</dl>
+<div class="vspace" style="height: 5em">
+</div>
+<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 37102 ***</div>
+</body>
+</html>
author	nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org>	2025-03-03 05:14:01 -0800
committer	nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org>	2025-03-03 05:14:01 -0800
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tree	4b616115891ab55180b239a61437567bdc2f48fe /37102-h/37102-h.htm
parent	87afff8ef5dcbce2dd1ebf53e318a00511922e19 (diff)