The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-09-13
The MORNING STAR CATHOLIC MESSENGER SUNDAY SEPT

catching sight of which the hawk Immediately
returned to her masters fist.
Look here" proceeded Robert, showing the
bird to De Valois; see what beautiful fair
colored plumage, what a snow white breast,
| and what deep blue claws"
"Yes, indeed, Messire Robert" answer ed De
Valois, "that lie in very truth q bird that
might hold comparison with eagle. But it
seems to me that she is bleeding"
Robert hastily inspected his hawks legs,
and cried impatiently:
"Falconer, hither, quick imy bird is hurt; the
poor thing has tried its claws too much. Let
her be well seen to; you, Stephen, keep her
under your own eye; would not loose her for
more than care to tell"
And he gave the wounded hawk to Stephen,
his trainer, who all but wept at the accident;
for the hawks he had broken and tended were
to him as his very children. -
After the chief persons present had flown
their hawks, the sport became more general
after various kinds of birds of high fight, such
as ducks, herons and cranes, without, at the
same time, sparing those of low flight, among
which were cartridges, feldfares and curlews.
BY this time it was noon and now, at the
cheerful summons of the horns, the whole
party came together again from every side, and
proceeded on their way back to Wynandael as
fast as a moderate pace could carry them.
On the way, Charles dc valos resumed his
conversation with the old Count Guy. The
latter, much as he mistrusted the result of the
proposed expedition into France, was yet, ont
of love for his children, disposed to undertake
it; and finally, on the repeated instances of
the French prince, resolved on casting himself
at King Philips feet, with all the mobiles who
remained faithful to him, in the hope that SO
humiliating a homage might move the con-
queror to compassion. The absence of Queen
Joanna fiattered him with a ray of hope that
he should not find her husband inexorable.
Since their mornings quarrel Robert de
Bethune and De Chatillon had not met again
they purposely avoided each other, and neither
of thom said another word on the subject of
what had passed between them. Adolf of
Nieuwland was now riding beside Matilda and
her brother William. The young lady was ev-
identity occupied in learning off some lay or
tale which Adolf was repeating to her; for
every now and then one of her ladies exclaimed
in admiration
"What a master in mnstrelsy Sir Adolf of
Nieuwland is ~
And SO at last they got back to Wynandael.
The whole train entered the castle but this
time the bridge not raised nor did the
portcullis fall, and after delay of few min
utes the French knights issued again from its
walls armed as they had come. AS they rode
over the bridge De Chatillon observed to his
brother:
You know that have this evening to up
hold the honor of our niece reckon on you
as my second"
Against this rough-spoken Robert de Be-
thune ~ asked st. Pol. az know not what
may happen, but fear you may come but
badly ont of it; for this Lion of Flanders is
no cat to be taken hold of without gloves, and
that You know as we'll as l."
What is that to the purpose ~ answered
De Chatillon hastily. GA knight trusts to his
skill and valor, and not to mere strength"
You are quite right, my good brother; a
knight must hold his ground against every
one. be he who he may; but for all that it is
better not to expose oneself unnecessarily. In
your place should have let Robert talk his
spite out. What signifies what he says now
that his lands are gone, and he is as good as
our prisoner ~
''Be silent, st. Pol Is that seemly way to
talkf are You a coward 7"
AS he spoke these words they disappeared
among the trees. And now the portcullis fell
the bridge was raised and the interior of the
castle was again concealed from view.
CHAPTER III.
The knight, or minstrel, who was admitted
within the walls of Wynandael by the hospi-
tality or compassion Of it's inhabitants, found
himself on passing it's gates in an open square;
on his right he saw the stables, amply sufficient
for hundred horses, before which innumera-
BILE pigeons and ducks were picking up the
stray grain on his left were the lodgings for
the soldiers and military retainers of all kinds,
together with the magazines for the siege ar
tillery of that day as, for instance, battering-
rams, with their carriages and supports, bal
istas, which at one cast threw shower of
arrows into the besieged place, and catapults,
which hurled crushing masses of stone against
the hostile walls besides scaling ladders, fire