The White Company Page 14

  CHAPTER XIV. HOW SIR NIGEL SOUGHT FOR A WAYSIDE VENTURE.

  For a time Sir Nigel was very moody and downcast, with bent brows andeyes upon the pommel of his saddle. Edricson and Terlake rode behind himin little better case, while Ford, a careless and light-hearted youth,grinned at the melancholy of his companions, and flourished his lord'sheavy spear, making a point to right and a point to left, as thoughhe were a paladin contending against a host of assailants. Sir Nigelhappened, however, to turn himself in his saddle--Ford instantly becameas stiff and as rigid as though he had been struck with a palsy. Thefour rode alone, for the archers had passed a curve in the road, thoughAlleyne could still hear the heavy clump, clump of their marching, orcatch a glimpse of the sparkle of steel through the tangle of leaflessbranches.

  "Ride by my side, friends, I entreat of you," said the knight, reiningin his steed that they might come abreast of him. "For, since it hathpleased you to follow me to the wars, it were well that you should knowhow you may best serve me. I doubt not, Terlake, that you will showyourself a worthy son of a valiant father; and you, Ford, of yours; andyou, Edricson, that you are mindful of the old-time house from whichall men know that you are sprung. And first I would have you bearvery steadfastly in mind that our setting forth is by no means for thepurpose of gaining spoil or exacting ransom, though it may well happenthat such may come to us also. We go to France, and from thence I trustto Spain, in humble search of a field in which we may win advancementand perchance some small share of glory. For this purpose I would haveyou know that it is not my wont to let any occasion pass where it is inany way possible that honor may be gained. I would have you bear thisin mind, and give great heed to it that you may bring me word of allcartels, challenges, wrongs, tyrannies, infamies, and wronging ofdamsels. Nor is any occasion too small to take note of, for I haveknown such trifles as the dropping of a gauntlet, or the flicking ofa breadcrumb, when well and properly followed up, lead to a most noblespear-running. But, Edricson, do I not see a cavalier who rides downyonder road amongst the nether shaw? It would be well, perchance, thatyou should give him greeting from me. And, should he be of gentle bloodit may be that he would care to exchange thrusts with me."

  "Why, my lord," quoth Ford, standing in his stirrups and shading hiseyes, "it is old Hob Davidson, the fat miller of Milton!"

  "Ah, so it is, indeed," said Sir Nigel, puckering his cheeks; "butwayside ventures are not to be scorned, for I have seen no finerpassages than are to be had from such chance meetings, when cavaliersare willing to advance themselves. I can well remember that two leaguesfrom the town of Rheims I met a very valiant and courteous cavalier ofFrance, with whom I had gentle and most honorable contention for upwardsof an hour. It hath ever grieved me that I had not his name, for hesmote upon me with a mace and went upon his way ere I was in conditionto have much speech with him; but his arms were an allurion in chiefabove a fess azure. I was also on such an occasion thrust through theshoulder by Lyon de Montcourt, whom I met on the high road betwixtLibourne and Bordeaux. I met him but the once, but I have never seena man for whom I bear a greater love and esteem. And so also with thesquire Le Bourg Capillet, who would have been a very valiant captain hadhe lived."

  "He is dead then?" asked Alleyne Edricson.

  "Alas! it was my ill fate to slay him in a bickering which broke out ina field near the township of Tarbes. I cannot call to mind how thething came about, for it was in the year of the Prince's ride throughLanguedoc, when there was much fine skirmishing to be had at barriers.By St. Paul! I do not think that any honorable cavalier could ask forbetter chance of advancement than might be had by spurring forth beforethe army and riding to the gateways of Narbonne, or Bergerac or MontGiscar, where some courteous gentleman would ever be at wait to dowhat he might to meet your wish or ease you of your vow. Such a one atVentadour ran three courses with me betwixt daybreak and sunrise, to thegreat exaltation of his lady."

  "And did you slay him also, my lord?" asked Ford with reverence.

  "I could never learn, for he was carried within the barrier, and as Ihad chanced to break the bone of my leg it was a great unease for meto ride or even to stand. Yet, by the goodness of heaven and the piousintercession of the valiant St. George, I was able to sit my chargerin the ruffle of Poictiers, which was no very long time afterwards. Butwhat have we here? A very fair and courtly maiden, or I mistake."

  It was indeed a tall and buxom country lass, with a basket ofspinach-leaves upon her head, and a great slab of bacon tucked under onearm. She bobbed a frightened curtsey as Sir Nigel swept his velvet hatfrom his head and reined up his great charger.

  "God be with thee, fair maiden!" said he.

  "God guard thee, my lord!" she answered, speaking in the broadest WestSaxon speech, and balancing herself first on one foot and then on theother in her bashfulness.

  "Fear not, my fair damsel," said Sir Nigel, "but tell me if perchancea poor and most unworthy knight can in any wise be of service to you.Should it chance that you have been used despitefully, it may be that Imay obtain justice for you."

  "Lawk no, kind sir," she answered, clutching her bacon the tighter, asthough some design upon it might be hid under this knightly offer. "Ibe the milking wench o' fairmer Arnold, and he be as kind a maister asheart could wish."

  "It is well," said he, and with a shake of the bridle rode on down thewoodland path. "I would have you bear in mind," he continued to hissquires, "that gentle courtesy is not, as is the base use of so manyfalse knights, to be shown only to maidens of high degree, for thereis no woman so humble that a true knight may not listen to her tale ofwrong. But here comes a cavalier who is indeed in haste. Perchance itwould be well that we should ask him whither he rides, for it may bethat he is one who desires to advance himself in chivalry."

  The bleak, hard, wind-swept road dipped down in front of them into alittle valley, and then, writhing up the heathy slope upon the otherside, lost itself among the gaunt pine-trees. Far away between the blacklines of trunks the quick glitter of steel marked where the Companypursued its way. To the north stretched the tree country, but to thesouth, between two swelling downs, a glimpse might be caught of the coldgray shimmer of the sea, with the white fleck of a galley sail upon thedistant sky-line. Just in front of the travellers a horseman was urginghis steed up the slope, driving it on with whip and spur as one whorides for a set purpose. As he clattered up, Alleyne could see that theroan horse was gray with dust and flecked with foam, as though it hadleft many a mile behind it. The rider was a stern-faced man, hard ofmouth and dry of eye, with a heavy sword clanking at his side, and astiff white bundle swathed in linen balanced across the pommel of hissaddle.

  "The king's messenger," he bawled as he came up to them. "The messengerof the king. Clear the causeway for the king's own man."

  "Not so loudly, friend," quoth the little knight, reining his horse halfround to bar the path. "I have myself been the king's man for thirtyyears or more, but I have not been wont to halloo about it on a peacefulhighway."

  "I ride in his service," cried the other, "and I carry that whichbelongs to him. You bar my path at your peril."

  "Yet I have known the king's enemies claim to ride in his same," saidSir Nigel. "The foul fiend may lurk beneath a garment of light. We musthave some sign or warrant of your mission."

  "Then must I hew a passage," cried the stranger, with his shoulderbraced round and his hand upon his hilt. "I am not to be stopped on theking's service by every gadabout."

  "Should you be a gentleman of quarterings and coat-armor," lisped SirNigel, "I shall be very blithe to go further into the matter with you.If not, I have three very worthy squires, any one of whom would take thething upon himself, and debate it with you in a very honorable way."

  The man scowled from one to the other, and his hand stole away from hissword.

  "You ask me for a sign," he said. "Here is a sign for you, since youmust have one." As he spoke he whirled the covering from the objectin front of him and showed to their horror
that it was a newly-severedhuman leg. "By God's tooth!" he continued, with a brutal laugh, "you askme if I am a man of quarterings, and it is even so, for I am officerto the verderer's court at Lyndhurst. This thievish leg is to hang atMilton, and the other is already at Brockenhurst, as a sign to all menof what comes of being over-fond of venison pasty."

  "Faugh!" cried Sir Nigel. "Pass on the other side of the road, fellow,and let us have the wind of you. We shall trot our horses, my friends,across this pleasant valley, for, by Our Lady! a breath of God's freshair is right welcome after such a sight."

  "We hoped to snare a falcon," said he presently, "but we netted acarrion-crow. Ma foi! but there are men whose hearts are tougher than aboar's hide. For me, I have played the old game of war since ever I hadhair on my chin, and I have seen ten thousand brave men in one day withtheir faces to the sky, but I swear by Him who made me that I cannotabide the work of the butcher."

  "And yet, my fair lord," said Edricson, "there has, from what I hear,been much of such devil's work in France."

  "Too much, too much," he answered. "But I have ever observed that theforemost in the field are they who would scorn to mishandle a prisoner.By St. Paul! it is not they who carry the breach who are wont to sackthe town, but the laggard knaves who come crowding in when a way hasbeen cleared for them. But what is this among the trees?"

  "It is a shrine of Our Lady," said Terlake, "and a blind beggar wholives by the alms of those who worship there."

  "A shrine!" cried the knight. "Then let us put up an orison." Pullingoff his cap, and clasping his hands, he chanted in a shrill voice:"Benedictus dominus Deus meus, qui docet manus meas ad proelium,et digitos meos ad bellum." A strange figure he seemed to his threesquires, perched on his huge horse, with his eyes upturned and thewintry sun shimmering upon his bald head. "It is a noble prayer," heremarked, putting on his hat again, "and it was taught to me by thenoble Chandos himself. But how fares it with you, father? Methinks thatI should have ruth upon you, seeing that I am myself like one who looksthrough a horn window while his neighbors have the clear crystal. Yet,by St. Paul! there is a long stride between the man who hath a horncasement and him who is walled in on every hand."

  "Alas! fair sir," cried the blind old man, "I have not seen the blessedblue of heaven this two-score years, since a levin flash burned thesight out of my head."

  "You have been blind to much that is goodly and fair," quoth Sir Nigel,"but you have also been spared much that is sorry and foul. This veryhour our eyes have been shocked with that which would have left youunmoved. But, by St. Paul! we must on, or our Company will think thatthey have lost their captain somewhat early in the venture. Throw theman my purse, Edricson, and let us go."

  Alleyne, lingering behind, bethought him of the Lady Loring's counsel,and reduced the noble gift which the knight had so freely bestowed to asingle penny, which the beggar with many mumbled blessings thrust awayinto his wallet. Then, spurring his steed, the young squire rode at thetop of his speed after his companions, and overtook them just at thespot where the trees fringe off into the moor and the straggling hamletof Hordle lies scattered on either side of the winding and deeply-ruttedtrack. The Company was already well-nigh through the village; but, asthe knight and his squires closed up upon them, they heard the clamor ofa strident voice, followed by a roar of deep-chested laughter fromthe ranks of the archers. Another minute brought them up with therear-guard, where every man marched with his beard on his shoulder and aface which was agrin with merriment. By the side of the column walkeda huge red-headed bowman, with his hands thrown out in argument andexpostulation, while close at his heels followed a little wrinkledwoman who poured forth a shrill volley of abuse, varied by an occasionalthwack from her stick, given with all the force of her body, though shemight have been beating one of the forest trees for all the effect thatshe seemed likely to produce.

  "I trust, Aylward," said Sir Nigel gravely, as he rode up, "that thisdoth not mean that any violence hath been offered to women. If such athing happened, I tell you that the man shall hang, though he were thebest archer that ever wore brassart."

  "Nay, my fair lord," Aylward answered with a grin, "it is violence whichis offered to a man. He comes from Hordle, and this is his mother whohath come forth to welcome him."

  "You rammucky lurden," she was howling, with a blow between each catchof her breath, "you shammocking, yaping, over-long good-for-nought. Iwill teach thee! I will baste thee! Aye, by my faith!"

  "Whist, mother," said John, looking back at her from the tail of hiseye, "I go to France as an archer to give blows and to take them."

  "To France, quotha?" cried the old dame. "Bide here with me, and I shallwarrant you more blows than you are like to get in France. If blows bewhat you seek, you need not go further than Hordle."

  "By my hilt! the good dame speaks truth," said Aylward. "It seems to bethe very home of them."

  "What have you to say, you clean-shaved galley-beggar?" cried the fierydame, turning upon the archer. "Can I not speak with my own son but youmust let your tongue clack? A soldier, quotha, and never a hair onhis face. I have seen a better soldier with pap for food and swaddlingclothes for harness."

  "Stand to it, Aylward," cried the archers, amid a fresh burst oflaughter.

  "Do not thwart her, comrade," said big John. "She hath a proper spiritfor her years and cannot abide to be thwarted. It is kindly and homelyto me to hear her voice and to feel that she is behind me. But I mustleave you now, mother, for the way is over-rough for your feet; but Iwill bring you back a silken gown, if there be one in France or Spain,and I will bring Jinny a silver penny; so good-bye to you, and God haveyou in His keeping!" Whipping up the little woman, he lifted her lightlyto his lips, and then, taking his place in the ranks again, marched onwith the laughing Company.

  "That was ever his way," she cried, appealing to Sir Nigel, who reinedup his horse and listened with the greatest courtesy. "He would jog onhis own road for all that I could do to change him. First he must be amonk forsooth, and all because a wench was wise enough to turn her backon him. Then he joins a rascally crew and must needs trapse off to thewars, and me with no one to bait the fire if I be out, or tend the cowif I be home. Yet I have been a good mother to him. Three hazel switchesa day have I broke across his shoulders, and he takes no more noticethan you have seen him to-day."

  "Doubt not that he will come back to you both safe and prosperous, myfair dame," quoth Sir Nigel. "Meanwhile it grieves me that as I havealready given my purse to a beggar up the road I----"

  "Nay, my lord," said Alleyne, "I still have some moneys remaining."

  "Then I pray you to give them to this very worthy woman." He canteredon as he spoke, while Alleyne, having dispensed two more pence, leftthe old dame standing by the furthest cottage of Hordle, with her shrillvoice raised in blessings instead of revilings.

  There were two cross-roads before they reached the Lymington Ford, andat each of then Sir Nigel pulled up his horse, and waited with many acurvet and gambade, craning his neck this way and that to see if fortunewould send him a venture. Crossroads had, as he explained, been rareplaces for knightly spear-runnings, and in his youth it was no uncommonthing for a cavalier to abide for weeks at such a point, holding gentledebate with all comers, to his own advancement and the great honor ofhis lady. The times were changed, however, and the forest tracks woundaway from them deserted and silent, with no trample of war-horse orclang of armor which might herald the approach of an adversary--so thatSir Nigel rode on his way disconsolate. At the Lymington River theysplashed through the ford, and lay in the meadows on the further side toeat the bread and salt meat which they carried upon the sumpter horses.Then, ere the sun was on the slope of the heavens, they had deftlytrussed up again, and were swinging merrily upon their way, two hundredfeet moving like two.

  There is a third cross-road where the track from Boldre runs down to theold fishing village of Pitt's Deep. Down this, as they came abreast ofit, there walked two men, the one a pace or two be
hind the other. Thecavaliers could not but pull up their horses to look at them, for astranger pair were never seen journeying together. The first was amisshapen, squalid man with cruel, cunning eyes and a shock of tangledred hair, bearing in his hands a small unpainted cross, which he heldhigh so that all men might see it. He seemed to be in the last extremityof fright, with a face the color of clay and his limbs all ashake as onewho hath an ague. Behind him, with his toe ever rasping upon the other'sheels, there walked a very stern, black-bearded man with a hard eye anda set mouth. He bore over his shoulder a great knotted stick with threejagged nails stuck in the head of it, and from time to time he whirledit up in the air with a quivering arm, as though he could scarce holdback from dashing his companion's brains out. So in silence they walkedunder the spread of the branches on the grass-grown path from Boldre.

  "By St. Paul!" quoth the knight, "but this is a passing strange sight,and perchance some very perilous and honorable venture may arise fromit. I pray you, Edricson, to ride up to them and to ask them the causeof it."

  There was no need, however, for him to move, for the twain came swiftlytowards them until they were within a spear's length, when the manwith the cross sat himself down sullenly upon a tussock of grass by thewayside, while the other stood beside him with his great cudgel stillhanging over his head. So intent was he that he raised his eyes neitherto knight nor squires, but kept them ever fixed with a savage glare uponhis comrade.

  "I pray you, friend," said Sir Nigel, "to tell us truthfully who youare, and why you follow this man with such bitter enmity?"

  "So long as I am within the pale of the king's law," the strangeranswered, "I cannot see why I should render account to every passingwayfarer."

  "You are no very shrewd reasoner, fellow," quoth the knight; "for ifit be within the law for you to threaten him with your club, then it isalso lawful for me to threaten you with my sword."

  The man with the cross was down in an instant on his knees upon theground, with hands clasped above him and his face shining with hope."For dear Christ's sake, my fair lord," he cried in a crackling voice,"I have at my belt a bag with a hundred rose nobles, and I will give itto you freely if you will but pass your sword through this man's body."

  "How, you foul knave?" exclaimed Sir Nigel hotly. "Do you think thata cavalier's arm is to be bought like a packman's ware. By St. Paul! Ihave little doubt that this fellow hath some very good cause to hold youin hatred."

  "Indeed, my fair sir, you speak sooth," quoth he with the club, whilethe other seated himself once more by the wayside. "For this man isPeter Peterson, a very noted rieve, draw-latch, and murtherer, who haswrought much evil for many years in the parts about Winchester. It wasbut the other day, upon the feasts of the blessed Simon and Jude, thathe slew my younger brother William in Bere Forest--for which, by theblack thorn of Glastonbury! I shall have his heart's blood, though Iwalk behind him to the further end of earth."

  "But if this be indeed so," asked Sir Nigel, "why is it that you havecome with him so far through the forest?"

  "Because I am an honest Englishman, and will take no more than the lawallows. For when the deed was done this foul and base wretch fled tosanctuary at St. Cross, and I, as you may think, after him with allthe posse. The prior, however, hath so ordered that while he holds thiscross no man may lay hand upon him without the ban of church, whichheaven forfend from me or mine. Yet, if for an instant he lay the crossaside, or if he fail to journey to Pitt's Deep, where it is ordered thathe shall take ship to outland parts, or if he take not the first ship,or if until the ship be ready he walk not every day into the sea as faras his loins, then he becomes outlaw, and I shall forthwith dash out hisbrains."

  At this the man on the ground snarled up at him like a rat, while theother clenched his teeth, and shook his club, and looked down at himwith murder in his eyes. Knight and squire gazed from rogue to avenger,but as it was a matter which none could mend they tarried no longer, butrode upon their way. Alleyne, looking back, saw that the murderer haddrawn bread and cheese from his scrip, and was silently munching it,with the protecting cross still hugged to his breast, while the other,black and grim, stood in the sunlit road and threw his dark shadowathwart him.