Georgia Historic Newspapers

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'1- ’■, ' 1 -■ i : i ’ ’ii ■■'
riIAPTKK XV.
The Prlii<‘< with lilm EnglUh an<l Gas
con army moved swiftly southward in
battle array and Kir Nlicel havln*c rf*
• rutted hia rank* with the two hun
dred member* of the original White
fVirnpany, from the wood* near Mont*
la-zard. joined the army and received
the honorable eommlinton from the
Prince, to push ahead into Spain and
!«< over the location and strength of
the Spanish and French army under
King Henry of TVanatamare. The lit
tle hand wound through the panne* of
Navarre and into the rugged land of
Spain.
Sir Nig* l had with him Sir William
Felton. Sir Oliver Butteathorn. »tout
old Sir Simon Burley, the Hootch knight
errant, the Karl of Annua, and Sir Rich
ard Taunton, all accounted among the
bra vent knight* In the army, together
with nlifr veteran men-ut nr tan. and
three hundred and twenty archern Spies
had been #ent out In the morAfng. and
returned after night-fall to nay 'that
the King of Spain win encamped some
fourteen mil* •* **ff In the direction of
tturgoa. having wJth him twenty tnou
nand home and forty-five thouaand foot.
A dry-wood fire bud lM*en lit. and round
fill* the leader* crouched, the glare,
heating upon their rugged fa?en. while
the hardy archern lounged and chatted
*mfd the tethered hornen. while they
munched their noanty provision#
“For my part.” nald Sir Simon Bur
lev 1 am of the opinion that we have
already done that which we have come
for For do w«* not now know where
the king In and how great a following
he hath which wan the end of our jour
ney .**
' True " answered Sir William Felton,
•’but I have come on thin venture be
cause it la a long time since I have
broken a npear In war. and oerten, I
shall n«*t go back until I have run a
course with sum* cavalier of Spain.”
• I will not leave you. Sir William.**
returned Sir Simon Burley; "and yet. an
an old noldler and one who hath seen
much of war. I cannot but think that It
In an 111 thing for four hundred men
to find themselves between an ui r
of sixty thousand «»n the one side and
* broad river on the other.** *
Yet.” nald Sir Richard Causton. *‘w«
cannot for the honor of F.ngland go
back without a blow struck
Nor for the honor of Scotland,
either.” cried tl»* l ari of Angus.
H> Saint Paul* v»u have spoken
\cr> well.' said Sir Nigel, and 1 have
always heard that theta* were very
worthy gentlemen among the Scots,
nrtd flue #klrtnl*hh»g to he had upon
their border Bethink you. Sir Simon,
that w»* have thin news from the lip*
of common aplea. who can scarce tell
us an much of the »-n«*ri»y and of hi*
forcer* an ths prin • would wish to
hear.”
All night they led their home*.
htumbling and groping through wild j
• flies and rugged a I let*, following the
guidance of a frightened peasant who j
u*« strapped by the wrist to Black Si
mons stirrup-leather. With the early
dawn they found themselves in a dark
ravine, with other* sloping away from
it on either side and the bare brown
i rugs rising in long hleak terrace* all
tound them
‘lf it plea.ne you. fair lord.” said
Black Simon, this man hath misled us. ;
.♦nd since there is no tree upon which i
we may hang him. It might In* well !
to hurl him over yonder cliff
Ths peasant, reading the soldier’s
meaning In hi* fierce eye* and harsh j
• cent* dropped upon hia knees scream- ;
lug lomlly for uiercv
How comes It, dOf r ' a*ker Hir Will
lain Felton In Spanish. "Where Is ths*
amp to which you swore you would
lead us?”
By the sweet Virgin’ By the blessed
Mother of God‘ cried the trembling
peasant. " l swear to you that in the
darkness I have myself lost the path.
I —*‘At tha instant, there rose the
u ream of a hundred bugles, w ith the
deep n filing of drums and tha clashing
f cymbals, afl sounding together in one
ieafentng uproar Knights and arch
• * hprang to arms, convln* -
*otne great host was upon them; but j
the guide dropped upon bis knees and .
thanked Heaven for Its mercies
We have found them caballeros*
he cried This i* their morning call.”
As he spoke he scrambled down one
of the narrow ravines, and. climbing
ever a low ridge at the further end he j
led them Into a short v alley with a
stream purling down the centre of it.
and a very thick growth of elder and
box upon either * d« Pushing their
way through the dense brushwood, they
looked upon a scene which made their
hearts beat harder and their breath
come faster.
In front of them lay a broad plain,
watered by two winding streams and
covered with grass, stretching away to
where, in the furthest distance, the
towers of Burgos bristled up against
the light blue morning sk\ Over all
this vast meadow there lava great city
«>? tents thousands upon thousand# of
them. *laid out in streets and square#
like a well - ordered town. High silken
pavilions or colored marquees. shoot
lug up from among the crowd of mean
er dwellings, marked where tin great
lords and baron# of Loon and Cadttla
displayed their standards, while over
tfs# white roofs. .** fat as «ye could
reach, the waging of ancients, pavon*.
pensila, and banderoles, w»th flash of
gold and glow of colors, proclaimed
that all the chivalry of Iberia were
mustered In the plain beneath them.
Far off. in the centre of the camp a
sge palace of red and white silk,
with the royal arms of Castile waving
from the summit, announced that the
gallant Henry lay there m the midst
of his warriors.
\s the English adventurer*, peeping
out from behind their brushwood
«*• rear looked down upon this wondrous
-cght. they could see that the vast army
in front of them was already afoot. The
first pink light of the rising sun glit
tered upon she steel cap* -1 breast
i *l+9 of dense masses of sltnger* and
ruesbowmen. who drilled and marched
:r; the spaces which had been left for
their exercise A thousand columns
* ? smoke reeked up into the pure
morning air where the faggots were
plied and the c*mp-kettles already
simmering Tn the open plain floods
0 light horse galloped and «w«*oped
with swaying bodies and waving iave
'>• a*?er ♦he fashion which the «r*ftn
«h had adopted from their Moorish en
emies Alt along bv the sedev bark*
* the river* long line* of page* led
ffceir master** chargers down to water,
while the knight* themselve# lounged
in gar!y-dre**ed group* about the do**r*
of their pavilions. or rode out with
their falcon* upon their wrists and
U Aft
their greyhounds behind them, in quest
•#f quail or leveret.
The leaders sat amongst the box
wood, and took counsel together as to
V 1 at they should do: while from be
low th* re surged op the bus# of voices,
the shouting, the neighing of horses,
and all the uproar of a great < amp.
What boots It to wait?" said Hir
William V* Hon. "I*et us ride down
upon their camp before they discover
"And so say I. cried the Scottish
earl; for they do not know that there
I# any enemy within thirty long
league* of them "
"For my part.” said Sir Simon Bur
ley, "I think that It I* madness, for
you i alifipt hope to rout this great ar
my; and where are you to go and what i
are you to do when they have turned
upon you?**
"Nav,** said Sir Nigel, "I have a plan j
by which we may attempt some j
small deed upon them, and yet, by th»* i
help of Ood. may he aide to draw off
again; which, as Hir Simon Burley
hath said, would be scarce possible in
any other way."
“How then. Hir Nigel?’* asked #ev
! «*»*al voice*.
.. “We shall lie here all day: for amid
this brushwood it is 111 for them to see
I us. Then when evening come# we shall
sally out upon them and see If we may
not gain some honorable advancement
from them. We shall have nightfall
, to cover us when we draw off so that
we may make our way hack through
the mountains I would station a
score of archers lu re in the pas*, with
j All our pennon* jutting forth from the
' rocks, and as many naklrs and drums
• and bugles as we have with us, so that
' those who follow u* in the fading
( j light, may think that the whole army
of the prlnc* *» upon them, and fear
to go further. What think you of my
plan. Sir Simon?"
By my troth! 1 think very well of
( it," cried the prudent old commander.
1 If four hundred men must needs fun
a tilt against sixty thousand. I cannot
see how they can do It better or more
! safely.**
"And so say I,** cried Felton, hearti
ly. "But I wish the day were over, for
- it will be an 111 thing for us if they
chance to light upon us."
The words were scarce out of his
mouth when there came a clatter of
loose stone*, the sharp clink of trotting
hoofs, and a dark-faced cavalier,
mounted upon a white horse, burst
through the busht-s and rode swully
down the valley from the end which
was farthest from the Spanish camp.
Uightly armed, with his vixor open at d
a hawk perched upon his left writ*
he looked about him with the caieloov
! air of a man who is bent w holly upon
\ pleasure, and uncons ious of the pos
| nihility of danger. Suddenly, nuwev* r.
his eyes lit upon the fierce faces which
glared at him from the brushwood,
j With a cry of terror, he thrust his
■ spurs into his horse s sides, and dash
ed for the narrow opening of the gorge.
j For a m«»m nt It seemed a# though he
■ would have teachcd it, lor he hud
■ trampled over or dashed aside the ar
{ chers who threw themselves in his
| way. but Hordle seised him by
! the foot In his grasp of iron and
' dragged him from the saddle, while
j two others caught the frightened horse.
Ho, ho!" roared the great archer,
j "How many cows wilt buy my mother.
! if l set thee Jfree?"
Hush that bulls bellowing!** cried
Sir Nigel Impatiently. "Bring the man
|h* re. By St. Paul! it is not the first
j time that we have met; for, if 1 mis
take not. it is lH>n Diego Alvarex, who
was once at the prince’s court.”
It * indeed 1. said the Spanish
knight. * I trust that I am now tne
prisoner of »<»me honorable knight or
f gentleman."
You are the prisoner of the man who «
t » k >*>, Sir I»og answered Sir Ni
gel. And l may tell you that better
| than either you or 1 have found i
themselves before now prisoners in i
| the hands of the archers of England.”
What ransom, then, does he de
j mand? asked the Spaniard.
Big John scratched his red head and
grinned in high delight when the ques
tion whs propounded to him. "Tell
j him." said he, that I shall have ten
| cows and a bull too. if it be but a lit
tle one. Also a dress of blue sendali
tor mother and a red one for Joan, with
five acres of pasture laud, two scythes,
and a fine new grindstone. likewise
a small house, with stalls for the cows
and thirty-six gallons of beer for the
thirsty weather."
Tut. tut. s iid Hir Nigel, laughing.
"All these things may be had for mon
ey: and l think. Don Diego, that five
thousand crowns is not too much for
so renowned a knight.
It shall be duly paid him.
For some days we must keep you
with us; and l must cravg leave also
to use your shield, your armor and
your horse. I have need of it this day,
but it shall be duly returned to you.
Set guards. Aylward. with arrow or;
ring, at either end of the pass, for
it may happen that some other cava
liers may ' istt us ere the time be
come
All day .* . little band of English
men lay in the sheltered gorge, look
ing down upon the vast host of their
unconscious enemies. The sun had
sunk behind a cloud-bank in the west
before Sir Nigel at last gave word that
the men should resume their arms and
have their horses ready. He had him
self thrown off hi# armor, and had
dressed himself from head to foot in
t ,e harness of the captured Spaniard.
Sir W illiam, said he. "it is my opin
ion to attempt a small deed, and l ask
you therefore that you will lead this •
outfall upon the camp For me. I will
rkle Into their camp with my squire and
two ar. ' ors l pray vou to watch m *.
and to ride forth whan T atn com*
tmonr the tents. Vou w ’ !B ' ' ,
tv men h-htnd here and an wo planned
tM» mnrnntr and vou will ride back
here after you have ventured as .ar
to vou.**
*•? wrtn do *s vou order Nigel*, but
what I* *b-»t vou propose to do****
"You wi!! «ee snon and Indeed it Is
but a t riff in r matter Alleyns, you
"v"*! wit'' t— • ard 'ead a spare
v i-w hr K,eta?# T have the
•WO archers who
F-canoe for they are trustv men and
of stout heart T.et them - : de behind
.« ,od let them leave their bows here
• mere the boshes for it is not my
i wish that thev should know that we
are Rnirtishmen Sav no word to anv
i whom we may meet, and If any speak
[ to you. pass on as thouich you heard
' them not
«o savin# Fir Kt*el mounted the
I ‘ white home of the cavalier
v . ' :>
and rode quietly forth from ui* con
ealment with his throe companions
••hind him. Alleyne leading hi.* mas- j
•er s own steed by the bridle. H*» many
-mall parties of French and Spanish ;
dorse were sweeping hither and thither
that the small band attracted little
notice, and making its way at a gentle j
trot across the plain, they came as far
« the ramp without challenge r
hindrance. On and on they pushed
past the endle*s lines of ir.p*e 4 nmid
the dense swarm# of horsemen and of
footmen, until the huge royal pavilion |
stretched in front of
' lose upon It when of a sudden there
: broke out a wfM hubbub a dis
tant portion of the camp, with screams
and war-cries and all the tumult
| r, f battle. At the sound sold*' ~ °me
■ ishing from thefr tent#. knights
shouted loudlv for their #qu!re«. and
there was mad turmoil on every hand
i -of bewildered men and plunging horses
1 the royal tent a crowd of gorgeous
'v dressed servants ran hither and
thither in hejnless panic for the guard
of soldiers who were stationed there
bad already ridden off in the direc
tion of the alar-o A man-at-arms on
ither side of the doorway were the
oolc protectors of the royal dwelling
"T have come f - the king." whisper
-1 Sir Nigel: "and. by Faint T*
i**t lack with us or T must i
here.**
Alleyne and Ay I ward sprang from their
horses, and flew as the two sentries, who
were disarmed and beaten down In an fn
*tafit by K<» furious arid unexpected an at
tack, Sir Nigel dashed Into the royal ;
tent, and wa# followed by Hordle John ns
si»on a h the horse# had l»e.*n secured. From j
within came wild #rre*nilngs and the clash
of steel, and then the two emerged once j
more, their sword# and firearms red- j
dened with blood, while John bore over j
his shoulder the sen
whose gray surconf. adorned with the lions
and towers of Castile, proclaimed him to
l>elong to the royal house. A crowd of .
white-faced sewers and popes swarmed at !
their heels, those behind pushing forwards,
while the foremost shrank back from tin*
fierce faces and reeking weapons of the i
adventurers. The senseless body was
thrown aero** the spare horse, the four j
sprang to their saddles, and away they j
thundered with loose reins and busy spurs ;
through the swarming camp.
But confusion and
among the Spaniards for Sir William
FVlton and his m«*n hail swept through j
half their camp, leaving a long litter of th»* ;
dead and dying to mark their course. Un- |
certain who were their attackers, and un
able to tell their English enemies from
Their newly-arrived Breton allies, the j
Spanish knights rode wildly hither ami |
thither In aimless fury. The mad tur
moil. the mixture of race#, and the fading j
light, were all in favor of the four who
lone knew their own purpose among the j
vast uncertain multitude. Another five
minutes of wild galloping over the plain, j
and they were all hack In their gorge. !
while their pursuers fell lack before the
rolling of the English and blare
of trumpets, which seemed to proclaim
that the whole army of the prince was
about to emerge from the mountain
passe#.
•'By my soul! Nigel.” cried Sir Oliver,
“what have we here?”
“It Is a prisoner whom I have taken,
and In sooth, as he came from the royal
t* tit and wear* the royal arms upon his
jupon. I trust that he Is the King of .
Spain.**
"The King of Spain!” cried the com- ;
pan ions, crowding round in amazement.
“Nay, Sir Nigel,** said Felton, peering'
at the prisoner through the uncertain
light. “1 have twice seen Henry of
Traustamare. and eertes this man in no
way resembles him.
“Who are you. fellow?” he added In
Spanish, “and how is it that you dare
to wear the arms of Castile?”
The prisoner was but recovering the
consciousness which had l*ecu squeezed
from him by the grip of Hordle John.
“If It please you.” be answered, *‘l and
nine others are the body squires of the |
king, and must ever wear his arms. s<> ;
as to shield him from even such perils |
:.s have threatened him this night. The
king Is at the tent of the brave Du Guese
lla, where h« will sup to night. But I am
a eaballero of Aragon. Don Saneho Pene
losa. and, though 1 be no king. 1 am yet
ready to pay a fitting price for my ran
som.”
“By Salut Paul! I will not touch your
gold,” cried Sir Nigel. “Go back to your
master and give him greeting from Hir i
Nigel looting of Twynham Castle, telling
him #;at I had hoped to make his better j
acquaintance this night, and that. If 1 ,
have disordered his tent, it was but in j
ray eagerness to know so famed and cour
teous a knight. Spur »*n. comrades! for
we must cover many a league ere we can
venture to light fire or to U*osen girth.
CHAPTER XVI.
It %%.kS a cold, blenk morning In the l>e
ginnlug of March, and the mist was drift
ing in dense rolling cloud* through the
{msscs of the Cantabrian mountains. The j
Company had passed the night in a shel
tered gully. Here and there, through the
dense haze which surrouuded them, there j
loomed out huge pinnacles and jutting j
l*oulders of rock: while high above the
sea of vapor there towered up one gigantic
joak. with the pink glow of the early sun
shine ei>on It* snow-capped hea l.
The tauip was loud with laughter and
merriment, for a messenger had ridden in
from the prince with word# of heart-stir
ring praise for wlpit they had done, and
with orders that they should still abide in
the f%>refront of the rfreny.
“The Lord Loring craves your attend
ance In hi# tent. said a young archer to j
Alleyne.
The squire found the knight seated upon
: a cushion, with his legs crossed in front
! of him and a broad ribbon of parchment j
laid acres* hi# knees over w hich he % was
; poring with frowning t rows and pursed
I
“It came this morning by the prince's
messenger ” said he. “and was brought
from England by Sir John F’allisiee. who
is new i-on.e from Sussex
Alleyne turned to the letter, and. as bis
j eye# rested upon it. his face turned pale
and a cry of surprise and grief burst from
his Ups.
then*" sake*, t * krfefct. peering j
up at him anxfot:«lT '*There !« renrht f
amiss with the Ladv lfirr er w!?h the I
Lftdv Maude**’
“It N mV brother my poor uiihsnuv
brother*” cried Aflerwe. with hf< band ,
to his brow “He Is deed.**
“Hr Saint Paul* T bar# never heard
tha? he had shown so much love for x*m [
that von should mourn him so”
“Yet he was itt brother - the oaly kith (
or kin that 1 had upon earth. Aims? ala#*
He ha« been slain and slain. I fear, j
amidst 'Tirae and viole«ee.”
"Hi*** saw Fir Nl|«i. “Raftd ##, II
pray yon “
“Gcid I*4' with Un***, lay U'iUoicd (wlti,
and lintr tint in fits holy keeping, the
Lormg until asked me, ini' priest,
so net ilunii in writing what nath bciaiteu
at Twyubuuj, and all tlial concerns me
death »l tuj ill neighbor me ooctuau ol
Min mead, lor wneu jv uau leu ns, tins
e\li uian gathered aiounil linn ail outlaws,
villeins, and lnastelless uieu. until tnei
•v.re cuinc In mvli a lorve mat they sierf
and scattered tlie mug s men wnu went
against tneui. Then. coining tortn liotn
lie wood*, they laid siege to till castle,
~d for two dais liiei girt us lu aud snot
.ard against Us, with such uunil«-*rs as
were a marvel to see. let ttie Isnly Lajt
,„g held the pij'-e stoutly, and on tlie
-e. oml day the Socman was slain —by
ids own men. as some think so that we i
were delivered from luelr bauds, for |
whieh praise I*> to all the saints, and j
more espi-eially to the holy Anselm, upon j
whose feast it eanie to pass The Lady
la>rlng aud the Lady Maude, thy fair
daughter, are in good health. May all
the saints preserve thee”'
"My fair lord." said Alleyne. with a
flush on his weather-stained eheeks. "I
love your daughter, the I-ady Maude; and,
unworthy as I am. 1 would give my
heart's blmsl to serve her."
"By St. Paul! Kdrhson." said the
! knight eoldly, arching his eyebrows, “you
dm high In this matter. Our blood Is
| very old.”
"And mine also Is very old." answered
i the squire.
"And the Lady Maude Is our single
child. All our name and lands center upon
her.”
"Alas! that I should say it. but I also
am now the only Edricson."
"And why have I not heard this from
you Ivefore, Alleyn#*? In so«»th. I think
you have u.s***l in«* 11!.’*
“Nay. ?ny fair Inr*l, sny not so; for I
know not whether your daughter loves
me. and there is no pledge between us.”
Sir Nice! ponder#**! for a few moments,
and then burst out n-lnughing. “By St.
Paul!” said he. “I know not why T should
mix in the matter: f«.r 1 have over found
that the Lady Maude vns very well able
to look to her own affairs. Since first
she could stamp her little foot, she hath
ever been able to get that for which she
• raved: and If she set her heart on thee.
.Alleyn**, and thou #» I do not tlrlnk
that this Spanish kin?, with his three
score thousand men. could hold you apart.
Vet this I will say. that I would see you
t full knight #**•*• yon go to my daughter
with words of lo- c. I have ever said that
a brave lance should wed her; and. by my
sou!! Edrh>on. jf Go*! spare you. I think
that you will acquit yourself well. But
♦ nongh *>f sn-h trifles, for we have our
work before us. and It will be time to
"P#*'’k of this matter when we see the
white cliffs of England once more. Go to
Sir William 1-Vlton. I pray you. and ask
him to come hither, for it Is time that
we were marching. There is no pass at
j the further md of the^ valley, and it is a
I perilous place should an enemy come upon
: us.”
Alleyne dell vert'd bis message, and then
! w mdere.l forth from the camp, f*»r his
; inir *! was all in a whirl with this un
•*\pected news, and with his talk with
Sir Nigel. Sitting upon :i ru**k. with his
| burning brow restin? upon his hands, he
j thought *»f his brother, of their cfuarrel.
of the Lady Maude in her bedraggle*! rirl
| ing-dres»i. of the gray old castle, of the
! proud pale face in the armory, and of the
last fiery words with which she had sped
| him on his way. Then he was but a
penniless, nionk-brf*d lad. unknown and
1 unfriended. N*»w he was himself Sochian
of Mlnstead. the head of an old stock, and
the Lord of an <*state which, if reduced
from its former size, was still ample to
preserve the dignlt- of his family. Further,
he had become a man of experience was
counted brave amo«;g men. had won the
esteem and confidence of her father, and
above all. has been listened to by him
when In* told him the sc*-r**t of his love.
As to the gaining of knighrho«»*l. in such
stirring times if was no great matter for
a brave squire of gentle birth to aspire to
that honor. He would leave his Nines
among these Spanish ravines, or he would
do some deed which would call the eyes
of men upon him.
Alleyne was still seated on the rock, his
griefs .and his joys drifting swiftly over
his mind like the shadow of clouds upon
a sunlit nnwdow. when of a sudden he
became conscious «»f a low. deep sound
which came l*»oming up to him through
the fog. He shont**d an alarm to the |
ca mp.
“It is a great body of horse.” said Sir;
William Felton, “and they are riding very
swiftly hitherwards.”
The Company stood peering into the
dense fog wreath, amidst a silence so
profound that the dripping of the water
from the rocks and the breathing of the
horses grew loud upon the ear. Suddenly
from out the sea of mist came the sound
of a neigh, followed by a long blast of a
bugle.
”!t is a Spanish call, my fafr lord.” said
Black Simon.
• By my faith, said Sir Nigel, smiling.
“\\e may promise them some sport ere
they sound the mort over us. But there
is a hill in the center of the gorge upon
which we might make our stand.”
“1 marked it yester night.” said Felton,
“and no tHr*tter spot could be found for ;
our purpose, for it is very steep at tin* ]
back.
The whole Company, leading their
h«»rs s, passed across to The small hill
which loomed up from the mist. It was
inib-ed admirably designed for defence, for j
it sloped dowu in front, all jagged and j
boulder strewn, while It fell away behind
in a sheer cliff of a hundred feet or more. I
On the summit was a small, uneven
plateau, with a stretch across of a hun
dred paces, and a depth of half as much
again.
“Fnloose the horses.” said Sir Nigel.
“Now order the ranks, and fling w ide the
banners, for our souls are God's and our
odies the kings, ami our swords for
Saint George and for England!”
Sir Nigel had scarcely spoken when the
mist seemed to thin lu the valley, and to
sured away into long ragged clouds which i
trailed from the edges of the cliffs, and
the sun broke through. It gleamed and
shimmered with dazzling brightness upon
the armor ami head pieces of a vast body
of horsemen who stretched across the
barranca from one cliff to the other, and
extended backwards until their rear-guard
were far out upon the plain beyond. Line
after line, and rank .after rank, they
chocked the neck of the valley with a
long vista of tossing pennons, twinkling
lam ♦s. waving plumes and streaming
banderoles, while rhe curvets and gam
bades of the chargers lent a constant mo
tion and shimmer To the glittering, many,
colored mass A yell of exultation, and a
forest of waving steel through the length
and breadth of their column, announced
that they could at last see their entrapped
j enemies, while the swelling notes of a
hundred bugles and drums, mixed w ith the
clash of Moorish cymbals, broke forth into
a proud ;♦ •rtial trim Strange
it was to the«e gallant and sparkling eavs
icr> of Spain to look upon this handful
, „„ .. . v .ail. t.e thin of bow
rho k" os of knights and men-at-arms
a -h »rnor r’-sfed and discolored from lone
service ypd *o loam that these were !n
--deed the «• Miers fame and pw»-
ess h-vl been the eamn-flre ts'k of every
,rmt in Cl'flttrodoni. Verv still and silent
they stood. leaning noon their bows
whPe th- ir leaders tmk munv l together
... .if them x.» flare of *>nele rose
from their stern rsnk hut In the oenter
waved the leopard* of Ergiarxt on the
-'srhr th»* ensign of their Compsrv with
j the o»e* of ts'Hne and on the left over
! three arose of Welsh humic, the-e f«-»t
--j ed the red banner of Merits with the red
j t-xar’s head* .>f The ButTesthorrs Grave.
>v and sedately tbev stood before the
| merrine «nn. waiting for the onslaught
I 1 of their foenvets
••By Saint Paul.” said Sit XteeL Easing
with 'puckered eye .town the valley, “there
appear to be some very worthy people
among then,. \V bal is Ibi* «« w ‘' u
uei ohU-ti wales oief me iell
• ll us the euaigu of me KmgbU of
Oftiatrava' auzwcred ir el ton.
• aml the uze upon ipe right:
“it margd the Iwiiignlh oi Santiago
1 see by the banner that the grand mas
ter rides at Lheir head.
“You are right, lor 1 can also see
them. There ia much Spauitili blazonry
ai»o if 1 could but read it. .Don Diego,
>uu know the arms ol ) our own country ,
and who are the> who ha\e done ns so
much honor'/”
Ihe Spanish prisoner looked with exul
tant eyes upon the deep and serried lauxa
of hia countrymen.
: “By Saint James” lie said, “if ye fail
this day, ye fall by no moan hands for
the flower of the army of Castile ride .
under the banner of lion Tello, with tlie
chivalry of Asturias, Toledo. L.eou, Cor
dova. Galicia and Seville and the knights
of France and Aragon. If you will take
my rede, you will come to a composi
tion with them, for they will give you i
such terms as you have given me."
• Nay. by Saint Paul, it were pity if
so many brave men. were drawn together
and no little deed of arms come of it. Ha! |
William, they advance upon t:s. and by
my soul it is a sight worth coming over
the seas to witness ”
As he spoke the two wings of the Span- ]
ish host, consisting of the Knights of
Calatrava on the one side ami of Santiago
on the other . came swooping swiftly down l
the valley, while the main body followed
more slowly behind. The vanguard halted j
a long l>ow-shot from the bill, and with ,
waving spears and vaunting shouts dial- j
lenged their enemies to come forth, while !
two cavaliers, pricking forward from the
glittering ratiks. walked their horses slow
ly between the two arrays with targets j
braced and lances in rest like the chal- j
ierigers in a tourney.
"By Saint Paul!” cried Sir Nigel, with;
his eye glowing like an ember, “these j
appear to tie two very worthy and debo
nair gentlemen. I do not call to mind
when 1 have seen any people who seemed
of so great a heart and so high of enter
prise. We have our horses, Sir William:
shall l<e not relieve them of any vow which
they may have upon their souls?”
Felton's reply was to bound upon his
charger, and to urge it down the slope,
while Sir Nigel followed not three spear’s- :
lengths behind him. It was a rugged
course, rocky and uneven, yet the two
knights, choosing their men. dashed on
wards at the top of their speed, while
the gallant Spaniards flew as swiftly to
meet them. The one to whom Felton
found himself opposed was a tall stripling
with a stag's head upon his shield, while
Sir Nigel's man was broad and squat, with
plain steel harness, and a pink and white
torse bound round his helmet. first
struck Felton on the target with such
force as to split it from side to side, hut
Sir William’s lance crashed through the
cumuli which shielded the Spaniard's
throat, and he fell, screaming hoarsely, to
the ground. Carried away by the heat and
madness of fight, the English knight never
drew rein, but charged straight on into the
array of the Knights of Calatrava. Long
time the silent ranks upon the hill could
see a swirl-and eddy deep down in the
heart of the Spanish column, with a
circle of rearing chargers and flashing
blades. Here and there tossed the white j
plume of the English helmet, rising and i
falling like the foam upon a wave, with ‘
the fierce gleam and sparkle ever circling
round it, until at last it had sunk from
view, and another brave man hail turned
war to peace.
Sir Nigel, meanwhile, had found a foe
man worthy of his steel, for liis opponent j
was none other than Sebastian Gomez, the
picked lance of the monkish Knights of
Santiago, who hail won fame in a hun
dred bloody combats with the Moors of
Andalusia. So fierce vr s their meeting
that their spears shivered up to the very j
grasp, and the horses reared backwards
until it sbemed that they must crash down i
upon their riders. Yet with consummate
horsemanship they Imth swung round in j
a long curvet, and then plucking out their
swords they lashed at eaeh other like two
lusty smiths hammering upon their anvil, j
The chargers spun round each others, bit
ing and striking, while the two blades ,
wheeled and whizzed and circled in gleams !
of dazzling light. Cut. parry, and thrust ■
followed so swiftly upon each others that
the eye could not follow them, until at !
last coming thigh to thigh, they cast their
arms around each other and rolled off
their saddles to the ground. The heavier
Spaniard threw himself upon his enemy,
and pinning him down beneath him raised
Ids sword to slay him, while a shout of
triumph rose from the ranks of his count
rymen. But the fatal blow never fell, for
even as his arm quivered before descend
ing. the Spaniard gave a shudder, and
stiffening himsdf. rolled heavily over upon
his side, with the blood gushing from his
arm-pit and from the slit of his vizor. Sir
Nigel sprang to his feet with his bloody
dagger in his left hand and gazed down
upon his adversary, but the fatal and
sudden stab in the vital spot, which the
Spaniard had exposed by raising his arm.
had proved instantly mortal. The Eng
lishman leaped upon his horse and made
for the hill, at the very instant that a yell
of rage from a thousand voices and the
clang of a score of bugles announced the
Spanish onset.
CHAPTER XVII.
But the islanders were ready and eager
for the encounter. With feet firmly
planted, their sleeves rolled back to give
free play to their muscles, their long
yellow bow-staves in their left hands, and
: their quivers slung to the front, they had
waited in the four-deep harrow formation
which gave strength to their array, and
yet permitted every man to draw his arrow
freely w ithout harm to those iu front.
On swept the Spaniards, over the level
and up to tile slope, ere they met the
bliuding storm of the English arrows
Down went the whole ranks in a will:,
of mad confusion, hor-es plunging ami
kicking. liewßdered men failing, rising,
daggering ou or back, while ever new
I lines of horsemen came spurring through
j the gaps ami urged their ehurgers up the
fatal slope. All around him. Alleyne could
i hear the stern, short orders of the master-
I Isiwmen. while the air was filled with
j the keen twanging of the strings aud the
swish and patter of the shafts. Right
I across the foot of the hill there had
-prung up a long wall of struggling horses
and stricken men. which ever grew and
j heightened as fresh squadrons poured or.
; the attack. So for five long minutes the
galls: t horsemeu of Spaiu and of Frunre
, strove ever and again to force a passage,
until the low wailing note of a bugle called
them l*ack, ami they ride slowly out of
bow-shot, leaving their best and thei:-
Sravest in the ghastly. Mood-mottie heap
, 'ehind them
Bu* there was little rest for the victors
Whilst the knights had chnrg.sl them in
front, the slingers had crept round upon
either ..ank and had gained a -ooting upon
cliffs and behind The onttving rocks.
A storm of stones broke sndd 'v i.por
the defenders, who. drawn up in lines
upon the exposed summit offered a fair
mark to their hidden foes J.iboston. the
old archer, was struck upon the temnlc
and fell dead without a groan, while fif
teen of his bowmen and six of the men
at-arms were struck down at the same
moment The othe-s lav on their faces
avoid the dead!v hail while at each side o'
the plateau a fringe of bowmen exchanged
shots with the slingers and crossbowmen
among the rooks, aiming m-iir.lv at those
who had swarmed no the ilffs a n d tc--s*.
ing into laughter and cheers when a Well
aimed shaft brought one of their opponents
toppling down from his ioftv perch
"Bv Saint Paul!" qu--th ' Sir NlgM
plucking rhe patch from bis eye. "I think
that I am now .-'ear of mv vow for this
Spanish knight was a person from whom
much honor might he woo Indeed, be
* very Worthy gentleman, of goo-1
■•oarage, and great hardiness, and ft
grieves me that be should have come by
j such a hurt ” 1 1
;. . , -.S O - - \
"NigeE cued bu- million Burley, hurry,
lug up with cousujruauoii upou lu s iac9>
Aylvvaid tells lue imu luere are not
ten score arrows iell rn air lheir sheaves,
oeel tuey are sp, legrug Horn Uieir horse-.,
and culling luce soirerels that they wuj
rush upon us. aright ' e uut even uuw
make a retreat;
•My soul will retreat from uiy body
first. -.*ieu tue hi Lie kurgnt. Here i
aiu, aud here 1 blue, wane God gives uic
strength lo litl a srforU."
* ‘Amu so say 1. shouted Bir Oliver,
throwing his mace high into lire air am.
ealcniao it agaiu oy the handle.
"lo your arms, men. cried Sir Nigel.
Suool while yuu limy aud theu out sworn,
and let us lire or uie together:
I hc-n uprose Horn the hill ih the r..„ 0 -
Caiuuriau valley a sound such as irau ...
.ecu heard iu those purls oelore, nor
agaiu, until the Stiearns which rip t j.._,
alma the rocks Uau . c-eu frozen by olet
tour hunureu winters aud UuiWed by a .
many returning springs. Deep aud full
and strong it thundered down the ravihe,
the tierce battle-call ol a warrior race, lb.;
last stern welcome to who so should join
with them iu that world-ohl game where
the stake is death. Thrice it swelled forth
! and thrice it sank away, echoing and re
verberating amidst the crags. Then, with
set faces, the Company rose up among tic
. storm of stones, and looked down upon tie
rhousaii'B who sped swiftly up the slope
against them. Horse and spear had been
set aside, but on foot, with sword and bat
tle-axe, their broad shields slung in front
of them, the chivalry of Spain rushed t.,
the attack.
And now arose a struggle so fell, so long
so evenly sustained, that even now th.
memory of it is handed down amongst tin
j Calabrian mountaineers, and the ill-omen
cd knoll is still pointed out by fathers t,
] their children as the “Altura de los Ingle
-sos,’’ where the men from across the sea
; fought the great fight with the knight
of the south. The last arrow was quickly
shot, nor could the slingers hurl then
stones, so close were friend and foe. From
; side to side stretched the thin line of the
English, lightly armed and quick-footed,
while against it stormed and raged the
pressing throng of fiery Spaniards and of
gallant Bretons. The clink of crossing
sword-blades, the dull thudding of heavy
blows, the panting and gasping of wearv
! and wounded men. all rose together in
a wild, long-drawn note, which swelled
upwards to the ears of the wondering
peasants who looked down from the edge
iof the cliffs upon the swaying turmoil of
the battle beneath them. Back and for
ward reeled the leopard banner, now
borne up the slope by the rush and
weight of the onslaught, now pushing
downwards again as Sir Nigel, Burley,
and Black Simon, with their veteran men
at-arms, flung themselves madly into the
fray. Alleyne, at his lord’s right h«nd.
found himself swept hither and thither in
the desperate struggle, exchanging savage
thrusts one instant with a Spanish cava
; Her. and the next torn away by the whirl
of men and dashed up against some new
antagonist. To the right Sir Oliver, Ayl
ward. Hordle John, and the bowmen of
i the Company fought furiously against the
monkish Knights of Santiago, who were
! ied up the hill by their prior—a great-deep
chested man, who wore a brown monastic
; habit over his suit of mail. Three archers
|he slew in three giant strokes, but Sir
Oliver flung bis arms round him. aud the
two. staggering aud straining, reeled back
wards and fell, locked in each other -
' grasp, over the edge As the steep cliff
which flanked the hill. In vain his knight-
I stormed and raved against the thin line
Which marred their path: the sword of
Aylward and the great axe of John gleam
ed in the forefront of the battle and huge
j jagged pieces of rock, hurled by the
strong arms of the bowmen, crashed and
hurtled amid their ranks. Slowly thev
gave back down the hill, the arehers still
j hanging upon their skirts, with a long
! litter of writhing and twisted figures t,.
mark the course which they had take:,.
, At tlie same instant the Welshmen up,,u
' the left, led on by the Scotch earl, had
i charged out from among the rocks whim,
j sheltered them, and by the fury of their
| outfall had driven the Spaniards in front
’ °f them in headlong flight down the hil
| In the centre only things seemed to ',e
going ill with the defenders. Black Simon
was down—dying, as he would wish to tiav»-
died. like a grim oid wolf iu its lair with
a ring of his slain around him. Twi.-e Sir
N'igel had been overborne, and twice A
- leyne had fought over him until he ha:
staggered to his feet once more. Bur .
; lay senseless, stunned by a blow from m
mace, and half of the men-at-arms t
littered upon the ground around him.
N'igel s shield was broken, his crest sh- ■
his armor cut and smashed, ami the vizur
! torn from his helmet: yet he sprang hither
j and thither with light foot and ready
hand, engaging two Bretons and a Spa:
iard at the same instant thrusting, stoop
ing. dashing in, springing out —while A
j leyne still fought by his side, stemmin.-
with a handful of men the fierce tide
which surged up against them. Yet it
would have fared ill with them had no'
tin- archers from either side closed in up>-
the flanks of the attackers, and press--
them very slowly and foot by foot dow
the long slope, until they were on tin
plain once more, where their fellows wore
already rallying for a fresh assault.
But terrilde Indeed was the cost at
which the last had been repelled. Os the
three hundred and seventy men who had
held the crest, one hundred and seventi
. two were left standing, many of whom
were sorely wounded and weak from ios
••f blood. Sir Oliver Buttestborn. Sir
Richard Causton, Sir Simon Burley, Black
Simon, Johnston, a hundred and fifty
archers, and forty-seven men-at-arms had
fallen, while the pitiless hail of stones
was already whizzing and piping once more
"•ut their ears, threatening every in
stant to further reduce their numbers.
Sir N'igel looked about biui at his shat
tered ranks, and his face flushed with a
soldier's pride.
"By St. Paul!" he cried. "I have fought
in many a little bickering, hut never one
that 1 would be more loth to have missed
thau this. But you are wounded, Alleyne:
"It is nought,” answered squire,
stanching the blood which dripped from
a sword-cut across his forehead.
"These gentlemen of Spain seem to be
most courteous and worthy people. 1 see
that they are already forming to continue
, this debate with us. Form up the bowmen
two deep instead of four. By my faith!
-uie very brave men have gone from
among us. Aylward. you are a trusty sol-
U-r. for all that your shoulder has never
f-lt accolade, nor your heels worn the
gold spurs. Do you take charge of the
right; 1 will hold the center, and you. my
Lord of Angus, the left.”
Ho' for Sir Sanikin Aylward!" cried
a rough voice among the archers, and a
roar of laughter greeted their new leader.
"By my hilt!" said the old bowman. *T
never thought to lead a wing in u strick
en field. Stand --lose, camarades. for, by
i these finger-bones! we must play the man
this day.”
"Come hither, Alleyne,” said Sir Nigel,
walking ba--k to the edge of the cliff
which formed the rear of their position
And you. N'orburv," he continued, beck
oning to the squire of Sir Oliver, "do you
also come here."
The two squires hurried across to him.
aud the three stood looking down into
the rocky ravine which lay a hundred and
fifty feet beneath them.
.
"The prince must hear of how thing*
are with us." said the knight. “Anoth
er onfall we may withstand, but they an
many and we are few. so that the time
must come when we ran no longer form
line acres* the hill Yet if help were
brought us we might hold the crest until It
| comes. S#»- yonder horses which stray
among the rocks beneath us?” *
“I see them my fair lord."
(“And w-e yonder path which winds along
the hill* upon the further end of the
valley ?"^
| . * *V
1 »* cr* y OU ou thoso hors**, and riding
J